Cliff Richard is one of the most popular and enduring music artists in the UK. He has had a career spanning over 60 years, selling over 250 million records worldwide. At 82 years old, fans still wonder if Cliff Richard has any concerts planned for the future.
Quick Answers
As of October 2023, there are no upcoming Cliff Richard concerts scheduled. His last concert tour was “The Rise Up Tour” which ran from September 2018 to September 2019 in the UK and Europe. He has not announced any new tour plans since finishing that tour.
However, given Cliff Richard’s long history of touring and performing live for his fans, it’s quite possible he will schedule new concerts sometime in the future. He has proven ability and stamina to continue touring even at his advanced age.
Cliff Richard’s Concert History
Cliff Richard has toured extensively ever since his music career began in the late 1950s. He gained initial fame as part of the rock band The Shadows before launching a very successful solo career starting in the 1960s.
Some highlights of Cliff Richard’s concert tours over the decades include:
- The Young Ones Tour (1961) – Cliff’s first solo tour at age 20 across the UK.
- Summer Holiday Tour (1963) – Supported the hit film Summer Holiday and its soundtrack.
- Wonderful Life Tour (1964–1965) – Over 100 shows across Europe, Australia, and Asia.
- Big Hits Tour (1973–1974) – Spanned across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America.
- The 31st Anniversary Tour (1988) – Celebrated Cliff’s career achievements up to that point.
- Together with Cliff Richard (1991–1992) – Performed with special guest artist Anne Murray.
- The New Tour (1994–1995) – Visited South Africa for the first time near the end of apartheid.
- Wanted Tour (2001–2002) – Brought Cliff to Russia for the very first time.
- Soulicious Tour (2011) – Featured soul music classics from his career.
- Still Reelin’ and A-Rockin’ Tour (2013–2014) – Performed his first concerts in China at age 73.
- Just…Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour (2016–2017) – Played Europe celebrating 60 years since his debut album.
- Rise Up Tour (2018–2019) – Most recent tour visiting the UK and northern Europe at age 78.
As this list shows, Cliff Richard has remained committed to live concerts even into his 80s. If history is any indication, it seems likely he will mount another tour in the coming years.
What Cliff Has Said About Touring and Performing
Cliff Richard has directly commented over the years on his passion for touring and plans to keep performing as long as he can. A few relevant Cliff Richard quotes include:
“I just love touring. When I come off stage and the audience has loved it, I’m walking on air.” (2012)
“When I stop touring, I think that’s when I would say goodbye. As long as I’ve got the health and the energy, I’ll carry on.” (2013)
“Retirement is not even on the menu at the moment. I still want to carry on performing for as long as possible.” (2018)
These quotes signal that Cliff still gets great enjoyment and fulfillment from live concerts. As long as he maintains energy and good health, it seems probable more tours could happen.
Factors That Could Impact Cliff’s Touring Plans
There are a few factors that may influence Cliff Richard’s ability and desire to continue embarking on major concert tours in the future:
- Age and health – Obviously Cliff’s advancing age (currently 82) may start to limit his stamina over long tours with lots of travel. Any health issues could also sideline concert plans.
- Competition from younger artists – The music industry tends to favor youthful new stars, so Cliff’s older age may see reduced demand for concert tickets.
- Changing musical tastes – Cliff’s brand of 1950s/60s pop and rock may have less appeal to younger generations of music fans.
- Pandemic uncertainties – Potential COVID-19 resurgences may make large concerts difficult to plan for the foreseeable future.
However, Cliff Richard has proven extremely resilient throughout his long career in the face of changing music trends and demographics. His loyal fanbase spanning multiple generations also gives him a solid platform for touring if he wants to.
Setlist Possibilities If He Tours Again
If Cliff Richard decides to hit the road again for another concert tour, what kinds of songs might fans expect to hear? His setlists typically draw from his most beloved hits spanning his entire career.
Some Cliff Richard classics that are likely to be featured if he tours again include:
- “Move It”
- “Living Doll”
- “Summer Holiday”
- “The Young Ones”
- “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
- “Devil Woman”
- “Wired for Sound”
- “Some People”
- “Mistletoe and Wine”
- “The Millennium Prayer”
He also often includes some of his favorite rock n’ roll covers like “Johnny B. Goode”, “Great Balls of Fire”, and “Roll Over Beethoven”.
Of course if he has any new music released, brand new songs could also make their way into the hypothetical setlist.
How to Get Tickets If He Announces a Tour
If Cliff Richard does confirm a new concert tour, tickets will likely sell out extremely quickly given his devoted multi-generational fanbase. Here are tips to get tickets fast if he goes back on tour:
- Check Cliff’s official website and sign up for email notifications – This will get you info before the general public.
- Follow Cliff’s social media accounts for tour announcements – He’s active on Twitter and Facebook.
- Get presale access – Presales allow earlier ticket access before the general onsale.
- Buy early during presales or onsale – Don’t wait as the best seats go fast.
- Use fan forums to ask others for tips – Longtime fans often share info and presale codes.
- Consider VIP packages – These are pricier but guarantee you great seats plus extras like meet & greets.
Acting quickly is key since Cliff Richard remains one of the top legends in British music with dedicated fans of all ages who will pounce at the opportunity to see him live.
