5 Seconds of Summer, often abbreviated as 5SOS, is an Australian pop rock band that was formed in 2011. The band consists of Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, and Michael Clifford. 5SOS gained popularity in the early 2010s after posting cover songs on YouTube, leading to them being signed by Sony/ATV Music Publishing. They have released four studio albums and headlined four world tours. Their concerts are known for being high energy and having an electric atmosphere.
Typical 5SOS Concert Length
On average, a typical 5SOS concert lasts around 1 hour and 45 minutes. However, their concert lengths can vary depending on the tour, venue size, and whether they are performing as a headliner or as an opening act. Here is a breakdown of how long fans can expect a 5SOS show to last for their different tours and shows:
- As an opening act: 45-60 minutes
- Headlining arena tours: 1 hour 30 minutes – 1 hour 45 minutes
- Headlining amphitheater tours: 1 hour 45 minutes – 2 hours
- Headlining festival sets: 45-60 minutes
For their most recent headlining tour, the “Take My Hand World Tour” in 2022, most shows lasted between 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes. This included playing approximately 18-20 songs during the setlist.
Factors That Affect 5SOS Concert Length
There are several factors that can influence the length of a 5SOS concert:
Venue Size
Larger venues allow for longer shows. Headlining arena tours and amphitheaters enables 5SOS to play longer sets than festivals or opening arena shows where there are time constraints.
Tour Type
As a headliner, 5SOS has full creative control and can play extended shows. As an opening act, their sets are limited to 45-60 minutes.
Production Elements
Elaborated staging, lighting, visuals, and pyrotechnics can lengthen change-over times between songs. Simple productions allow for more songs.
Curfews
Venues often have curfews on how late live music can play. 5SOS has to end shows on time to abide by local noise ordinances.
Encores
5SOS performs 2-3 song encores at most headlining shows, extending the concert an extra 10+ minutes beyond the main setlist.
Setlist Structure
5SOS carefully curates their setlists to provide an entertaining experience from start to finish. Here is the typical layout of a 5SOS setlist and how long fans can expect each section to last:
Opening
The show kicks off with a high energy opening song, usually one of their signature hits like “She Looks So Perfect” or “Youngblood.” This opening section lasts around 5 minutes.
Early Hits & Fan Favorites
The first third of the show is focused on early hits from 5SOS’s breakout albums along with live favorites that get the crowd hyped. This section lasts around 20-25 minutes.
Middle Slower Songs
The middle portion brings down the tempo for a couple slower songs to give fans a quick breather between the non-stop excitement. This section is around 10 minutes.
New Songs
Near the midpoint, 5SOS performs several new songs from their latest album release so fans can hear fresh material live. This segment lasts around 15 minutes.
Acoustic Set
5SOS heads out to a secondary B-Stage for a short acoustic set, usually 2-3 songs stripped down. This intimate segment lasts 10-15 minutes.
Closing Hits
The band returns to the main stage to close out the main set with their biggest hit singles. The closing section lasts around 15-20 minutes before the encore.
Encore
After a quick break, 5SOS returns for 2-3 more songs as the encore, sending fans home happy. The encore lasts 10-15 minutes.
Songs Per Setlist
On their most recent “Take My Hand World Tour” in 2022, 5SOS played an average of 19 songs per concert. Here is a breakdown of the average number of songs included in each section of their setlist on that tour:
Opening | 1 song |
Early Hits & Fan Favorites | 5 songs |
Middle Slower Songs | 2 songs |
New Songs | 4 songs |
Acoustic Set | 3 songs |
Closing Hits | 3 songs |
Encore | 2 songs |
This balanced setlist allowed them to play new and old material spanning their 4 album discography during the 1 hour 45 minute shows.
5SOS Concert Length History
Here is a look back at how long typical 5SOS concerts have lasted over the years as their popularity grew from small clubs to huge arenas:
2012-2013: 30-45 Minutes
In their early days starting out, 5SOS played very short sets of cover songs at local venues in Australia. Their shows were only 30-45 minutes while they gained experience.
2013-2015: 45 Minutes
As their fanbase grew, their sets expanded to 45 minutes when they opened for One Direction on tour. They played a mix of covers and original songs.
2015-2016: 60 Minutes
On their “Rock Out With Your Socks Out” and “Sounds Live Feels Live” headlining tours, their first as a major act, the shows ran for 60 minutes with minimal production.
2016-2018: 75-90 Minutes
For their next album cycle, the “5SOS III” tour shows grew to 75-90 minutes with expanded staging. They were able to add more songs with two albums of material.
2018: 60 Minutes
When opening for Fall Out Boy on the “MANIA” tour, their sets scaled back to 60 minutes for arena shows.
2019-2020: 100 Minutes
Headlining amphitheaters on “The Meet You There Tour”, 5SOS played 100 minute sets, their longest yet. They also began adding B-stages.
2022: 105 Minutes
During their recent “Take My Hand World Tour”, the shows expanded to over 105 minutes as 5SOS headlined arenas with four albums of content.
Setlist Variations
While every 5SOS tour has a fairly consistent setlist, there are some variations city to city:
- The band may swap in different cover songs or rarities as one-off surprises for certain markets.
- Shows are slightly shorter/longer depending on the venue curfew.
- Some deep cut songs rotate in and out of the middle of the set.
- The acoustic setlist changes periodically rather than being the same every night.
However, the key hits at the beginning, middle, and end tend to stay locked in. 5SOS crafts their setlists knowing fans want to hear beloved fan favorites they expect each night. The overall concert length remains in the 105-minute range regardless of small setlist deviations.
Typical 5SOS Encore Length
When 5SOS returns for their encore after the main set, this final closing section usually lasts for 15-20 minutes. The encore gives them a chance to perform 2-4 additional hits at the end of the show.
On their most recent tour, the typical 5SOS encore consisted of 2 songs lasting around 15 minutes. Their encore has included songs like:
- “She Looks So Perfect”
- “Amnesia”
- “Kiss Me Kiss Me”
- “Teeth”
5SOS typically chooses a combination of their signature pop punk anthems and ballads for a high energy finale. After the encore, which ends the show on a strong note, the band stays on stage to take their final bows as the lights come up.
Conclusion
In summary, the typical 5SOS concert runs between 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours in length when they are the headlining act. This allows them to perform around 20 songs throughout the night, pulled from their catalogue of chart-topping hits new and old. While the exact setlist may vary slightly between tour stops, fans can always expect a dynamic show from start to finish that is filled with their favorite 5SOS tracks.