Volta Tour

Volta Tour
Tour by Björk
Associated album	Volta
Start date	April 9, 2007 (2007-04-09)
End date	August 15, 2008 (2008-08-15)
Shows	35 in Europe 18 in North America 8 in South America 6 in Oceania 7 in Asia 74 Total
Björk tour chronology
Greatest Hits Tour (2003) Volta Tour (2007-8) Biophilia Tour (2011-13)

The Volta Tour was a tour by the singer Björk that focused on her album, Volta. Overall, 48 songs were done on the tour focusing on many tracks from Debut through to Vespertine, though mostly from Medúlla and Volta, the former of which did not receive its own tour. The tour band consisted of drummer Chris Corsano, musician Mark Bell (who also accompanied Björk on the Homogenic tour), pianist Jónas Sen (who played celeste on the tracks Gratitude and Cetacea on the Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack), musician Damian Taylor and a 10 piece female Icelandic brass section. Many of the songs evolved considerably during the tour, including "Innocence" which was re-done so as to incorporate brass elements. Live performances of the track "Declare Independence" made heavy use of the ReacTable, an electro-acoustic music instrument with a tabletop Tangible User Interface, which is played by Damian Taylor. The Tenori-on was used heavily in performances of "Who Is It". A live DVD and CD of the Volta tour was released as part of Voltaïc. The tour was Björk's first in four years and saw her play countries that she had not played in over ten years.

Opening acts

Björk performing at Coachella Festival on April 27, 2007.

• Hot Chip
• Konono N°1
• Spank Rock
• Ghostigital
• Joanna Newsom
• M.I.A.
• Klaxons
• Ratatat
• Santogold
• Leila Arab
• Cosmos
• Jurga Šeduikytė

Songs performed

Björk performing at the Radio City Music Hall backed by the Icelandic brass section The Wonderbrass, on May 2, 2007.

From Debut:

• Human Behaviour
• Venus as a Boy
• Aeroplane
• Come to Me
• The Anchor Song
• Síðasta Ég (B-Side)

From Post:

• Army of Me
• Hyperballad (Mixed with LFO's track "Freak")
• I Miss You (Performed with Einar Örn during selected dates)
• Cover Me

From Homogenic:

• Hunter
• Jóga
• Unravel
• Bachelorette
• 5 Years
• Immature
• Pluto
• All Is Full of Love

From Selmasongs:

• Overture

From Vespertine:

• Hidden Place
• Cocoon
• It's Not Up to You
• Undo
• Pagan Poetry
• Aurora
• Unison
• Mother Heroic (B-Side)

From Medúlla:

• Pleasure Is All Mine
• Where Is the Line
• Vökuró
• Who is It
• Desired Constellation
• Oceania
• Triumph of a Heart

From Volta:

• Earth Intruders (performed with Konono N°1 during selected dates)
• Wanderlust (contains elements of "Matthew Herbert Remix" starting on February 16, 2008)
• The Dull Flame of Desire (performed with Antony Hegarty during selected dates)
• Innocence (a new arrangement was played starting on February 16, 2008)
• I See Who You Are (performed with Min Xiaofen during selected dates)
• Vertebræ by Vertebræ
• Hope (performed with Toumani Diabaté during selected dates)
• Declare Independence (performed with Matmos on July 5, 2007)

Also:

• Brennið Þið Vitar (Traditional Icelandic song, played as a walk-in by the brass band)

Controversies

Björk performing at the Deer Lake Park on May 23, 2007.

Björk has used live performances of "Declare Independence" to declare political support for various causes, often to some controversy. At two concerts in Tokyo, Japan she showed her support for Kosovo's declaration of independence. When her upcoming performance at the 2008 Serbian EXIT Festival was cancelled,^[1][2] Björk suggested that "Maybe a Serb attended my concert [in Tokyo] and called home, and therefore the concert in Novi Sad was cancelled."^[3][4] The organizer behind the EXIT Festival denied that Björk's cancellation from the festival was because of her song dedication to Kosovo; that it was actually their inability to guarantee the safety of her fans.^[5] Björk's management maintained that the cancellation was because of the dedication,^[6] claiming that they had received an email from EXIT Festival saying that they would only allow the concert to go ahead if Björk's management "denied that Björk has ever [dedicated the song to Kosovo]".^[7] On March 7, 2008 EXIT festival organiser Bojan Boscovic changed his position and told NME that Björk has an "open invitation" to play at the festival.^[8] Björk's dedicating of "Declare Independence" to the Faroe Islands caused some minor controversy in the country.^[9][10]

At a concert in Shanghai, China on March 2, 2008 Björk shouted "Tibet, Tibet!" three times followed by "Raise your flag!" four times during the finale performance of "Declare Independence".^[11] Immediately there was an 'uneasy atmosphere' and fans left the venue quickly,^[12] and internet forums such as Tianya fielded many negative comments on her statement.^[13] China's Ministry of Culture issued a statement denouncing Björk's outburst,^[14] and warned that she would be banned from future appearances in China if she repeated such behavior.^[15] In an interview, Björk said that she did not "[plan] a trip to China with the purpose of... propaganda" and that Chinese officials "sensationalized" her performance.^[16][17] On July 17, 2008 the Chinese Ministry of Culture announced that artistic groups who "threaten national unity" or "whip up ethnic hatred" among other things during live events would be banned from performing. Fans of Oasis and Bob Dylan, who had previously performed in Tibetan Freedom Concerts, blamed the new regulations for their subsequent denials of permission to perform in Chinese venues.^[18]

Many of the live performances from the current tour can be viewed on the video sharing website YouTube, shot by people in the audience. However, Björk has voiced her dislike of fans recording video/taking pictures (with flash) at her concerts using their mobile phones ("little cameras"), stating that it affects her ability to perform.^[19] On 13 January 2008, Björk attacked a photographer who had photographed her arrival at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand for her scheduled performance at the Big Day Out festival.^[20] Björk allegedly tore the photographer's shirt down the back, and in the process she fell to the ground.^[21] Neither the photographer nor his employer, The New Zealand Herald, lodged a formal complaint, and Auckland police did not investigate further.^[22]

Tour dates

Björk performing during Rock en Seine 2007, in a dress designed by Bernhard Willhelm.

Björk performing "Earth Intruders" at the Náttúra concert in Reykjavík, on June 28, 2008.

Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Promotional performances

Awards and nominations

Meteor Ireland Music Awards

References

External links

• Volta Tour Summary at old.bjork.com