The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood

The Garth Brooks World Tour
with Trisha Yearwood
Tour by Garth Brooks

Promotional image for the tour.
Associated album Man Against Machine
Start date September 4, 2014
Legs 5
Number of shows 208 in North America
Garth Brooks concert chronology

The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood is a current concert tour by American country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Beginning on September 4, 2014, in Rosemont, Illinois, the tour is Brooks' first in thirteen years after coming out of retirement. It launched in support of his 2014 studio album, Man Against Machine.

As of February 2016, the tour is in its fourth leg, having covered cities throughout the United States, with Canadian shows starting in March 2016. Shows in Europe, Australia, and South America have been reported to follow in the coming years. Statistically, the tour is on track to generate attendance and revenue well above the highest-grossing concert tours.[1] It was the third ranking North American tour of 2015, grossing $114.9 million.[2]

Conception

Garth Brooks' first and second world tours, 1993–94 and 1996–98 respectfully, were both successful. After his multi-year residency at Wynn Las Vegas, yet not embarking on a multi-city tour for thirteen years, Brooks announced plans for a world tour during an interview on Good Morning America in December 2013.[3] He later confirmed his tour and plans for an upcoming album during a press conference on July 11, 2014.[4] On July 15, Brooks stated on his website that each city on the tour will be individually released, and the first concert will take place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Days later, Brooks announced ten additional shows, all at the same Chicago arena.[5] Brooks has continued the pattern of announcing the next city every few weeks, both in an effort to generate excitement and urgency, as well as an attempt to combat ticket resale. Since its official announcement in July 2014, the tour has been in extremely high demand. Typically, two or three shows are announced in one market at a time, with more shows added based on real-time statistics of demand.[1]

Ticket sales and records

For the first concerts of the tour (what would become an eleven-show residency in Rosemont, Illinois), 180,000 tickets were sold within three hours, meriting comparison to Bruce Springsteen's 1999–2000 reunion tour comeback success.[35] As the tour progressed, Ticketmaster began having issues handling the high demand for tickets. 53,000 tickets were sold for the Atlanta shows, despite fans waiting for more than two hours due to technical issues by the ticket distribution company.[36]

Many arena's ticket sales records have been held by Brooks from his previous world tours; these have since been broken by Brooks again. The tour broke the record for most tickets sold for concerts in a single North American city (more than 201,000 tickets for a residency in Minneapolis).[9] The same Minneapolis residency was also the most concerts held in a single city to date, featuring eleven shows. On September 18, 2015 AXS, the merchant selling online tickets to Brooks' San Diego shows, became overwhelmed by demand for tickets and was forced to halt the sale; tickets were later sold the following week.[37]

In January 2016, tickets went on sale for the tour's first stop in Canada, a five-show residency in Hamilton, Ontario. Having not performed in the country since 1996, the Hamilton concerts sold more tickets than Brooks' previous Canadian shows combined, breaking his ticket sales record for the entire province of Ontario.[33]

Resale controversies

In keeping with Brooks' own tradition, each ticket sold for the tour is the same price, regardless of location in the venue.[38]An issue that arose beginning with the first concerts on the tour has been high ticket resale prices. For example, tickets for the seven-show residency in Dallas were being resold online for an average price 21% higher than face value.[39] Because of Ticketmaster's anti-resale policies, Brooks chose the company to be the official ticket sales company for the tour. Despite the optimism for a lack of extreme resale prices, Ticketmaster's partner resale sites and services began allowing individuals to sell marked up tickets anyway. In the first weeks of the tour, Atlanta tickets were posted for sale on TicketsNow for as much as nearly 470% higher than face value (i.e. a $71.50 ticket being sold for $405).[40] Brooks, a long-time proponent of banning increased price ticket resales, called out those marking up ticket prices, saying his ultimate goal is making concerts affordable regardless of seat location.[41]

Cancelled and rescheduled shows

Due to conflict with the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, Brooks was forced to cancel all June 2015 concerts at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.[42] In anticipation of the January 2016 United States blizzard, Brooks rescheduled two concerts at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore for the following weekend.[43]

Stage design

The large cube video monitor encasing the drummer's sphere prior to the concert; it is raised as the band makes their entrance.

