Is Bruce Springsteen touring in North America?

Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed “The Boss”, is one of the most popular and successful rock musicians of all time. He rose to fame in the 1970s and has had an incredibly prolific career over the past five decades. At 73 years old, he remains an active musician and performer.

Bruce Springsteen’s Current Touring Status

As of October 2023, Bruce Springsteen is actively touring in support of his 2020 album Letter To You. He launched the Letter To You Tour in February 2022 in the United States. After touring Europe over the summer, he returned to North America in August 2022 to continue the tour.

Most recently, Springsteen performed in major venues across Canada and the northeastern United States in September and October 2022. Upcoming shows are scheduled throughout the rest of 2022 in cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, New York City, and more.

So in short – yes, Bruce Springsteen is absolutely still touring in North America as part of his ongoing Letter To You Tour.

The Letter To You Tour Dates

Here are the remaining North American dates for Bruce Springsteen’s Letter To You Tour in 2022:

As shown in the table, Bruce Springsteen still has over a dozen North American shows left in 2022, taking him through mid-November. So far the tour has been very successful with mostly sold out shows.

Is He Touring with the E Street Band?

Yes! The E Street Band has been touring with Bruce Springsteen throughout the entirety of the Letter To You Tour. The legendary rock group, founded in 1972, is made up of:

• Bruce Springsteen – lead vocals, guitar
• Roy Bittan – piano, synthesizer
• Nils Lofgren – guitar, vocals
• Patti Scialfa – guitar, vocals
• Garry Tallent – bass guitar
• Steven Van Zandt – guitar, vocals
• Max Weinberg – drums
• Jake Clemons – saxophone

This core lineup, though it has gone through some changes over the years, has been Springsteen’s regular touring band since 1999. Their powerful stage presence and musical chemistry with Springsteen make E Street Band concerts incredible fan experiences.

Setlist & Production Details

The Letter To You Tour features a different setlist at every show, drawing from Bruce Springsteen’s vast catalog of over 300 songs recorded over his 50 year career. However, setlist staples on the recent North American leg have included classics like:

• “Born to Run”
• “Thunder Road”
• “Badlands”
• “Dancing in the Dark”
• “Born in the U.S.A.”
• “Glory Days”
• “Hungry Heart”
• “Out in the Street”
• “Rosalita”

He also mixes in deeper cuts for hardcore fans, as well as a wide selection of songs from Letter To You. Most shows have been 2.5 to 3 hours long without an intermission.

The concerts feature Springsteen’s legendary energy and showmanship, making every night feel like a special experience. A massive video screen behind the stage shows close-up shots of the performers along with stylized graphics and footage. Despite being in his 70s, Springsteen seemingly has more stamina than ever, frequently crowd-surfing and dancing with fans in the pit.

Why Is He Touring So Much?

There are several key reasons why Bruce Springsteen continues to tour regularly, even as he reaches an age where many rock stars start to wind down their careers:

• Love of Performing – Springsteen clearly has an endless passion for playing live shows. He seems to feed off the energy of huge crowds.
• Staying Connected to Fans – Maintaining a close relationship with his loyal fanbase has always been hugely important to Springsteen.
• Promoting New Music – Going on tour allows Springsteen to showcase new material like his Letter To You album.
• Keeping the E Street Band Together – The band only tours sporadically these days, so Springsteen hitting the road gives them a reason to reconvene.
• Financial Incentive – Springsteen stadium shows bring in multi-million dollar grosses. Touring remains highly lucrative for him.

At an age where many artists would have retired, Springsteen still seems motivated to put on some of the most ambitious shows out there. His marathon concerts with the E Street Band allow new generations of fans to experience the legendary energy of his performances.

How Are Critics Rating the Shows?

Reviews of Bruce Springsteen’s recent North American tour dates have been overwhelmingly positive. Critics consistently praise the high level of energy, the diverse setlists, and Springsteen’s seemingly boundless passion and showmanship.

In a review of a September 2022 show in Philadelphia, Billboard said the concert was “a marathon display of exhilarating rock and roll.” The Boston Globe called a October 2022 show “spirited” and “career-spanning,” adding that “the 73-year-old displayed the seemingly boundless energy of a man half his age.”

The Star Tribune raved about the July 2022 Minneapolis concert, saying Springsteen’s stamina was “Herculean” and that he transformed the stadium into “a supersized juke joint.” A Washington Post review said Springsteen’s catalog sounds “reamplified” on the latest tour.

Many reviews have praised the production and video elements creating an immersive experience. Setlist variety and surprise deep cuts have also won plaudits from critics. Overall, the Letter To You Tour is being seen as an incredible display of Springsteen’s talents at this late stage in his career.

How Is Ticket Sales and Demand?

Unsurprisingly for an artist of Bruce Springsteen’s legendary status, ticket sales and demand has been very strong across all North American tour markets so far.

Most shows have sold out instantly, with some cities adding second or third concerts to meet demand. On theTicket resale market, Springsteen tickets have been changing hands for several hundreds of dollars or more, even reaching over $1000 for prime floor seats.

Face value ticket prices have ranged from $60 – $350 depending on venue and seat location. Demand greatly outweighs supply, demonstrating that fans remain eager to catch Springsteen live despite his vast touring history.

Upcoming markets like Boston, Philadelphia and New York are likely to be in especially high demand. Springsteen’s popularity and the scarcity of shows means tickets sell out quickly whenever he tours.

How Long Will He Keep Touring?

It’s difficult to predict just how long Bruce Springsteen will keep up such an intense touring schedule. His deep passion for performing live is clearly still burning strong well into his 70s.

In a 2022 interview, Springsteen said “I still love being out there. Physically, I feel like I’m in my thirties… At my age, you just tell yourself to enjoy every single night.” This suggests he plans to continue as long as his health permits.

However, Springsteen also hinted he does not want to tour indefinitely, saying “I know our days are numbered, so make the most of them now.” Fans may want to catch him live sooner rather than later.

With his long history of marathon 3+ hour shows, incredible energy and no signs of slowing down yet, it’s likely Bruce Springsteen will continue actively touring for at least 2-3 more years. Beyond that remains uncertain, but he seems intent on playing live as long as he enjoys it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bruce Springsteen remains one of music’s most iconic and hardest-working live performers. He is absolutely still touring in North America, with dozens more sold out shows scheduled across the region into late 2022.

The Letter To You Tour has earned rave reviews for Springsteen’s tireless energy and exhilarating production. He continues to satisfy fans with long, diverse sets packed with classics and rarities.

Demand to see Springsteen live is still sky-high after all these years. Given his passion for playing concerts, he seems likely to keep touring as long as his health permits. Music fans young and old should seize the opportunity to catch one of The Boss’ legendary shows while they still can.