Pet Shop Boys to Headline Gay Package Tour

ByABC News
May 29, 2001, 1:28 PM

May 24 -- This summer will see U.K. pop duo the Pet Shop Boys headlining a package tour that gives new meaning to being "out on the road."

Wotapalava, the first openly gay pop music festival tour of the United States, will feature sets by the Pet Shop Boys, Sinéad O'Connor, '80s icon Soft Cell, troubadour Rufus Wainwright, and indie rock mainstays Magnetic Fields.

"Wotalpalava will be a celebration of individuality and the freedom to be what you want to be," said Pet Shop Boy and tour creator Neil Tennant in a statement. "This is not exclusively an issue of sexuality; it's about having the power to live as you want." The name of the tour is derived from a British expression roughly translated as "what a fuss about nothing."

The tour is slated to hit 17 markets in North America, kicking off July 13 in Miami. In addition to the mainstage action, a second stage will feature non-stop dance music by various DJs.

WOTAPALAVA TOUR DATES

JulyJuly 13 Bayfront Amphitheatre, Miami, Fla.July 15 Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Ga.July 18 Jones Beach Amphitheatre, Wantaugh, N.Y.July 21 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Washington, D.C.July 22 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, N.J.July 25 Post Gazette Pavilion, Pittsburgh, Penn.July 27 Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, OntarioJuly 28 DTE Energy Music Center, Detroit, Mich.July 29 Tweeter Center, Chicago, Ill.

AugustAug. 3 Shoreline Amphitheatre, San Francisco, Calif.Aug. 4 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Irvine, Calif.Aug. 5 Coors Amphitheatre, San Diego, Calif.Aug. 8 Smirnoff Music Center, Dallas, TexasAug. 10 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, San Antonio, TexasAug. 11 Woodlands Pavilion, Houston, Texas