Steve Miller plans two rare 2026 concerts
Steve Miller has confirmed two 2026 shows which aim to “honour his blues and jazz heroes”.
The last Miller shared by way of live performances was a 28-show run in 2025, which he abruptly cancelled due to the weather.
At the time, Miller released an official statement, which explained, “The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires make these risks for you, our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable.”
In the open letter to fans, Miller continued: “You make music with your instincts. You live life by your instincts. Always trust your instincts…”
After Miller faced much criticism for the cancellation, his long-time bassist, Kenny Lee Lewis, added, “It’s too frickin hot for an 81-year-old to go out on that stage as temperatures keep breaking records, even if you are the closer as the sun sets.”
It seems Miller’s workaround is a couple of shows nearer the end of the year, so he can avoid record-breaking heat levels.
On October 9th and 10th, Miller will make his way to New York City’s Rose Theatre for what his team has deemed his “9th installment of shows honouring his blues and jazz heroes.”
Over the years, Miller has appeared at the 1,300-seat venue for the occasional show.
Though Miller is mostly keeping away from the stage, he had a mighty band in tow for a live appearance last November. Keyboardist Shelly Berg, guitarist Brian Nova, bassist Russell Hall, drummer Herlin Riley, trumpet player Michael Rodriguez, and saxophonists Craig Handy, Lauren Sevian, and Patrick Bartley backed up the icon.
Outside of the Rose Theatre, Miller was last seen on September 12th at the Utah State Fair in Salt Lake City.
It appears Miller’s “instinct” cancellation was an eerie prognostication of events to come, as plenty of musical events this year have been rocked by bad weather, including Barcelona’s Primavera Festival and New York’s Governors Ball.
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