Stage design for the world tour was directly influenced by Garth Brooks, stating his main interest in the show was to both "wow" the crowd while also keeping the central focus of the concert on the music itself. The lighting design by Robe Lighting was commissioned by David Butzler, Brooks' long-time lighting director.[44]

Concerts are performed in an "end stage" setting, rather than a "theatre in the round" configuration; however, tickets are sold for all seats in the areas, including those located behind the stage.[45]

Before the start of the third leg, the stage received some renovations including wing expansions and video screen redesign.[39]

Format and setlists

Show outline

Depending on the specific venue, the show begins with a performance from opening act Karyn Rochelle.[46] The stage consists of a large cube video monitor, featuring four sides showing Brooks' logo prior to the concert beginning. At the start, the cube is raised and Brooks appears as the first song is played. He begins his set, performing nearly all popular songs from his early albums. Yearwood then accompanies Brooks for a duet, followed by performing a select few of her songs. Brooks returns to perform additional songs, then two separate sets of encores.[46]

Main set

Brooks' silhouette as shown in the concert opening

As shown in the first legs of the tour, the first four songs are always the same. The concert begins with footage of Brooks' silhouette while singing the opening lines to "Man Against Machine". He then appears via elevator through the floor of the stage, pauses, and continues performing the song. The bridge and final chorus are omitted and it transitions to "Rodeo", followed by "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House", and "The Beaches of Cheyenne".[46] Next, depending on the venue, other songs such as "The River", "Two Pina Coladas", "Papa Loved Mama", and "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)". "Unanswered Prayers" follows, with the audience singing the entire song with little accompaniment from Brooks. Additional songs, including "That Summer", "The Thunder Rolls", and "We Shall Be Free" may follow.[47] Excluding the opening, Brooks only performs one song from Man Against Machine, his new album (either "People Loving People" or "All American Kid"). When questioned on his lack of new songs in the setlist, he remarked, "I'm just like you... I see the guys I like and I want to hear the old stuff."[48]

Brooks dances atop the drummer's sphere during "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)"

Brooks then begins singing "In Another's Eyes", as Trisha Yearwood enters the stage and performs the duet. Yearwood goes on to performs a select few of her songs, including "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)", "How Do I Live", "She's in Love with the Boy", and "Georgia Rain".[46] Brooks then returns to sing "PrizeFighter" with Yearwood and transition back into his set. Additional songs performed by Brooks may include "Callin' Baton Rouge" and "Shameless". "Friends in Low Places" is then performed, followed by "The Dance" as the main set ends and the band departs from the stage.[47]

Encores

At each concert, Brooks and crew return to the stage and perform "The Fever". Brooks dances on a conveyor belt (famously taking a fall on October 31, 2014[49]), as the drummer's sphere rises above the stage. Following the performance, the band leaves the stage once again. They then return once again, and the next songs performed vary significantly. In some instances (such as the Atlanta concerts in September 2014), Brooks will return to the stage alone and perform acoustic covers of songs like "Amarillo By Morning", "Night Moves", and "Piano Man".[50] He may also perform his own songs, such as "If Tomorrow Never Comes", "It's Your Song", "The Red Strokes", "Good Ride Cowboy", "Longneck Bottle", or "Standing Outside The Fire". Regardless, the encore set commonly concludes with "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)".[47]

Special performances and broadcasts

During the second concert of the tour in Rosemont, Illinois on September 5, 2014, Kelly Clarkson made a surprise appearance to perform the duet "PrizeFighter", alongside Yearwood (Brooks normally sings Clarkson's verses).[51] Clarkson also made an appearance and sang the duet once again at the concert in Atlanta on September 19, 2014.[50] Brooks made national headlines in November 2014 after noting a fan's sign at a concert in Minneapolis. The sign, reading "Chemo this morning. Garth tonight. Enjoying the dance.", caught Brooks' attention during his performance of "The Dance". After getting emotional, Brooks expressed his support.[52] Later that same month, Brooks performed "People Loving People" on the American Music Awards of 2014 live via satellite from the concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.[53] On the second to last concert of Brooks' six-night residency in Boston on January 25, 2015, Lee Brice joined him on stage and the two performed "More Than a Memory".[54]

Critical response

Ray Waddell of Billboard noted the tours imminent success, saying Brooks could generate "more than double U2's attendance record" on their U2 360° Tour (the all-time highest-grossing concert tour).[1] Commenting on the show itself, Jon Bream of the Star Tribune described it as "all about Garth being Garth, being humble and hammy, sincere and silly, romantic and rowdy — and making the fans believe that he’s having as much fun as they are."[55] Melissa Ruggieri of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted Brooks' skill of "toggling between the barn burning slickness of 'Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)' and the restrained acoustic beauty of 'Unanswered Prayers'."[50] Commenting on Brooks' return to his native state of Oklahoma, Brandy McDonnell of The Oklahoman remarked "the frenzied audience nearly drowned out Brooks' stellar band on several occasions." She later stated "[Brooks'] talent and zeal as an entertainer remain unmatched."[56]

Tour dates

List of concerts, showing date, number of shows, city, country, and venue
Date
Number of shows		 City Country Venue
North America Leg 1
September 4, 2014 Rosemont United States Allstate Arena
September 5, 2014
2 shows
September 6, 2014
2 shows
September 11, 2014
September 12, 2014
2 shows
September 13, 2014
2 shows
September 14, 2014
September 19, 2014
2 shows		 Atlanta Philips Arena
September 20, 2014
2 shows
September 21, 2014
September 26, 2014
September 27, 2014
October 10, 2014 Jacksonville Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
October 11, 2014
October 12, 2014
October 16, 2014
October 17, 2014
October 18, 2014
October 31, 2014
2 shows		 Lexington Rupp Arena
November 1, 2014
2 shows
November 6, 2014 Minneapolis Target Center
November 7, 2014
2 shows
November 8, 2014
2 shows
November 9, 2014
November 13, 2014
November 14, 2014
2 shows
November 15, 2014
2 shows
November 19, 2014 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum
November 20, 2014
November 21, 2014
November 22, 2014
November 23, 2014
December 4, 2014 St. Louis Scottrade Center
December 5, 2014
December 6, 2014
December 7, 2014
December 11, 2014 North Little Rock Verizon Arena
December 12, 2014
December 13, 2014
North America Leg 2
January 9, 2015 Tulsa United States BOK Center
January 10, 2015
2 shows
January 11, 2015
January 15, 2015
January 16, 2015
January 17, 2015
January 22, 2015 Boston TD Garden
January 23, 2015
2 shows
January 24, 2015
2 shows
January 25, 2015
February 5, 2015 Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center
February 6, 2015
2 shows
February 7, 2015
2 shows
February 8, 2015
February 20, 2015 Detroit Joe Louis Arena
February 21, 2015
2 shows
February 27, 2015
2 shows
February 28, 2015
March 5, 2015 Buffalo First Niagara Center
March 6, 2015
2 shows
March 7, 2015
2 shows
March 8, 2015
March 18, 2015 Denver Pepsi Center
March 19, 2015
March 20, 2015
2 shows
March 21, 2015
2 shows
March 22, 2015
2 shows
March 24, 2015
March 27, 2015 Sacramento Sleep Train Arena
March 28, 2015
2 shows
March 29, 2015
March 31, 2015
April 1, 2015
April 12, 2015
2 shows		 Portland Moda Center
April 13, 2015
April 15, 2015
April 16, 2015
April 24, 2015 State College Bryce Jordan Center
April 25, 2015
2 shows
May 1, 2015
May 2, 2015
2 shows
May 7, 2015 Omaha CenturyLink Center Omaha
May 8, 2015
2 shows
May 9, 2015
2 shows
May 10, 2015
May 28, 2015 Knoxville Thompson–Boling Arena
May 29, 2015
May 30, 2015
May 31, 2015
June 12, 2015 Birmingham Legacy Arena at the BJCC
June 13, 2015
2 shows
June 26, 2015
2 shows		 Houston Toyota Center
June 27, 2015
2 shows
July 3, 2015
2 shows
July 4, 2015
2 shows
July 10, 2015 New Orleans Smoothie King Center
July 11, 2015
2 shows
July 12, 2015
North America Leg 3
September 17, 2015 Dallas United States American Airlines Center
September 18, 2015
2 shows
September 19, 2015
2 shows
September 20, 2015
September 22, 2015
September 25, 2015 Milwaukee BMO Harris Bradley Center
September 26, 2015
2 shows
October 9, 2015
2 shows		 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena
October 10, 2015
2 shows
October 16, 2015 Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena
October 17, 2015
October 23, 2015
2 shows
October 24, 2015
2 shows
October 29, 2015 Salt Lake City Vivint Smart Home Arena
October 30, 2015
2 shows
October 31, 2015
November 5, 2015 San Diego Valley View Casino Center
November 6, 2015
November 7, 2015
2 shows
November 8, 2015
November 13, 2015 San Jose SAP Center
November 14, 2015
November 15, 2015
December 3, 2015 Wichita Intrust Bank Arena
December 4, 2015
December 5, 2015
2 shows
December 6, 2015
2 shows
North America Leg 4
January 14, 2016 Sunrise United States BB&T Center
January 15, 2016
January 16, 2016
January 29, 2016 Baltimore Royal Farms Arena
January 30, 2016
2 shows
January 31, 2016
2 shows
February 12, 2016 North Charleston North Charleston Coliseum
February 13, 2016
2 shows
February 14, 2016
February 26, 2016 Worcester DCU Center
February 27, 2016
February 28, 2016
March 11, 2016 Raleigh PNC Arena
March 12, 2016
March 13, 2016
March 24, 2016 Hamilton Canada FirstOntario Centre
March 25, 2016
March 26, 2016
2 shows
March 27, 2016
April 1, 2016 Ottawa Canadian Tire Centre
April 2, 2016
April 3, 2016
2 shows
April 8, 2016
2 shows		 Louisville United States KFC Yum! Center
April 9, 2016
2 shows
North America Leg 5
June 24, 2016 Las Vegas United States T-Mobile Arena
June 25, 2016
July 2, 2016
July 3, 2016
2 shows
July 4, 2016

Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation
Date City Country Venue Reason
June 5, 2015 Tampa United States Amalie Arena Scheduling conflict with the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.[42]
June 6, 2015
2 shows

Grossing

Total available grossing: $130.9 million from 125 shows.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Waddell, Ray. "Inside Garth Brooks' Master Plan to Launch the Biggest Tour of All Time". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "2015 Pollstar Year End Top 200 North American Tours" (PDF). Pollstarpro.com. POLLSTAR. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ Kindelan, Katie. "Garth Brooks Announces World Tour on 'Good Morning America'". ABC News Blogs. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Garth Brooks, Sony Music Entertainment Announce Highly Anticipated New Music, World Tour and Going Digital" (PDF). garthbrooks.com. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Garth Brooks Launching Tour With 10 Chicago Shows". CMT.com. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Hall, Tara. "Garth Brooks breaks record with Chicago, Atlanta shows and ticket sales". SoundSpike. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Abbott, Jim. "Garth Brooks beats his own record with Jacksonville ticket sales". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  8. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks breaks his Lexington, Ky., sales record". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  9. 1 2 McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks sells more than 201,000 Minneapolis tickets, launches official Facebook". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Garth Brooks Breaks His NC Ticket Sales Record for Upcoming Greensboro Concerts". Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Alexander, Shannon. "Garth Brooks breaks another record and adds two more St. Louis dates". AXS. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  12. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks breaks Arkansas state record for ticket sales to Little Rock show". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Garth Brooks sells over 105,000 tickets for Tulsa shows in just 2 hours, 7 concerts coming in January". KFOR-TV. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Gayle. "Garth Brooks Breaks Pittsburgh Ticket Sales Record". The Boot. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  15. ↑ Lacy, Eric. "Garth Brooks breaks Michigan record for concert tickets sold with brisk sales for six Detroit dates". MLive.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling. "Garth Brooks Breaks Buffalo Record, Passes a Million Ticket Sales for Tour Read More: Garth Brooks Breaks Ticket Sales Record in Buffalo". TasteofCountry.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Miller, Matt. "Garth Brooks breaks a record: 140,000 tickets sold for Denver shows". Denver Post. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  18. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks sells more than 84,000 tickets and sets record for his Sacramento shows". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  19. ↑ Allers, Hannahlee. "Garth Brooks Breaks Ticket Sales Records in Oregon". The Boot. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Berger, Zach. "Garth Brooks Reclaims Title For Fastest BJC Sellout". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  21. ↑ Mertes, Micah. "Garth Brooks just broke the Nebraska ticket sales record, previously held by Garth Brooks". omaha.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  22. ↑ Allers, Hannahlee. "Garth Brooks Sets Concert Record in Knoxville". The Boot. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  23. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks breaks his Houston ticket sales record". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  24. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks breaks Louisiana ticket sales record in 43 minutes". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  25. ↑ Armstrong, Jordan. "Garth Brooks breaks ticket record; schedules 7 Dallas shows". WFAA-TV. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "Garth breaks Phoenix record". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Garth Brooks breaks his own record for EnergySolutions Arena ticket sales". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Garth Brooks Continues to Set Records on World Tour". The Boot. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "Garth breaks south Florida record". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Garth sets new record in Baltimore". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  31. ↑ "Garth breaks record in South Carolina". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  32. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Garth Brooks breaks his ticket sales record in North Carolina's Triangle". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  33. 1 2 "Garth smashes records in Canada". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "Garth breaks his Ottawa record". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  35. ↑ Kot, Greg (25 July 2014). "Garth Brooks sells 180,000 tickets in 3 hours for Chicago shows". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  36. ↑ "Garth Brooks sells out all three Atlanta shows despite Ticketmaster issues". The Music Universe. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  37. ↑ Bell, Diane. "Garth Brooks' ticket sale halted". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  38. ↑ Yarborough, Chuck. "Garth Brooks is better than ever, says promoter bringing tour to Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  39. 1 2 Lawrence, Jesse. "Garth Brooks Bringing High Secondary Market Ticket Demand, New Stage Design To Dallas This September". Forbes. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  40. ↑ Goldson, Darnell. "Garth Brooks Teams Up with World’s Biggest Scalper – To Stop Ticket Scalping". TicketNews. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  41. ↑ "Garth Brooks declares war on ticket scalpers as part of Utah visit". KUTV.
  42. 1 2 Cridlin, Jay (May 31, 2015). "Garth Brooks cancels Tampa concerts due to Stanley Cup playoffs". Tampa Bay Times.
  43. ↑ "Winter storm postpones shows this weekend". garthbrooks.com. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  44. ↑ "Robe for Garth Brooks Tour". LiveDesign. Penton. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  45. ↑ Raihala, Ross. "Going to see Garth Brooks? 6 things you should know". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Bream, Jon. "Set list & more thoughts about Garth Brooks Show No. 1". StarTribune.
  47. 1 2 3 "Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood Concert Setlists & Tour Dates". setlist.fm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  48. ↑ Colurso, Mary. "Garth Brooks in Birmingham: Country star helms first of 3 shows here in rowdy, theatrical style". AL.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  49. ↑ "Garth Brooks -- The Thunder Rolls ... But Not As Much As Me". TMZ. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  50. 1 2 3 Ruggieri, Melissa. "Concert review: Garth Brooks roars in Atlanta return". AJC. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  51. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling. "Kelly Clarkson Joins Trisha Yearwood Onstage for First Post-Baby Performance". TasteofCountry.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  52. ↑ "Garth Brooks serenades cancer patient at Minnesota concert". CBS News. AP. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  53. ↑ Warner, Denise. "Garth Brooks Brings 'People Loving People' to the 2014 American Music Awards". Billboard.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  54. ↑ Leahey, Andrew. "Lee Brice Joins Garth Brooks Onstage for Surprise Duet". RollingStone.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  55. ↑ Bream, Jon. "OMG! Garth is still golden: Review: The animated country superstar began a record run with a spirited show at Target Center". StarTribune.
  56. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Concert review & set list: Garth Brooks makes triumphant homecoming as he starts 7-show run at Tulsa's BOK Center". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  57. ↑ "2014 Pollstar Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours" (PDF). Pollstar.
  58. ↑ "2015 Midyear Top 100 Worldwide Tours" (PDF). Pollstar.

External links

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