In short, yes, Radiohead is still actively touring and giving concerts as of 2023. Though they may not tour as extensively as they did earlier in their career, Radiohead remains one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed rock bands and continues to perform live regularly.
Brief History of Radiohead Concert Tours
Radiohead first rose to popularity in the 1990s on the strength of their early albums Pablo Honey, The Bends, and OK Computer. Through relentless touring behind these classic records, Radiohead built up a loyal global following and honed their skills as an incredible live act.
Some of Radiohead’s notable tours from their early career include:
- 1993 – Pablo Honey tour
- 1995 – The Bends tour
- 1997-98 – OK Computer tour
- 2000 – Kid A/Amnesiac tour
- 2003 – Hail to the Thief tour
During their peak touring years in the 1990s and early 2000s, Radiohead performed over 100 shows per year, gaining a reputation for their powerful live performances. Their 2003 Hail to the Thief tour included dates across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America.
Recent Radiohead Tours and Concerts
As the members of Radiohead have gotten older and pursued more side projects, their touring schedule has slowed down a bit. However, they continue to perform live regularly in support of their album releases and to headline major festivals.
Some notable Radiohead tours and live performances from the past 10-15 years:
- 2006 – Supporting Hail to the Thief and Thom Yorke’s solo album
- 2008 – Smaller North American tour
- 2009 – Summer European festival tour
- 2012 – The King of Limbs tour
- 2016 – A Moon Shaped Pool tour
- 2019 – Summer European/North American festival tour
Though not touring as extensively as in the past, Radiohead continues to perform about 1-2 dozen shows per year. Their tours often include major music festivals like Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits.
Radiohead’s 2022 Tour Plans
In 2022, Radiohead only performed a handful of live shows.
They played two dates in July 2022:
- July 10 – Open’er Festival, Gdynia, Poland
- July 17 – Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
The setlists at these 2022 summer festival performances included classics like “Creep,” “Paranoid Android,” “Everything In Its Right Place,” and “There There” alongside newer material from A Moon Shaped Pool like “Burn the Witch” and “Daydreaming.”
Do Radiohead Have Plans to Tour in 2023?
As of now, Radiohead has not yet announced any tour dates or plans for 2023. However, fans continue to speculate that the band could hit the road again sometime in the next year.
There are a few reasons why a Radiohead tour in 2023 is a possibility:
- It has been a few years since their last proper tour in 2016.
- 2023 will mark the 30th anniversary of Radiohead’s debut album Pablo Honey.
- Guitarist Ed O’Brien hinted in a 2021 interview that the band hoped to tour again post-pandemic.
- Thom Yorke’s solo tour wraps up in spring 2023, potentially freeing up his schedule.
Ultimately, Radiohead tours are always shrouded in secrecy until just before they are announced. Fans may need to wait for an official announcement to know for certain.
What Do Radiohead Concerts Look and Feel Like?
Known for their experimental and ever-changing sound, no two Radiohead concerts ever feel quite the same. However, there are a few staple elements fans can expect from a Radiohead live show:
- A career-spanning setlist – Radiohead concerts typically feature songs from all eras of the band, pleasing both casual fans and diehards.
- Elaborate stage production – Radiohead concerts often have striking light shows, video screens, and stage design elements.
- Intimate moments – Even in huge arenas and stadiums, Radiohead makes an effort to connect directly with fans through quieter songs and interludes.
- Thom Yorke’s hypnotic stage presence – Lead singer Thom Yorke captivates audiences with his signature vocal delivery and kinetic energy on stage.
- Live jams – Radiohead frequently explores new sonic territory in concert, stretching out songs and improvising live.
Attending a Radiohead concert is an immersive, communal experience with the band’s hypnotic soundscapes and light production entrancing the crowd. Fans can expect to see one of the world’s most acclaimed live rock bands put on an unforgettable show.
Setlist Analysis
To analyze Radiohead’s typical setlist and songs played live, here is a table looking at their most played songs in concert according to Setlist.fm data:
Song | Times Played Live |
---|---|
Creep | 721 |
Paranoid Android | 612 |
Everything In Its Right Place | 595 |
Idioteque | 579 |
There There | 495 |
Karma Police | 491 |
Exit Music (For a Film) | 485 |
The National Anthem | 477 |
No Surprises | 472 |
Fake Plastic Trees | 435 |
As the data shows, Radiohead makes sure to play many of their biggest hit songs like “Creep,” “Karma Police,” “Paranoid Android,” and “There There” regularly in concert. More experimental fan favorites like “Idioteque,” “The National Anthem,” and “Everything In Its Right Place” are also staples of their live show.
