Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire are currently embarking on a joint tour across North America. This is a highly anticipated concert event, as both Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire are music legends with decades of hits between them. Fans are excited to see these two powerhouse acts share the stage.
Tour Overview
The Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire tour kicked off in March 2022. The tour is scheduled to continue through October 2023, with over 50 shows planned. The concert tour is visiting major venues across the United States and Canada.
Some of the scheduled tour stops include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, and New York. The tour will be hitting many of the most famous concert and entertainment venues in North America along the way. Fans in cities big and small will get the chance to see this incredible double bill concert.
Set Length
The Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire concerts are substantial in length, with the total runtime averaging around 3 hours per show. This allows plenty of time for each act to play a full set and cover many of their beloved songs.
Here is a breakdown of the approximate set times for each act:
- Earth Wind & Fire: 90 minutes
- Intermission: 20 minutes
- Lionel Richie: 90 minutes
With the intermission included, most shows end up being around 3 hours and 20 minutes long. However, set times can vary slightly from venue to venue.
Earth Wind & Fire Set
As one of the most successful funk and R&B groups of all time, Earth Wind & Fire have no shortage of material to fill up their 90 minute set. They have been delivering high energy shows since the 1970s and are known for their dynamic live performances.
During their set at the Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire shows, fans can expect to hear many of their most enduring hits. Some of the songs typically played include:
- “September”
- “Let’s Groove”
- “Shining Star”
- “Sing a Song”
- “Fantasy”
- “Boogie Wonderland”
- “After the Love Has Gone”
- “Got to Get You Into My Life”
The setlist focuses on their classic 1970s and 1980s material but may also include a newer song or two. With 17 studio albums, Earth Wind & Fire have plenty of options to choose from.
Lionel Richie Set
Lionel Richie rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as the lead singer of The Commodores before launching a massively successful solo career. He is known for his soulful ballads and uptempo pop hits.
During his 90 minute set, Lionel Richie will likely perform many of the below songs:
- “Easy”
- “Three Times a Lady”
- “Sail On”
- “Say You, Say Me”
- “My Love”
- “Dancing on the Ceiling”
- “All Night Long”
- “Hello”
- “Stuck on You”
Lionel Richie has 30+ years of hits to choose from, so he can tailor his sets to showcase his most popular songs and current favorites. The crowd always goes wild when he busts out “All Night Long” to end the night.
Encore Duets
One of the most exciting moments of the show is the encore at the end of the night. Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire will return to the stage together to perform a few classic duets.
Two of the songs they typically collaborate on for the encore are “Easy” by Lionel Richie and “September” by Earth Wind & Fire. Hearing these two music legends come together on these hits makes for a truly special concert moment.
Seeing Lionel Richie and Philip Bailey join forces for the soaring chorus of “Easy” is sure to elicit cheers and sing-alongs from the audience. And the entire venue will be up dancing when they team up on Earth Wind & Fire’s infectious anthem “September.”
The encore is a fitting high energy conclusion to an evening featuring two of the most influential artists in R&B, soul, and funk history.
Opening Acts
In addition to the headlining sets by Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire, most shows on the tour feature opening act(s). The opening acts help get the crowd warmed up before the two veteran headliners take the stage.
Some of the opening acts on various dates of the tour include:
- Rick Braun – Jazz Trumpeter
- Omari Hardwick’s Poet Pop – Soul/R&B Group
- Saint Kim – Pop/R&B Singer-Songwriter
The opening act typically performs for around 30-45 minutes. Then after a brief intermission, Earth Wind & Fire will take the stage to really kick the show into high gear.
Setlists Can Vary
While the above songs are regularly performed during the Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire tour, the exact setlists can vary from night to night. The artists like to change things up to keep the show fresh.
They may swap some songs in and out, collaborate on different duets, or extend jams and solos based on the vibe of each unique live audience.
Of course they’ll keep their most legendary smash hits locked in each night. But there is some fluidity and spontaneity mixed into the setlists as well. Fans who attend multiple concerts over the course of the tour may get to experience some different songs and moments.
High Production Values
In addition to the legendary music, the Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire tour is a highly produced concert experience. Top notch lights, video screens, and stage design create an immersive environment for the show.
Both Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire have incorporated multimedia elements and special effects in their concert productions over the years. Fans can expect a visual spectacle to match the world-class music coming from the stage.
State-of-the-art lasers, lighting sequences, pyrotechnics, and HD screens help enhance the excitement and energy. For many fans, these factors further elevate the live concert experience.
Talented Backing Bands
An important but sometimes overlooked aspect of the show is the incredible talent contained in Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire’s backing bands.
Earth Wind & Fire’s ensemble includes top notch horn players, guitarists, bassist, keyboardists, percussionists, and multiple drummers. Several of the musicians have toured and recorded with the band for decades.
Meanwhile, Lionel Richie’s backing band provides smooth rhythms and tasty grooves all night. His keyboardist and musical director Greg Phillinganes has performed with Lionel Richie since the early 1980s.
The excellent musicianship allows the songs to come alive and sound as vibrant as they do on the original recordings. Both Lionel and Earth Wind & Fire are able to feed off the energy of their stellar backing players during the shows.
Costumes and Wardrobe
Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire always bring a sense of style and flash to the stage. Outrageous costumes and frequent wardrobe changes have been a signature component of Earth Wind & Fire’s concerts since the 1970s.
Lead singer Philip Bailey often wears elaborate outfits featuring metallic fabrics, tribal prints, flowing capes, futuristic shades, face paint, and sequins. Other members sport stylish suits, jumpsuits, robes, and accessories.
Meanwhile, Lionel Richie keeps it classy but varied in tailored sports coats, slick suits, bold prints, and casual shirts. He may change up his look multiple times throughout the evening.
For the finale, both Lionel and Earth Wind & Fire typically don their sharpest all-white suits. Seeing them dressed to the nines really emphasizes the celebratory vibe and special occasion feel of these collaborative concerts.
Tour Reviews
Thus far, reviews of the Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire tour have been glowing. Fans and critics alike are raving about the shows.
Here is a sampling of comments from recent tour reviews:
- “An unforgettable trip down memory lane with two icons of American music.”
- “Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire’s catalogs have truly stood the test of time.”
- “Agelessly thrilling, heartwarmingly nostalgic, and expertly executed.”
- “I was up dancing all night – what a party!”
- “The entire crowd was in the palm of their hands from start to finish.”
Reviews emphasize how well Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire’s distinct styles complement each other. The blend of Richie’s smooth balladry and Earth Wind & Fire’s funky dance vibes makes for an unbeatable double bill.
By all accounts, these two music legends are still at the top of their live game decades into their careers. Their talents and showmanship remain supercharged.
Don’t Miss Out!
If Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire are coming to a venue near you, this is clearly a concert tour you do not want to miss. The chance to see two iconic artists on the same bill does not come around very often.
Based on the tour length and production quality, you get more than your money’s worth. Singing and dancing along to classic feel-good anthems for over 3 hours is basically a dream scenario.
With Earth Wind & Fire’s funky jams, Lionel Richie’s romantic ballads, and their joint collaborative encores, the show has something for just about every music fan. Concertgoers of all ages are loving the opportunity to re-live and re-discover these enduring songs.
So gather up your family and friends, get your tickets, and go enjoy a night filled with the best of Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire!