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JAKARTA – U2 have shared an early look at the stage design for their upcoming The Greatest Show On Earth stadium tour. Bono describes this new production as a “little play on shamanism and showbusiness”. Next year, the Irish rock legends will hit the road for a massive string of 2027 concerts. Specifically, the band will tour to celebrate the release of their long-awaited 16th album, Carnaval De Luz. First, the group announced tour dates across South America. Soon after, they added extra shows in Mexico City, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires to meet strong fan demand. Then, U2 confirmed additional concerts across the UK and Europe in Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, Lisbon, Milan, and London. Furthermore, the band Wolf Alice will open for them at those European shows. Meanwhile, U2 promised fans that they will announce dates in Ireland, Spain, and North America “soon”.
Until recently, the band kept most details about these huge shows a secret. However, at the end of last month, they shared their goal to make each concert “the best night of anybody’s life”. “A bit of showman, a bit of shaman, a riot of colour, unreasonable guitar, bass and drums, and tunes you can hold onto,” the band added. “Because if people are gonna show up, we certainly are”. Now, the group has revealed early digital designs of the stage and lighting setup.
First, an overhead picture shows a full view of the stadium venue. In this design, a huge red curtain covers most of the stage. Furthermore, two long walkways stretch out directly into the crowd. Meanwhile, a large gold moon hangs above the left side of the stage, while a bright sun sits on the right. Bono also explained that the band plans to hang “the widest set of red curtains” they can fit on the stage. “Pink Floyd had ‘The Wall’, we’ve got the red curtains,” he added.
Next, a second image shows rows of yellow lightbulbs hanging down from the ceiling. At the same time, other lightbulbs form a giant sphere around the standing area. Additionally, the stage crew will place the Carnaval de Luz sign backwards at the top center of the stage. This clever setup creates the feeling that “everyone in the audience is backstage”.
Before this tour announcement, U2 played shows in Las Vegas, surprise homecoming gigs in Dublin for their 50th anniversary, and a small London show for the BBC with Brian Eno. Recently, Bono and guitarist The Edge spoke to NME about their vision for the upcoming tour. Specifically, they want to build The Greatest Show On Earth once again by blending “the history of showbusiness and shamanism” into their live set. When explaining the carnival theme, the band noted that a mix of fun, partying, and politics has always sat at the heart of U2. “A lot of carnival was taking the piss out of the landed gentry and the royals. They would mock their costumes and their dancing,” Bono added. Moreover, he pointed to past eras when leaders in certain Catholic countries banned carnival celebrations. “Isn’t that amazing? That these big autocrats are frightened of carnival, of freedom? That’s fascism really”.
During the chat, Bono also explained why U2 chose Wolf Alice to join them on tour. In particular, he praised the group as “another extraordinary band that won’t stay in their lane”. Readers can check out the full NME interview, where U2 discuss their secret to lasting 50 years and the “defiant joy” of Carnaval de Luz. Furthermore, the band talks about America finally “waking up” and shares how their love for Geese, Fontaines D.C., and Lambrini Girls keeps them sharp. Yestreday, November 13, U2 had released Carnaval De Luz. Jacknife Lee produced the new record. Notably, the album features the late Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocals on the song Torn. Additionally, the band wrote The Mirror Maker as a tribute to Rosalía. Finally, NME praised the album’s fresh energy in a glowing review. “None of this is atypical of latter-day U2, where uninspiring instrumentals and platitudinous turns of phrase often leave their records feeling bombastic and hollow,” the review reads, “but Carnaval De Luz feels like a left turn, summoning a joy that both reinvigorates their songwriting and serves as a riposte to an ever-bleaker global picture”.
Photo doc. iHeartRadio
