In May, Bruce Springsteen will again resume his Ghost of Tom

Joad solo acoustic theater tour, this time taking the show to eastern

Europe as well as to France and Italy. The 10 city outing includes

Springsteen's first ever appearances in Austria, Poland, and the Czech

Republic.

The shows will begin after a May 5 ceremony in Stockholm, at

which Springsteen will receive the 1997 Polar Music Prize from the King of

Sweden. Presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, the award honors

"significant achievement in music or in musical activity, or an achievement

esteemed of great potential importance within the musical realm." Past

recipients include Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, and Elton John.

The May

concerts will mark 19 months of touring by Springsteen in support of Tom

Joad, which last month received the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk

Album. By then, the acoustic show will have stopped for 125 concerts in 90

cities worldwide, among them, Springsteen's first appearances in Japan and

Australia since 1985's Born in the U.S.A. tour.

[For the

Springsteen European tour dates, please use "Continued" icon below.]