CLEVELAND, Ohio – Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire are at it again.
The two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts have (re)teamed for a co-headlining tour this summer. The “Heart & Soul 2024 Tour” pulls their two gigantic songbooks together for one incredible night of music – individual sets from each band, followed by a powerhouse musical encore with both outfits together on stage.
With more than 200 million albums sold and 11 Grammy award wins between them, the tour will be nothing less than a revelatory blast from the past, replete with wall-of-sound horn sections. Chicago (inducted 2016) is considered one of the most successful American bands of all time. Earth, Wind & Fire (inducted in 2000) is a funk-fusion juggernaut that has endured and influenced in equal measure. Together? Unstoppable.
Stories by Peter Chakerian
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We already count 214 reasons (plus a joint jam session) noted above. But if you’re still on the fence after that, here are your “3 Reasons” to find your way to Blossom Music Center on July 16:
3. Top of the pops
Chicago has had 21 Top 10 singles. Earth, Wind & Fire has had seven. Both bands have iconic catalogs with timeless hits and they’re not afraid to play them. Expect to hear everything from “25 or 6 to 4″ to “September” (and many points in between) performed live. Some bands dread having “legacy act” status because they’re compelled to play the hits. Not these guys, who embrace their roles as jukebox heroes.
And as punny as that sounds, just know that “it’s hard for me to say I’m sorry” for going there.
Robert Lamm, one of the three original band members, sings the opening song "Questions" with other members of Chicago at the PNC Bank Arts Center in 2021. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
2. High-energy performances and collaborations
Has your energy been flagging this summer? Us too. Both bands are known for their energetic stage presence and remarkable musicianship. But they don’t just stand there, they do something! Hitting the Blossom turnstiles on Tuesday gets you a full-throttle performance with exhilarating brass and woodwind arrangements and choreography. EW&F has been particularly hot lately, fresh from joint tours with Santana and Lionel Richie.
1. Call it seventh heaven
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire have toured together at least six other times that we could find… in the 21st Century, that is! They’ve teamed up for a co-headlining tour in 2004, which was so successful that they did it again the following year. They returned to the road together in 2009, 2015, 2016, 2022 and again this summer. The joint tours have been met solidly with raves. Can’t call it a “once-in-a-lifetime” show, but you never know when/if it will be the last.
Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Tickets available at livenation.com.