Courtesy of Live Nation

Courtesy of Live NationTwo legendary artists who emerged from the 1970s punk and new wave scene, Blondie and Elvis Costello, kick off a U.S. co-headlining tour this Saturday, July 20, in Bethel, New York. The 13-date trek is mapped out through an August 10 concert in the Seattle area.

At a recent red carpet event in New York City, Blondie singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein told ABC Radio that they were looking forward to hitting the road with Costello, who they’ve known since back in the day.

“We’re sort of contemporaries, and love many, many of his songs,” Harry said. “And he’s a terrific entertainer. I think it’s gonna be a great tour.”

Added Stein, “He’s a nice guy. He’s very optimistic, like we are.”

Stein also reflected on the fact that his band and Elvis enjoyed their initial success around the same time.

“It was all kind of happening simultaneously, and that kind of motivated everybody,” Chris maintained. “All the bands that came out in that era of the mid-’70s…kind of lifted each other up in a lot of different ways, inspirationally and…business-wise…It created a movement, let’s say. [And Costello] was a part of it.”

Debbie also noted that Blondie and Elvis emerged from parallel scenes in New York City and London, respectively, adding that “it was a great period for music.”

On the new tour, Costello will be accompanied by his longtime backing group The Imposters, which features two-thirds of his old band The Attractions — keyboardist Steve Nieve and drummer Pete Thomas.

After the joint trek ends, Costello and The Imposters will launch a fall U.S. headlining tour on October 23 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Here are all of Blondie and Costello’s joint tour dates:

7/20 — Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7/21 — Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
7/23 — Boston, MA, Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
7/24 — Forest Hills, NY, Forest Hills Stadium
7/26 — Washington, D.C., The Anthem
7/27 — Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
8/1 — Las Vegas, NV, The Pearl Theater at The Palms
8/2 — Temecula, CA, Pechanga Summit
8/4 — Irvine, CA, FivePoint Amphitheatre
8/5 — Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre
8/7 — Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl
8/8 — Concord, CA, Concord Pavilion
8/10 — Woodinville, WA, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

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