Coldplay, the world-renowned British rock band, recently performed a highly anticipated concert in Tampa, Florida as part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour. As a long-time Tampa resident and Coldplay superfan, this was a concert I simply could not miss. In this article, I will provide all the key details on the Coldplay Tampa concert including the venue location, setlist highlights, and my own personal review of the show.
Venue Location
The Coldplay concert was held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. This open-air stadium is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has a maximum capacity of 65,890 seats. Raymond James Stadium is located at 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33607. The stadium is situated just north of downtown Tampa and is part of the Tampa Sports Authority. Raymond James Stadium was an ideal venue choice for a massive concert like Coldplay’s with abundant seating and space.
Some key facts about Raymond James Stadium:
- Opened in 1998
- Has hosted 2 Super Bowls (2001 and 2009)
- Home field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1998
- Has a pirate ship in one end zone that fires cannons when the Buccaneers score
- Hosts many major concerts, college bowl games, and other events
The stadium is easily accessible right off Dale Mabry Highway. There is ample parking available in the surrounding parking lots at the stadium complex. Public transportation is another option via the TECO Line Streetcar which stops near the stadium. Overall, Raymond James Stadium was a convenient choice for concertgoers heading to the show.
Setlist Highlights
Coldplay delivered an incredible 2+ hour set filled with career-spanning hits and favorite deep cuts. Here are some setlist highlights from the epic Tampa show:
Opening
Coldplay opened the night with the energetic new track “Higher Power” off their Music of the Spheres album. Giant colorful beach balls bounced around the crowd creating a festive atmosphere right off the bat.
Early Hits
The band quickly rolled through smashes from their early albums like “Clocks”, “The Scientist”, and “Yellow”. It was nostalgic singing along to those early 2000s classics that first made Coldplay a household name.
Viva La Vida
One of the biggest crowd reactions of the night was for “Viva la Vida”, the title track off Coldplay’s Grammy winning 2008 album. The song’s majestic melody and lyrics inspired the stadium crowd to sing in unison at the top of their lungs.
New Songs
Coldplay played several standout tracks from their newest album Music of the Spheres including “Humankind”, “Let Somebody Go”, and “My Universe” which was a crowd favorite. Hearing the new songs live offered a deeper appreciation for Coldplay’s continued musical evolution.
Acoustics
Midway through the set, the band moved to a smaller satellite stage for an acoustic segment. Martin’s soulful vocals shined on gorgeous stripped down versions of “Sparks” and “Us Against the World.”
Epic Finale
Coldplay closed out the night with an epic four song encore including “A Sky Full of Stars”, “Sparks”, and the all-time classic “Fix You”. Rainbow wristbands handed out to the crowd earlier lit up in synch with the music to create a spectacular sight. As giant confetti cannons showered glittering confetti, Coldplay said goodnight to Tampa in magnificent fashion.
My Concert Review
Attending the Coldplay concert in Tampa was easily one of the greatest live music experiences of my life. From start to finish, Coldplay delivered a high energy set of timeless crowd pleasers and promising new songs. Seeing Coldplay live for the first time, I gained a deeper admiration for their catalog of music and musicianship.
Chris Martin proved himself as one of the most charismatic and talented rock frontmen today. He used the giant circular stage to its full advantage, sprinting around to connect with the entire stadium. Martin’s vocals were pristine and passionate, soaring flawlessly on hits like “Fix You.” He also showed his fun sense of humor addressing the crowd and even mixing in a cover of “Blame it on the Boogie.”
The rest of the band provided rock solid accompaniment all night. Jonny Buckland wowed with inventive guitar work while Guy Berryman held down the rhythm on bass. Will Champion excelled on both drums and keys while also handling backing vocals. Coldplay perfectly blends stadium sized rock with intimate human moments.
The stage production was incredibly impressive with state of the art lights, lasers, and pyrotechnics. Massive screens displayed cool cosmic visuals tying in with the Music of the Spheres theme. The sound at Raymond James Stadium was also top notch, with Chris Martin’s voice booming crisply throughout the venue.
Coldplay’s song catalog is brimming with hit after hit, but they found a great balance of satisfying both mainstream and hardcore fans. Hearing deeper cuts like “Sparks” and “Everything’s Not Lost” was a treat for longtime fans. At the same time, the sing-along hits like “Paradise” and “Viva la Vida” kept the entire stadium engaged.
The band put a refreshing amount of care into the smaller details as well. Things like the wristband light show, playful beach balls, and rainbow confetti made the experience feel inclusive and fun. During the acoustic segment, Martin spoke about social causes and the importance of spreading love. Coldplay aims for both the head and the heart.
Simply put, the Coldplay Tampa concert exceeded my every expectation. From the production, to the setlist, to the sheer passion Coldplay radiates, everything about the show was utterly enthralling. I walked away with a renewed appreciation for Coldplay and already eager to see them again on their next tour. This was more than just another rock concert – it was an unforgettable experience that touched my soul and made me proud to be a Coldplay fan.