Eric Clapton has announced a 17-date U.S. tour. The trek kicks off on March 14th in Phoenix, Arizona and wraps over two nights at New York City's Madison Square Garden during Clapton's fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival. Vintage Vinyl News reported that the concerts, which benefit Clapton's Crossroads Rehab Center in Antigua, will reportedly include performances by the Allman Brothers Band, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Jimmie Vaughan, John Mayer, Jonny Lang, Keb' Mo', Keith Urban, Los Lobos, Robbie Robertson, Robert Cray, and Taj Mahal, among many others.

Over the years, Eric Clapton has released more live albums than most of his contemporaries, and has always put more thought into his setlists than most other '60s and '70s acts. It comes as no surprise that he's actually cool with the occasional bootlegged gig leaking out to fans: "In the past, as a kid, you were always going to clubs and recording people -- not to sell, but that's bootlegging in its way. So therefore, my attitude actually has often been, if I've seen someone in the audience with a mic, and it's a good performance, I kinda think, 'Well, I'm glad someone's got this on tape, because it's a really good night,' y'know? And at least someone's gonna be able to share that."

• NEWLY ADDED: Eric Clapton U.S. tour dates (subject to change):
  March 14 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center
  March 16 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
  March 17 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
  March 19 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
  March 20 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
  March 22 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
  March 23 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
  March 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
  March 27 - Duluth, GA - The Arena At Gwinnett Center
  March 29, 30 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
  April 2 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
  April 3 - Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena
  April 5 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
  April 6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
  April 12 - New York, NY - Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden Arena

SIDE NOTES

• Out now on CD and DVD are highlights from Eric Clapton and jazz great Wynton Marsalis' 2011 three-night stand at Manhattan's Rose Theatre for Lincoln Center's annual Jazz at Lincoln Center's gala. The set, titled Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play the Blues - Live From Jazz At Lincoln Center, includes appearances by Taj Mahal, members of the Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra, and features highlights from the pair's groundbreaking shows.
• Coming on December 4th will be the 35th Anniversary Edition of Clapton's 1977 classic album, Slowhand. In addition to a remastered version of the album, which contained such favorites as "Cocaine," "Wonderful Tonight," "Lay Down Sally," and "The Core," the set will feature four previously unreleased bonus tracks: "Looking At The Rain," "Alberta," "Greyhound Bus Stars," and "Strays And Ashtrays."
• The set also includes a bonus disc capturing Clapton and his band in concert on April 27th, 1977 at London's Hammersmith Odeon, performing such Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos, covers, and solo favorites.

CHECK IT OUT: "Motherless Child" from 1995's Eric Clapton: Nothing But The Blues: An "In The Spotlight Special":

Eric Clapton Says Concert Bootlegging Isn't Necessarily A Bad Thing

Read more at Ultimate Classic Rock and Rolling Stone