An Evening with Dolly Parton started in North America in 2006, and continued in Europe in 2007, and was finished in North America the same year.
History
After taking nearly all of 2006 off from touring to focus on other projects, Parton returned with a new stage show in November for a few select concerts as she prepared for a 2007 European tour. The 17 initial dates for the tour "across the pond" were announced to the public for the first time in October 2006. She performed four more shows on the West Coast in early 2007 to hone the show for its European premiere. After the European leg, Parton performed for three nights at a Niagara Falls Casino and at a benefit concert to raise money for a new hospital in her hometown.
Although Parton had said after returning from Europe that a three-month U.S. tour would be coming with the release of her next CD Backwoods Barbie, those plans were pushed back to 2008.
The show
The shows were similar in vein to Parton's previous tours, her 2004 Hello I'm Dolly Tour and 2005's The Vintage Tour. Sets were similar except for the fact that Parton entered via hydraulic lift.
When the show premiered in Europe, an intermission was added so that it became a two-act show, appropriately titled "An Evening With Dolly Parton."
Fans speculated that tracks from Parton's upcoming album Backwoods Barbie would be showcased but that was not the case. Instead "I Dreamed About Elvis", last used on the Hello I'm Dolly Tour was included and in Europe, tracks from her most recent studio album Those Were the Days were spotlighted.
Set list North America
The following set list is representative of the November 16, 2006 show in Uncasville, Connecticut . It is not representative of all concerts for the duration of the tour.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" "Two Doors Down" "Jolene" "Puppy Love" "The Grass Is Blue" "Shine" "Thank God I'm A Country Girl" "God's Coloring Book" "Little Sparrow" "My Tennessee Mountain Home' "Coat of Many Colors" "Marry Me" / "Applejack" "Love Is Strange" "Islands In The Stream" "Here You Come Again" "Crimson and Clover" "Me and Bobby McGee" "9 to 5" "I Dreamed About Elvis" "I Will Always Love You"
Encore
Europe
The following set list is representative of the March 6, 2007 show in Horsens, Denmark . It is not representative of all concerts for the duration of the tour.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" "Two Doors Down" "Jolene" "Puppy Love" "The Grass Is Blue" "Shine" "Thank God I'm a Country Girl" "Little Sparrow" "My Tennessee Mountain Home" "These Old Bones" "Coat of Many Colors" "Smoky Mountain Memories" "Train, Train" "Imagine" "Travelin' Prayer" "Marry Me" / "Applejack" "God's Coloring Book" "Me and Bobby McGee" "Crimson and Clover" "I Dreamed About Elvis " "Islands In the Stream" "Here You Come Again" "9 to 5" "I Will Always Love You"
Encore
Notes: In Karlstad, "I Will Always Love You" and "Imagine" switched places. "Puppy Love" was dropped from the set list after the performance in Stockholm. "Imagine" was dropped after the Sheffield show. "Travelin' Prayer" was dropped after the Zwolle show. After the Gothenborg show, "Crimson and Clover" was replaced with "Those Were the Days". "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)" was performed from March 13 to 20, 2007. "We Irish" was performed during shows in Dublin and Belfast.
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueNorth AmericaNovember 16, 2006UncasvilleUnited StatesMohegan Sun ArenaNovember 18, 2006VeronaTurning Stone Event CenterNovember 20, 2006RamaCanadaCasino Rama Entertainment CentreNovember 21, 2006November 22, 2006February 14, 2007Santa RosaUnited StatesGrace PavilionFebruary 15, 2007Santa YnezSamala ShowroomFebruary 16, 2007IndioFantasy Springs Special Events CenterFebruary 17, 2007PrimmStar of the Desert ArenaEuropeMarch 6, 2007HorsensDenmarkForum HorsensMarch 7, 2007March 10, 2007BergenNorwayVestlandshallen March 11, 2007KarlstadSwedenLöfbergs Lila ArenaMarch 13, 2007GothenburgScandinaviumMarch 15, 2007OsloNorwayOslo SpektrumMarch 16, 2007StockholmSwedenStockholm Globe ArenaMarch 18, 2007ZwolleNetherlandsIJsselhallenMarch 19, 2007LondonUnited KingdomWembley ArenaMarch 20, 2007ManchesterManchester Evening News ArenaMarch 21, 2007NewcastleMetro Radio ArenaMarch 23, 2007GlasgowClyde AuditoriumMarch 24, 2007SheffieldHallam FM ArenaMarch 25, 2007LondonWembley ArenaMarch 27, 2007CardiffCardiff International ArenaMarch 28, 2007BirminghamNEC ArenaMarch 30, 2007BelfastOdyssey ArenaApril 1, 2007DublinIrelandPoint TheatreApril 2, 2007BelfastUnited KingdomOdyssey ArenaNorth AmericaMay 10, 2007Niagara FallsCanadaAvalon BallroomMay 11, 2007May 12, 2007May 20, 2007KodakUnited StatesSmokies Park
Cancelled shows + List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, and reason for cancellation Date City Country Venue ReasonMarch 13, 2007HelsinkiFinlandHelsinki ArenaLow ticket salesMarch 31, 2007MillstreetIrelandGreen Glens ArenaUnknown
Personnel
The Mighty Fine Band Band Leader, Guitar: Kent Wells Drums: Steve Turner Piano: Paul Hollowell Fiddle: Jimmy Mattingly Dobro, Guitar: Richie Owens Banjo: Bruce Watkins Keyboard: Michael Davis Background vocals: Jennifer O'Brien, Vicki Hampton & Richard Dennison
Other Staff Dolly Parton's Personal Tour Manager: Don Warden Tour Manager: Dave Fowler Production Assistant: Levi Kennedy Director, Staging & Choreography: Steve Summers Lighting Designer: Justin Kitchenman Stage Manager & Security: Danny Nozzell Merchandising: Ira Parker
References
Dollymania