MSG Sphere Las Vegas reveals next residency
American rock band Dead & Company have announced a residency at MSG Sphere Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of U2 and their enormously successful run.
The ‘Dead Forever’ run will comprise 18 concerts across six consecutive weeks between 16 May and 22 June, with a different setlist performed each weekend.
Tickets start at $145 and will reflect all-in pricing. Advance presale registration is available now.
“As we put the finishing touches on booking venues, and understanding that word travels fast, we wanted to be the first to let you know that Dead & Company will be hitting the road next summer for what will be our final tour,” said John Mayer said in a statement posted yesterday.
“Stay tuned for a full list of dates for what will surely be an exciting, celebratory, and heartfelt last run of shows.”
“Stay tuned for a full list of dates for what will surely be an exciting, celebratory, and heartfelt last run of shows”
Dead & Company, completed by Mayer, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti, perform Grateful Dead covers and have completed 10 tours, playing to more than four million fans across 235 shows and breaking multiple records.
The band’s most recent outing – ‘The Final Tour’, which wrapped on 16 July 2023 – grossed more than US$100 million. It was the highest annual gross ever recorded on the road during the band’s eight-year run.
Ahead of Dead & Company’s residency, Phish will deliver a four-show run at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue from 18-21 April.
The venue’s first resident artist, U2, wrapped their fourth leg of the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency on 4 November, with Billboard Boxscore reporting that the 17 shows grossed $109.8 million and sold 281,000 tickets, marking the fastest-grossing residency in Boxscore history. The residency concludes on 2 March.
Dead & Company – Dead Forever – Live at Sphere dates:
Thursday, May 16; Friday, May 17; Saturday, May 18
Friday, May 24; Saturday, May 25; Sunday, May 26
Thursday, May 30; Friday, May 31; Saturday, June 1
Thursday, June 6; Friday, June 7; Saturday, June 8
Thursday, June 13; Friday, June 14; Saturday, June 15
Thursday, June 20; Friday, June 21; Saturday, June 22
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Next act to play MSG Sphere Las Vegas revealed
Phish is the next major act booked to play at the MSG Sphere Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of U2.
The American rock band will deliver a four-show run at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue from 18-21 April, 2024, with each night set to feature a unique setlist and visuals.
“From the moment we first heard about Sphere and its potential, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas,” says Trey Anastasio, Phish guitarist and vocalist, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to present this completely unique experience to Phish fans.”
The band, who are known for making each show unique, have promised a “once-in-a-lifetime audio-visual experience” during the shows.
“From the moment we first heard about Sphere, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas”
The Sphere features a 160,000 sq. foot LED display inside the main venue, which wraps up, over and around the audience for a fully immersive experience in cutting-edge 16K x 16K resolution.
Ticket requests for the Phish run are now open until 12:00 pm ET on 11 December. All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning 15 December at 1 pm ET.
The venue’s first resident artist, U2, wrapped their fourth leg of the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency on 4 November, with Billboard Boxscore reporting that the 17 shows grossed $109.8 million and sold 281,000 tickets, marking the fastest-grossing residency in Boxscore history.
Last week, MSG’s plans for a Sphere venue in London were rejected by the Mayor of London who said “the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”.
A spokesperson for MSG tells IQ: “While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those.”
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.