How Much Do Tickets Typically Cost?
Tour | Year | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|---|
Just…Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll | 2016-2017 | £61 |
Rise Up | 2018-2019 | £63 |
Looking at Cliff Richard’s most recent tours, average ticket prices have been around £60 to £65. Prices vary by city and venue, with better seats costing over £100 and some cheap seats under £40.
If he tours again soon, fans might expect similar broad pricing with an average ticket in the £65 range. Of course if it’s a big farewell-type tour, demand could drive prices even higher.
Most Expensive Cities
Tickets for Cliff Richard shows typically cost more in major cities like:
- London
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Glasgow
Smaller regional venues have cheaper average prices. But a marquee final show at a big London venue could potentially have the highest demand and prices.
How Long Do Cliff’s Concerts Typically Last?
Duration of Cliff Richard concerts over the past decade:
- Just…Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll (2016-17) – Average around 2 hours per show
- Rise Up (2018-19) – Average approximately 105 minutes per show
His concert lengths depend partly on how much material he prepares, whether he has any opening acts, and his stamina at that point in time. But on recent tours, fans have generally gotten solid 100 to 120 minutes shows from Cliff.
If he embarks on another tour at age 82 or beyond, he may opt for slightly shorter 90 minute shows focusing just on his core hits. But his consistent workout regimen keeps him in great shape to still deliver full length concerts if he wants.
How Does Cliff Keep His Voice Tour-Ready?
Preparing to sing live on tour requires looking after your voice. Here are some ways Cliff Richard keeps his iconic voice in shape for concerts even in his 80s:
- Regular vocal warm ups and exercises
- Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water
- Using humidifiers to prevent throat dryness
- Avoiding smoking, caffeine, and very spicy/cold foods
- Gargling salt water to kill bacteria and soothe vocal cords
- Taking breaks from talking/singing to let his voice rest
- Utilizing vocal coaches and regular lessons
- Carefully selecting set keys to suit his aging voice range
- Using in-ear monitors at lower volumes to prevent straining
Cliff has said keeping his voice tour-ready gets harder with age, but his excellent vocal care regimen helps him maintain his silky vocals on the road.
How Active Is Cliff on Social Media?
Cliff Richard maintains active accounts on the major social media platforms to stay connected with worldwide fans.
Platform | Handle | Followers |
---|---|---|
@CliffRichard | 61,000 | |
@CliffRichard | 558,000 | |
@CliffRichard | 18,000 |
Twitter and Facebook are where he is most active posting updates, throwback photos/videos, responses to fans, and commentary on current events.
Following Cliff on social media is a great way to stay on top of any concert announcements or new projects he’s working on.
Could Cliff Ever Perform in the US Again?
Cliff Richard enjoyed great success with US tours and chart hits in the 1970s and 1980s. But he hasn’t performed stateside in over 25 years.
His last full US tour was in 1988 for his 31st Anniversary Tour. He did a brief 5-city US jaunt in 1993, but hasn’t been back since.
However, it’s possible Cliff could mount one last US tour if he records more new music. He still has a devoted American fanbase who would love to see him live.
The ideal scenario might be a short US tour hitting a few major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami. This would let Cliff reconnect with stateside fans without grueling long distances.
Playing his classics on massive US stages like Madison Square Garden would be an epic potential farewell tour moment.
How His Faith Informs His Music and Performing
Cliff Richard’s Christian faith has been a core part of his music and image throughout his career. Some examples of how it shines through include:
- His habit of saying Christian prayers with his touring band before shows
- Lyrical references to his faith across songs like “Jesus” and “When Two Worlds Drift Apart”
- Covers of gospel standards like “This Little Light of Mine” in concerts
- Albums focused on faith-based music like Small Corners and Together with Cliff Richard
- Benefit concerts for Christian charities and organizations
However, he aims to unite audiences rather than preach. “I’m not a Bible basher – I just enjoy my career,” Cliff has said. His hope is sharing positive uplifting music and themes.
Could His Next Tour Be His Last?
At age 82 and with so many decades behind him, each Cliff Richard tour moving forward prompts speculation on whether it will be his last.
However, history shows Cliff dislikes using the word “retirement” or explicitly framing tours as farewells. He prefers to keep the future open-ended as long as health permits.
That said, there’s a good chance his next tour – whenever it occurs – will be marketed with language like “One Last Time” implying it’s the final go around. Subsequent tours could follow, but the hype may shift to each one being his potential swan song.
Regardless of how many more times Cliff hits the road, any chance to still see a living legend in concert should not be missed by longtime devoted fans around the globe.
Conclusion
In summary, while Cliff Richard currently has no tour dates announced, his history suggests more concerts could happen in the coming years if health allows. He clearly still loves performing live at age 82, and fans would flock to see him again either in the UK or potentially in the US.
Cliff maintains his voice diligently, and keeps a regimen focused on staying fit for touring. Any future concerts would feature his most beloved classic hits along with new songs if any material releases.
Although his next tour could theoretically be framed as a farewell, his avoidance of the word “retirement” means potential future shows can’t be ruled out. But with his eighties advancing, any chance to still witness Cliff Richard on stage must be cherished.