The support acts for next month’s UK tour from Winger have been confirmed. Airrace will be the opening act on all dates except the ones in Glasgow and Belfast. For the latter show it seems likely that warm-up duties will be performed by Northern Ireland’s own Stormzone.

Airrace, whose original line-up featured Jason Bonham on drums, reunited last year to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of their Shaft Of Light debut, playing the Firefest at Nottingham Rock City and supporting both Tesla and Thunder on separate UK tours.

“Airrace had a great year in 2009,” guitarist Laurie Mansworth comments. “The response to the handful of gigs we played was such that we decided to tour and make a new album. We are thrilled to be on Winger’s UK tour and are looking forward to playing live again.”

With Bonham opting to withdraw from the reunion, the group’s current drummer is Simon Dawson, formerly of The Outfield. He joins original members Mansworth, vocalist Keith Murrell and keyboard player Toby Sadler, plus second guitarist Dean Howard and bassist Dave Boyce.

Now managed by former Tygers Of Pan Tang vocalist Jess Cox, Stormzone are set to release of a new album called Death Dealer through SPV Records on April 26. It was co-produced by Neal Kay of Iron Maiden/Heavy Metal Soundhouse fame.

And, aside from releasing last year’s critically acclaimed Karma album, what of the tour’s headline attraction? Well, Kip Winger, who spent much of the past 17 years studying classical music composition, has just teamed up with the San Francisco Ballet to premiere Ghosts, his first symphonic piece.

For the full story go here.

Here are the Winger tour dates:

Bristol Academy 2 Mar 22
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms Mar 23
Manchester Academy 3 Mar 24
Dudley JB’s Mar 26
Belfast Spring & Airbrake     Mar 27
Glasgow Cathouse Mar 28
Newcastle Academy 2 Mar 30
Leeds Rio’s Mar 31
Sheffield Corporation Apr 2
London Islington Academy Apr 4

For tickets, go here.