Clapton returns to Charlotte in 2013

Eric Clapton returns to Charlotte April 2 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Special guest, the Walflowers, will open the tour. Clapton's band will consist of Doyle Bramhall II on guitar, drummer Steve Jordan, keyboardist Chris Stainton , bassist Willie Weeks with newcomers Paul Carrack on organ and keyboards and Greg Leisz on pedal steel and returning backing vocalists Michelle John and Sharon White. 

Tickets to the April 2 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 15 at Ticketmaster, www.livenation.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 and at the Time Warner Cable Arena box office and select Walmart stores. 

The guitar great's tour, which kicks off in Phoenix March 14, will end with a two-night stay at Madison Square Garden for the fourth installment of Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, the first of which was held in Dallas in 2004. The 2004, 2007 and 2010 Festivals were also captured on DVD. Profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility for those with chemical dependencies founded by Clapton.