World Party ‘touring America’ in September — initial U.S. dates confirmed

Karl Wallinger apparently is making good on his promise in March 2011 to mount “a whole tour of the U.S.A.” — albeit more than a year behind schedule — with this week’s announcement that World Party will tour America this September, with three  initial dates in Tennessee and New York already unveiled.

Wallinger announced his touring plans Thursday with a simple message on his band’s Facebook page: “World Party will be touring America in Sept. Check your local listings for shows.” Since then, a Sept. 2 date in Nashville, Tenn., a Sept. 15 date at Larkfest in Albany, N.Y.,  and a Sept. 17 concert in New York City were added to the band’s calendar, joining three U.K. shows in late October and early November.

Although Wallinger played a few in-stores and radio station sets this spring to mark the release of the 5CD Arkeology box set, the U.S. tour will be the band’s first since a short run of dates in fall 2009. Citing “unforeseen illness,” Wallinger canceled several March 2011 concerts in New York City and at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, that were meant to serve as a prelude to a full summer tour. At that time, he promised to “return this summer for a whole tour of the U.S.A.,” but that apparently wasn’t in the cards last year.

It’s not yet clear how extensive the tour will be. We’ll update with more dates as they’re announced.

UPDATE: Shows added in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (and yes, there are two, non-consecutive gigs in Philly).

World Party tour dates:

Aug. 30: Cubby Bear, Chicago, IL
Sept. 2: 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill, Nashville, TN, USA
Sept. 6: 91.3 FM WYEP Member Show, Altar Bar, Pittsburgh, PA
Sept. 14: Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 15: Larkfest, Albany, NY, USA
Sept. 16: Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 17: City Winery NYC, New York, NY, USA
Oct. 28: Leamington Assembly, Leamington Spa, UK
Oct. 29: O2 Academy, Oxford, UK
Nov. 1: Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• World Party to return to U.K. concert stages for first time in a decade this fall
• Video: World Party’s Karl Wallinger plays Record Store Day in-store at Fingerprints
• Stream: World Party, ‘Words’ — one of 70 unreleased tracks on ‘Arkeology’ box set
• World Party’s ‘Arkeology’ — 5-disc box set with 70 unreleased tracks — out April 10
• World Party announces ‘Arkeology’ 5CD box set with new songs, live recordings, covers