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Back in May, I reported that Gregg Allman was "on the road to recovery." Today it became official, which is great news for us ABB enthusiasts. The original jam band resumes touring after an 11-month break prompted by the singer/keyboardist/guitarist and former Bradenton resident's Hepatitis C treatment. Here's the press release including a quote from Allman regarding his condition. There are no Florida dates posted yet but there's an opening in early October that will likely result in a local stop.

Rock and roll icons THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND will make their triumphant return to the concert stage this summer, with two dozen shows booked from August 12 through October 11.  On the first leg of dates, the group will share the stage with Bob Weir & RatDog, with Phil Lesh and Friends on board for the second leg.

The August 12 show in Bethel, NY will mark the first group performance since last September’s featured guest spot at Farm Aid (9/9/07), which followed a Piedmont Park appearance in Atlanta (9/8/07) with the Dave Matthews Band.  Late last year after the group’s summer tour, group co-founder, keyboardist and singer GREGG ALLMAN underwent treatment for Hepatitis C.  ALLMAN battled through two months of debilitating Interferon treatments but has made a complete recovery and is now disease-free.  “I feel great, man,” says ALLMAN.  “The treatment really kicks you in the ass but I came out stronger.  I’m ready to play.”  Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease that affects approximately four million people in the U.S. alone and can cause liver cancer or necessitate a transplant.  Due to the side effects of the aggressive Interferon treatment, the group had to postpone their annual run of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York City as well as performances at Bonnaroo and their own Wanee Festival in Florida.

“I’ve known about having the disease for a long time, but was never a candidate for treatment until last year,” continues ALLMAN.  “When my doctor told me to go for the Interferon, I knew it would be a battle, but I’m great now.”  Side effects from Interferon treatment include flu-like symptoms and chronic fatigue.  “I just didn’t have the energy to play,” says the keyboardist/singer.  “And we’re a band that puts on 2-hour shows that change every single night.  You gotta be at full capacity to do that.  And now I am.”

During the downtime, the other members of ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND--BUTCH TRUCKS (drums and tympani), JAIMOE (drums), WARREN HAYNES (vocals, lead and slide guitar), DEREK TRUCKS (slide and lead guitar), OTEIL BURBRIDGE (bass) and MARC QUINONES (congas and percussion)--stayed busy with various projects.  JAIMOE toured with his Jasssz Band; HAYNES tours non-stop with his band Gov’t Mule; TRUCKS joined Eric Clapton as guitarist for an extensive world tour and also performed with wife Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival; and OTEIL toured with former Grateful Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman.

Here are the current ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND tour dates.  Check out www.allmanbrothersband.com for the latest.

Date:              City:                           Venue:                                               With:

Tue      8/12     Bethel, NY                  Bethel Woods Center                        Bob Weir & RatDog

Wed    8/13     Wantagh, NY              Nikon at Jones Beach Theater           Bob Weir & RatDog

Fri       8/15     Holmdel, NJ                 PNC Bank Arts Center                       Bob Weir & RatDog

Sat       8/16     Mansfield, MA             Tweeter Center                                  Bob Weir & RatDog

Tue      8/19     Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center       Bob Weir & RatDog

Wed    8/20     Hartford, CT               New England Dodge Music Center   Bob Weir & RatDog

Fri       8/22     Canandaigua, NY      Constellation Brands PAC                 Bob Weir & RatDog

Sat       8/23    Camden, NJ               Susquehanna Bank Center               Bob Weir & RatDog

Mon     8/25     Hershey, PA               Hershey Park Pavilion            Bob Weir & RatDog

Wed    8/27     Clarkston, MI              DTE Energy Music Theatre               Bob Weir & RatDog

Thu      8/28     Chicago, IL                 Charter One Pavilion                        Bob Weir & RatDog

Sat       8/30    Morrison, CO             Red Rocks Amphitheatre                  Bob Weir & RatDog

Fri       9/26     Fayetteville, AR           Bikes Blues and BBQ Festival          (festival)

Sat       9/27    Robinsonville, MS       Horseshoe Casino                             an evening with

Tue      9/30     Columbia, MD            Merriweather Post Pavilion                Phil Lesh

Wed    10/1     TBA

Fri       10/3     TBA

Sat       10/4    TBA

Tue      10/7     Pelham, AL                Verizon Wireless Music Center          Phil Lesh

Wed    10/8     Orange Beach, AL     The Amph at The Wharf                    Phil Lesh

Fri        10/10   Atlanta, GA                 Chastain Park Amphitheatre              an evening with

Sat       10/11   Atlanta, GA                 Chastain Park Amphitheatre              an evening with

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