WINNIPEG -- Expect an alien presence to touch down in Winnipeg on Wednesday, July 4, Independence Day.

Prince is confirmed to play the Winnipeg Arena.

The otherworldly 43-year-old pop star ---- formerly The Artist, formerly The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, formerly Prince, formerly Prince Rogers Nelson ---- is coming to Winnipeg for the first time next month with his band New Power Generation for a stop in a tour titled Prince: A Celebration.

According to Pollstar, an Internet concert tracking site, the tour begins Friday at Paisley Park, Prince's own Minneapolis studio complex and is followed by 28 more stops in Canada and the U.S. over the summer.

North of the border, the perpetually purple-clad singer-songwriter-guitarist is scheduled to play Saskatoon July 3, the Montreal Jazz Festival on July 6, Toronto's Air Canada Centre on July 7, Edmonton on July 26 and Vancouver on July 28.

Prince's career peaked in the early '80s with the release of the albums 1999 and Purple Rain, but his spectacular, sexy stage shows have continued to keep him on the concert A-list.

Winnipeg Arena publicist Shirley Preteau confirmed the arena booking yesterday afternoon, saying the three-tier ticket prices will be $45, $75 and $95.

The short lead time between concert announcement and concert is typical of Prince's modus operandi. In his last concert tour, Hit N Run, the concert was often announced just days before the event.

Tickets to the concert are scheduled to go on sale Saturday morning at Select-A-Seat (780-7328).