Pearl Jam is playing two places in North America in July — and one of them is the friendly confines of Budweiser Gardens.

The other is Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

The Seattle rock band announced Wednesday it would play the downtown London arena on July 16.

“We are excited to announce two special Pearl Jam live performances to take place in London, Ontario and at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in July, 2013. Both evenings will be An Evening with Pearl Jam. There will not be an opening band for either performance date,” Pearl Jam announced on its pearljam.com website.

The Wrigley Field date at the home of baseball’s Chicago Cubs is July 19.

Pearl Jam played the downtown London arena — then known as the John Labatt Centre — on Sept. 12, 2005. With 9,600 fans jamming the arena, that show ran for hours, reaching a multi-encore finale with a cover of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in The Free World.

Like the 2005 concert, the July 16 show is expected to be in a “360” format with the band surrounded by thousands of fans and the arena jammed to capacity.

“It’s an honour,” Budweiser Gardens marketing director Chris Campbell said of the venue getting the “sole” Canadian date. “This is one of the things we don’t ask questions about,” Campbell said as to why London was 2013’s Pearl Jam date and place of choice.

It’s true London’s location midway between Toronto and Detroit — with all their Pearl Jam fans — would help. So, it must be said, would the fan enthusiasm back in 2005 and the venue’s track record.

U.S. fall tour dates will be announced later, Pearl Jam said. The band is also headlining three festivals in South America this spring.

In 1991, Pearl Jam debuted with Ten. Having sold more than 60 million albums in its 20-year-plus run, Pearl Jam is releasing it 10th studio album later in 2013.

james.reaney@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/JamesatLFPress

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IF YOU GO

What: An evening with Pearl Jam

When: July 16, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Budweiser Gardens

Details: $71.25 plus applicable charges. Public sale begins Feb. 9, 10 a.m. Visit budweisergardens.com or call 1-866-455-2849.