Due to overwhelming demand, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK announced a new string of North American show dates today for Spring 2009. The recently announced NKOTB Cruise sparked a fan frenzy proving people everywhere want more NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NKOTB fans have spoken and the band obliged! Fresh off sold out shows across the globe, the group will kick off their first batch of 2009 dates in March and include a March 25 date at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

Tickets go on-sale SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 at 9 am. Tickets are available at the Cumberland County Civic Center box office, charge by phone at (207) 775-3458 and exclusively on-line at www.livenation.com

Tickets are $69.50, $49.50 and $39.50, reserved seating, all ages.

The shows have featured a varied set list including classics such as, "Hangin Tough," "Step by Step," and "Right Stuff," mixed with the newer tunes like, "Single" and "Summertime" from their brand new album, THE BLOCK. As the New York Post described, "the encore of 1990's 'Step By Step' and the 1989 tune 'Hangin' Tough' were gasoline on the concert fire." and the OC Register exclaimed, "they put on a stellar show that kept the crowd on its feet for two hours." "Not only do the New Kids sound better than they ever did, they also look like they're having even more fun than they did 20 years ago," lauded Newsday.

The reunion of all five members of the famed 90s group that sold millions of albums and ignited a worldwide phenomenon has enthusiastically been embraced by screaming fans. With the support of the fans the group successfully sold out show after show on both sides of the Atlantic and now return home for another wave of packed arena shows.

The band has also teamed with I Love All Access to provide a variety of VIP ticket packages for the tour, including premium seats, meet and greets, photo ops, parties and more.

"This is beyond our wildest dreams, the t-shirts, the screams, the emails, the messages, it's been amazing so far and we are all just so happy to keep it going." Says Donnie Wahlberg.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK sold more than 80 million albums worldwide -- including back-to-back international #1 songs, 1988's Hangin' Tough and 1990's Step By Step -- and a series of crossover smash R&B, pop hits like "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," "Cover Girl," "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," "Hangin' Tough," "I'll Be Loving You," "Step By Step" and "Tonight." The group shattered concert box office records playing an estimated 200 concerts a year, in sold out stadiums throughout the world. They still hold many of these records to date. They were Forbes highest paid entertainers of 1990, beating out Michael Jackson and Madonna. The band boasted an extensive and highly profitable merchandise line which included everything from lunch boxes and sleeping bags to comic books, marbles and dolls.

www.nkotb.com