Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Add Four U.S. Shows to ‘Fifty Something’ Tour

Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced on August 31, 2026 that they are adding four more United States concerts to their “Fifty Something” tour. The newly added shows will take the pair, along with drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, to Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in October and November.

Presales for the four additional dates open September 1, 2026, with tickets going on general sale September 4, 2026 at 10 a.m. local time.

• New dates: Toyota Center in Houston (Oct. 1), Enterprise Center in St. Louis (Oct. 21), Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati (Oct. 23), PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh (Nov. 15)
• The tour opened June 7, 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the same building where Rush played its final concert with Neil Peart in 2015
• “Fifty Something” is the first time Lee and Lifeson have shared a stage together in eleven years, dating back to the R40 Tour’s close on August 1, 2015

Lee and Lifeson explained the decision to extend the run in a joint statement: “When we initially booked this tour we didn’t know how well we would hold up to the rigors of the road, so we played it safe with lots of days off to recover, but life is nothing if not surprising and we’re doing fine and having a blast, so why not try to hit a few more of the cities that have always treated us so well.”

Rush 2026 Tour: New Added Dates

• October 1: Houston, TX, Toyota Center
• October 21: St. Louis, MO, Enterprise Center
• October 23: Cincinnati, OH, Heritage Bank Center
• November 15: Pittsburgh, PA, PPG Paints Arena

Who Is Playing Drums for Rush on the ‘Fifty Something’ Tour?

German fusion drummer Anika Nilles, who previously toured with Jeff Beck in 2022, has stepped behind the kit for the “Fifty Something” tour, joined by keyboardist Loren Gold, who has toured with The Who and Chicago. The tour pays tribute to Rush’s catalog and to the memory of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.

Anika Nilles on Playing the ‘Tom Sawyer’ Drum Fill

In an interview with Modern Drummer’s David Frangioni, filmed in July 2026, Nilles described the moment before she played the well-known “Tom Sawyer” fill at the tour’s June 7 opening night. She recalled thinking, five seconds beforehand, “Okay, let’s go. Don’t fuck it up.”

Nilles said she hit a low point around the fourth day of rehearsals while learning “Tom Sawyer,” unsure she could capture the touch Peart brought to the part. She said she worked through it back at her hotel by replaying the drum parts on pillows, since she had no practice kit available, after reviewing recordings to absorb his feel.

Nilles also told Thomann’s Drum Bash that she knew Peart’s playing mainly through “Tom Sawyer” before joining the tour, but had not spent much time with Rush’s wider catalog even though she grew up immersed in rock and progressive music.

What Did Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee Say About Nilles’ Rehearsals?

Alex Lifeson told Classic Rock magazine that he and Lee had reservations after four days of early rehearsals with Nilles, going so far as to consider whether another drummer might be a better fit. He said that changed on the fifth day, when Nilles took their notes about Peart’s feel to heart and, in his words, “nailed the songs all day.”

Lee said the shift came once Nilles processed their feedback, describing an eye-contact exchange between the two of them during rehearsal as the turning point that convinced him she would bring what he called “a whole different energy” to the group.

How Have Fans Responded to Rush’s Reunion Tour?

Speaking with Chile’s Radio Futuro, Alex Lifeson said he underestimated how warmly audiences would welcome the tour. He noted that a number of longtime fans had been dissatisfied with how Rush’s run concluded and had assumed they would never get another chance to see the band perform.

More Info

• Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson Expand Their 2026-2027 Tour Celebrating Rush and Neil Peart | bestclassicbands.com
• ANIKA NILLES On Nailing Tom Sawyer Fill At Her First Show With RUSH: Five Seconds Before, I Was, Like, Dont F*** It Up. | Blabbermouth
• Rush add more dates to Fifty Something tour. "Life is nothing if not surprising, and we’re doing fine and having a blast" | Louder / Classic Rock
• Rush surprise themselves with new Fifty Something tour dates: “We didn’t know how well we would hold up to the rigors of the road, but we’re having a blast” | Guitar World
• Rush Adds Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh To Fifty Something Tour | Pollstar News
• Rush add four new dates to ‘Fifty Something Tour’ | nextmosh.com
• Rush Add Additional Dates to Fifty Something Tour | jambands.com
• Rush adds Pittsburgh to their Fifty Something Tour | triblive.com