Quick Answer
Yes, Elton John typically has an opening act for his concerts on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. The opening acts vary by location and date, but have included artists like Rufus Wainwright, Lionel Richie, Ed Sheeran, and Brandi Carlile. The opening act generally performs for around 30-45 minutes before Elton John takes the stage.
More Detailed Answer
As one of the most iconic and celebrated artists of all time, Elton John draws huge crowds to his concerts even in his 70s. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is billed as his final tour ever, so fans are eager to catch one last unforgettable live performance.
To entertain and excite the crowd leading up to Elton’s set, having an opening act is a great way to kick off the show. The opening act helps build anticipation and energy in the arena before the main event. Having a big name opening act also provides extra value for the ticket price.
Elton John’s concert promoters aim to find opening acts that complement Elton’s music style and have their own fanbases to draw in more ticket buyers. So far on the Farewell Tour, Elton’s openers have included:
- Rufus Wainwright – renowned singer-songwriter with a rich baritone voice and piano skills.
- Lionel Richie – legendary pop/R&B artist behind hits like “All Night Long” and “Hello”.
- Ed Sheeran – popular millenial singer-songwriter adept at loop pedal guitar.
- Brandi Carlile – Grammy-winning Americana singer-songwriter.
These artists all have unique styles, but pair well with Elton John’s pop piano tunes and flair for showmanship. The openers typically play for 30-45 minutes, warming up the crowd with a handful of their biggest hits. They help transition the audience into the right mood for an electrifying Elton John performance.
Having an opening act is a longstanding tradition at major concerts and live events. While some huge legacy acts may not have an opener, most concerts feature one or even multiple opening acts. The openers are generally up-and-coming artists looking to gain exposure, paired with a relevant artist with an established fanbase.
Benefits of Having an Opener
There are a few key benefits for Elton John having an opening act on tour:
- Draws more fans – Having a big name opening act attracts their own dedicated fanbase who may want to catch both acts.
- Preps the crowd – The opening act warms up the audience and gets them energized and excited before the headliner.
- Provides value – Ticket buyers get to enjoy a mini-show before the main event, adding extra entertainment for the price.
- Introduces new music – Opening for Elton introduces less-known acts to a bigger audience, helping them gain new fans.
- Allows set prep – While the opener performs, the headliner’s team has time to finalize stage and production details.
Both Elton John and the opening artists stand to benefit from this performance pairing when executed thoughtfully. The shared fans and billing creates a reciprocal boost for both acts’ brands and music.
Who Is Opening for Elton on the Remaining Tour Dates?
As Elton’s Farewell Tour continues across five continents through 2023, different opening acts will join him on various legs of the journey. Upcoming openers on the tour include:
- Gabrielle Aplin – English singer-songwriter supporting some October 2022 UK dates.
- Rina Sawayama – Rising pop singer supporting Elton in New Zealand and Australia in January 2023.
- Cat Burns – British pop singer slated for some 2023 UK shows.
- George Ezra – British singer-songwriter set to open some German shows in 2023.
Elton has a great history of amplifying rising talents by having them open his stadium shows. Fans can look forward to discovering their new favorite artist through these opening sets.
The full list of opening acts for each tour stop is available on Elton John’s official website. There are still many 2023 dates left to be announced. Given Elton’s knack for nabbing marquee opening acts, concert goers can expect some exciting supporting talent at upcoming Farewell Tour shows.
Set Times for Elton John and His Openers
Knowing the average set times can help fans plan their concert experience. Here is a rundown of standard set times for Elton John and his various openers on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour:
- Doors Open – 6:00 PM
- Opening Act – 7:30-8:15 PM (30-45 min set)
- Intermission – 8:15-8:45 PM (30 min set change)
- Elton John – 8:45-11:00 PM (Approx 2 hour 15 min set)
These times may vary slightly by venue or city. Outdoor concerts may start a bit earlier. But the above offers a general outline of when to arrive if you want to catch the opener and the full Elton John setlist.
Elton is renowned for his epic concerts spanning his entire catalog along with brilliant visuals, costumes and production. Fans won’t want to miss a moment once he hits the stage around 8:45 PM after a brief intermission following the supporting set.
Setlist Variety Between Openers and Elton
You can expect the opening setlist and Elton’s headlining setlist to differ significantly in both content and length:
- Opener set: 30-45 minutes, 6-8 songs
- Elton set: Over 2 hours, 25+ songs
The openers will perform some of their biggest radio hits and fan favorites to get the crowd excited. With limited time, they generally can’t perform more than 6-8 songs.
Elton’s set will be much longer, spanning over two hours and featuring songs from throughout his 50+ year career. He’ll perform smash hits like “Tiny Dancer”, “Rocket Man” and “Your Song” along with deeper album cuts. His production and costumes will also be far more elaborate than the opener’s.
So the openers provide just a taste before the full Elton John extravaganza really gets underway. It’s the perfect combination to delight fans of all ages for the entire evening.
Conclusion
Having high-quality opening acts makes the event more special for dedicated Elton John fans who arrive early. Concert goers get the chance to enjoy a full double bill, while Elton’s team has time to dial in the sound and lighting before his headlining set.
The supporting acts also get to piggyback off Elton’s strong fanbase to gain wider exposure. Ultimately, the openers help ramp up the energy so Elton can deliver the triumphant farewell celebration his fans deserve on this final tour. Catching both sets allows the audience to soak in twice the talent at one unforgettable concert event.