Ritchie Blackmore has announced a run of six Blackmore’s Night shows, following the cancellation of the band's previous tour dates due to health issues. The Deep Purple co-founder, 81, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his medieval folk-rock band with concerts in March 2027.
The band announced the dates via social media: “Blackmore’s Night embraces their 30 year anniversary with a limited tour in March of 2027. So dust off that garb, grab your dancing shoes and get ready to sing and dance and celebrate the incredible 30-year journey.”
Blackmore was forced to call off his last scheduled tour in 2025 after playing just two of its six shows, citing “medical reasons.” The cancellation came two years after he suffered a heart attack.
He later explained that he had a “long history of lumbar and neck herniated discs” requiring regular injections and had recently begun suffering from “debilitating migraines.” Poor traveling conditions triggered a severe attack.
“I couldn't stop vomiting,” he continued. “The room wouldn't stop spinning and I was extremely dizzy to the point of not being able to stand. The doctors came to the conclusion that my official diagnosis was severe vertigo.” He added: “Hope to see you all one day again when I’m healthy.”
Candace Night, his wife and musical partner, discussed his health issues in an August 2025 interview, shortly before the canceled tour.
“There's three main issues with him that are going on,” Night explained. “He has a heart issue — he had a heart attack a couple of years ago, so we stay on top of that.
“He's got gout, so that's difficult,” she added. “It's affecting his feet really badly. And it's starting in his forefinger, so it's hurting the mobility in that. He just had an injection for that. And his back, of course, which has always been an issue.”
Blackmore next appeared onstage during his Deep Purple guest spot in August, when he joined his former colleagues for a performance of the classic “Smoke on the Water.”
“It was tricky,” he reflected afterward. “I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple. I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there.
“I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.”
In related news, Deep Purple have canceled their touring plans in light of singer Ian Gillan’s health issues.
Blackmore’s Night will play the following shows in March 2027. Check their tour page for updates.
March 6: Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ
March 11: Landmark on Main, Port Washington, NY
March 13: District Music Hall, Norwalk, CT
March 19: Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock, NY
March 21: Suffolk Theatre, Suffolk, NY
March 27: Bergen PAC, Englewood, NJ
