Symphonic metallers Nightwish have announced that they will release a 2CD compilation next year entitled Decades. Due for release on March 9 2018, it will be followed by the band’s nine month world tour where they will play all over the United States before taking on the European festival circuit and even playing a number of huge headline shows across the continent.
During the tour, Nightwish are said to be planning a very special set-list that will feature rarer material from early on in their career. The band’s founder, Tuomas Holopainen, has made a statement touching on the release and subsequent tour:
“July 6th, 1996 was the exact date marked on my family’s summer cabin guestbook. On that date, by a campfire, a decision was made to form a band of three members, playing atmospheric acoustic music led by a female voice. 15 months later, this group would release its debut album, and more than two decades later, it would release a compilation including songs from [eight] studio albums and from the very first demo which gave the band its name.
The infinite freedom and potential I found from songwriting back in the day took me right back home, offering a place to feel free and meaningful. So the roller coaster ride begun, adventures from all sides of the spectrum ahead, making a pit stop at this place and age from where we’re greeting you now. Looking back, the voyage has been nothing short of spectacular.
The best part of it all, though, are the people. The fellowship of the band, past and present, the crew and the management. The relationships created, whether it’s the fans in the front row, guest musicians, other bands, promoters, media, record label staff, or even your own heroes you never thought you’d meet. I’ve met my best friends through music, as well as faced the most unfortunate ordeals, but it’s all been for the love of life and adventure, for learning, and for a meaning. The sense of privilege I feel looking into the past, the present, and future is immeasurable by words. It’s something that can only be expressed through poetry and music.
A journey of two decades has taken our wonderful Edema Ruh this far, and the beauty of the future is, that it remains an untold story.
In a few months, we’ll celebrate the journey so far in the form of a [nine] month nostalgia tour, including material from all of our [eight] studio albums. We shall meet you all soon, and it will be wondrous as never before!”
The band’s upcoming dates are as follows:
09.03. USA Atlanta, GA – Tabernable
10.03. USA Charlotte, NC – The Filmore
12.03. USA Norfolk, VA – The Norva
13.03. USA Baltimore, MD – Lyric Theater
14.03. USA New York, NY – PlayStation Theater
16.03. USA Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
17.03. USA Worcester, MA – The Palladium
18.03. USA Albany, NY – The Egg
20.03. CDN Montreal, QC – Metropolis
21.03. CDN Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
23.03. USA Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre
24.03. USA Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater
25.03. USA Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
26.03. USA Covington, KY – Madison Theater
28.03. USA Kalamazoo, MI – State Theatre
29.03. USA St. Louis, MO – Touhill Performing Arts Center
30.03. USA Minneapolis, MN – The Myth
31.03. USA Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
02.04. USA Omaha, NB – Sokol Auditorium
03.04. USA Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
05.04. CDN Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Aud
06.04. USA Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
07.04. CDN Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Threater
08.04. USA Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
10.04. USA Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
12.04. USA Ventura, CA – The Majestic Ventura Theatre
13.04. USA San Jose, CA – City National Civic
14.04. USA Anaheim, CA – City National Grove
15.04. USA Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
17.04. USA Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
18.04. USA Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
19.04. USA Mobile, AL – Saenger Theater
21.04. USA St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing
22.04. USA Miami, FL – Olympia Theater
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18.05. EST Tallinn – Saku Suurhall
01.06. CZ Pilsen – Metalfest Open Air
02.06. NL Nijmegen – FortaRock
21.06. DK Copenhagen – Copenhell
24.06. F Clisson – Hellfest
06.07. N Kvinesdal – Norway Rock Festival
13.07. FIN Joensuu – Ilosaarirock
21.07. FIN Lahti – Mukkulan Tapahtumapuisto
03.08. D Wacken – Wacken Open Air
07.08. CH Schaffhausen – Stars in Town
09.08. E Villena – Leyendas del Rock
12.08. UK Derby – Bloodstock Open Air
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02.11. S Gothenburg – Partille Arena
05.11. D Berlin – Max-Schmeling-Halle
06.11. D Hamburg – Barclaycard Arena
07.11. B Antwerp – Lotto Arena
09.11. D Oberhausen – König-Pilsener-Arena
10.11. F Paris – AccorHotels Arena
11.11. CH Geneva – Arena
13.11. SK Bratislava – Incheba Expo Arena
14.11. D Munich – Olympiahalle
16.11. D Leipzig – Arena
17.11. PL Krakow – Tauron Arena
20.11. H Budapest – Arena
22.11. CH Zurich – Hallenstadion
23.11. D Nuremberg – Arena
24.11. D Stuttgart – Schleyer-Halle
27.11. D Saarbrücken – Saarlandhalle
04.12. I Milan – Medionalum Forum
05.12. D Frankfurt – Festhalle