Songs from their more recent albums A Moon Shaped Pool and The King of Limbs also feature prominently in their 21st century setlists. Of course, with a catalog as deep as Radiohead’s, concert goers can expect surprises and rarities as well.
Notable Concert Moments
Over their long touring career, Radiohead has had many notable and memorable live performances. Here are some highlights:
- Glastonbury 1997 – In a career-defining Glastonbury headline set, Radiohead debuted their new album OK Computer live in its entirety two weeks before its release. Their performance was one of the festival’s most legendary ever.
- Saturday Night Live 2006 – Radiohead played avant-garde jazz instrumentals and abstract visuals instead of singing actual songs, bewildering the SNL audience but delighting hardcore fans.
- Bonnaroo 2006 – During an electrical storm, Radiohead’s concert stage collapsed right before they were meant to play their set. The band came back the next day and put on an incredible show.
- Coachella 2012 – Radiohead’s 2012 Coachella set featured their first full live performance of their classic album Kid A. Fans loved hearing the album played start-to-finish.
- Glastonbury 2017 – During their 2017 Glastonbury headline slot, Radiohead defied calls to play only “hits” and delivered a setlist full of deep cuts and new songs from A Moon Shaped Pool.
Moment like these demonstrate Radiohead’s willingness to take risks and their status as one of the world’s great live acts.
Why Radiohead Concerts Are Must-See Events
For music fans, especially fans of alternative and art rock, attending a Radiohead concert is a must-see live music experience for many reasons:
- Their albums come alive – Radiohead’s richly layered studio recordings take on new energy and nuance in a live setting.
- Thom Yorke’s presence – Lead singer Thom Yorke is a legendary frontman with an otherworldly voice and presence on stage.
- Visually stunning – With projection screens, lights, and production, Radiohead concerts stimulate the eyes as well as the ears.
- Always adventurous – Fans can expect bold setlists and musical surprises rather than just a standard performance.
- Hear new material – Radiohead often debuts new music live months or years before album releases.
- Mass sing-alongs – Radiohead’s concerts inspire communal group experiences among thousands of fans.
Given Radiohead’s limited touring schedule these days, their concerts have become even more special events for devotees. When Radiohead comes around, it is truly a momentous occasion not to miss.
Will Radiohead Do a Full Farewell Tour?
As one of the most acclaimed and popular rock bands of the past 30 years, music fans have speculated when Radiohead might retire from touring and whether they will embark on a major farewell tour.
Currently, there have been no announcements about Radiohead planning a final tour or formally retiring from the road. However, there are a few reasons why a farewell tour could happen in the future:
- The band members are all now in their 50s and have other projects and families.
- They are touring much less frequently than they used to.
- A big goodbye tour would allow fans to celebrate the band’s legacy.
- Other major rock bands like Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, and Elton John have done farewell tours.
On the other hand, some factors suggest Radiohead will carry on as usual for now:
- Their last tour in 2016 felt like “business as usual” rather than a victory lap.
- Creative leader Thom Yorke seems unlikely to want a lengthy nostalgia tour.
- Yorke and Jonny Greenwood remain very active with their solo work.
- A farewell tour seems at odds with the band’s forward-thinking ethos.
Based on past comments, Radiohead themselves do not seem eager to declare themselves “finished.” But only time will tell if they embark on one final world tour before retiring from the road.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite touring less extensively than they did earlier on, Radiohead remains one of the world’s premier live rock acts and continues to deliver powerful concert experiences for fans. Their2022 shows at major European festivals demonstrate that the band still enjoys performing live when the timing is right.
Looking ahead, a 2023 Radiohead tour has not been announced but remains a strong possibility based on the band’s patterns and fan anticipation. When Radiohead does hit the road again, their concerts are sure to be visually stunning, sonically thrilling events full of the band’s classic hits as well as new surprises.
While fans may need to be patient waiting for official tour dates, they can rest assured knowing that Radiohead remains a remarkable live act. Whenever the opportunity arises to see Radiohead live, it should not be missed.