Elton John to return to Israel for show at Park Hayarkon on May 26
It will be the singer's fourth appearance in Israel.
By DAVID BRINNBritish singer Elton John performs during a concert in Tel Aviv June 17, 2010(photo credit: REUTERS)
British superstar Elton John is scheduled to perform for the fourth time in Israel on May 26 at Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv.Promoter Shuki Weiss made it official on Monday night, issuing a statement that the bespectacled piano-playing tunesmith would be including Israel on his Wonderful Crazy Night Tour 2016 in support of his forthcoming album of the same name.“We chose to hold the show in the park in the tradition of some of Elton’s biggest shows in recent years, including this year’s appearance on the grass at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and last year’s headlining show at the Bonnaroo Festival,” said Weiss, who promised the highest production standards and comfort for the audience.John’s band will include longtime members Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on guitar, and the set list will include perennial favorites like “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”That lineup also accompanied John on his last visit to Israel in 2010 when he performed at Ramat Gan Stadium before a sellout crowd of 45,000. After the revved up second song, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” John responded to well-publicized attempts by pro-Palestinian activists who had lobbied him to cancel the show.“Shalom, we are so happy to be back here! Ain’t nothing gonna stop us from coming, baby,” spouted John with a pumped fist in the air.“Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together. That’s what we do. We don’t cherry-pick our conscience.”Like that show, May’s concert in Tel Aviv is expected to last over two-and-a-half hours and delve into John’s deep catalogue of classic pop and rock songs.Tickets for the show are slated to go on sale on Tuesday at 8 a.m. at a special introductory price of NIS 324 for grass, NIS 690 for Golden Ring tickets close to the stage, and NIS 1,150 for VIP seating. Those prices will rise to NIS 389, NIS 790 and NIS 1,350 respectively after the initial offering.Tickets are available at *9066 or at www.eventim.co.il.