Don McLean, the 80-year-old singer behind the iconic hit 'American Pie', has announced his final UK and Ireland concerts, set to take place in 2027. The Farewell Tour will comprise eight dates, beginning at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall on May 11 and culminating at London's Royal Albert Hall on May 22.
Tour Dates and Venues
In addition to Glasgow and London, McLean will perform in Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, and Gateshead. The setlist will span his extensive career, from early classics like 'Castles In The Air' and 'And I Love You So' to tracks from his 22nd studio album, 'American Boys', released in May 2024.
McLean, who hails from New Rochelle, New York, has deep connections with each city on the tour. The choice of Glasgow as the opening venue is particularly meaningful, as Scotland is the ancestral home of his surname. His father and grandfather were both named Donald McLean, and he first headlined the city at The Apollo in 1973.
Personal Connections to Each City
During the Troubles, McLean performed in Belfast, expressing his belief that music could unite a divided city. Dublin holds a special place in his history, as RTÉ's recording of his National Stadium concert in December 1975 is considered the finest surviving film of his early years.
His first British television special was recorded at Pebble Mill in Birmingham, featuring performances with Elkie Brooks and The Jordanaires. Bristol Beacon, formerly known as Colston Hall, was among the venues considered for his live album 'Solo' in 1973. In Manchester, he played the Free Trade Hall in 1991, a performance that was filmed, lost for two decades, and eventually released as 'Live In Manchester'.
His ties to the North East are equally strong: he had incorporated 'Geordie's Lost His Penker' into his set by 1971, and his support act on the 1980 British tour was Prelude, the Gateshead trio known for 'After The Goldrush'.
Final Farewell at the Royal Albert Hall
The tour will conclude at the Royal Albert Hall, exactly 55 years after McLean's debut on that same stage in 1972. Reflecting on his long relationship with UK and Irish audiences, McLean said: "I love these audiences. They have kept me going for 55 years and given me a career I could not have had anywhere else."
He added: "A troubadour has to make his farewells somewhere, and I would rather choose the place myself. The Albert Hall was the first room that ever felt like it belonged to me, and it seems right that it should be the last."
Tickets for all non-London shows will go on sale on September 18 at 10am, while tickets for the Royal Albert Hall performance will be available from October 2 at 10am.
