Pop superstar Pink has just announced details of her highly anticipated new tour in support of her latest album Trustfall. The Trustfall tour is slated to kick off in the summer of 2023 and will see Pink performing in arenas and stadiums across North America and Europe. As expected, fans are excited to see Pink’s dazzling live show again after a multi-year hiatus from touring. However, there has also been a lot of buzz around who Pink has chosen to have open the show each night.
Why an opening act matters
The opening act for a major tour can play a crucial role in setting the tone for the whole evening. An energetic and charismatic opening performance can get the crowd engaged right off the bat, priming them for the headliner. On the flip side, a lukewarm or ill-fitting opener can make the crowd antsy and impatient for the main attraction. For an icon like Pink who puts on such an incredible live production, choosing the right opener is key.
Beyond practical considerations, the opening act selection also says something about Pink’s musical tastes and the vibe she wants to cultivate on this tour. If she highlights an up-and-coming act, it shows she has her finger on the pulse and wants to use her platform to spotlight rising talent. On the other hand, choosing a peer or established artist signals more of a collaborative spirit.
Facts about Pink
Before speculating on who Pink might have chosen as her opening acts, here are some key facts about Pink’s career so far:
- She first broke through with her 2000 debut album Can’t Take Me Home, which went double platinum.
- Her sophomore effort Missundaztood sold over 13 million copies worldwide and contained major hits like “Get the Party Started,” “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” and “Just Like a Pill.”
- She has released 8 studio albums total, with her most recent being Trustfall in February 2023.
- Across her discography, she has notched 15 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 60 million albums globally.
- She is known for her energetic, acrobatic live shows and has won 3 Grammys out of 21 nominations.
- Some of her biggest hits include “So What,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Just Give Me a Reason” (featuring Nate Ruess), and “What About Us.”
- She is also an outspoken advocate for various social causes and has supported organizations like PETA, UNICEF, and No Kid Hungry.
So in choosing an opening act, Pink likely wants to find artists who match her energy and passion while also having some name recognition of their own.
Potential opening act contenders
Based on Pink’s music style and career history, here are some possibilities for who she might have tapped as opening acts for the Trustfall tour:
Paramore
Paramore seems like an obvious choice given that lead singer Hayley Williams has joined Pink on stage in the past to duet on the song “Misery Business.” The punk-pop band has a lot of overlap appeal with Pink fans, and they’ve proven they can command arena-sized crowds on their own tours. Their high energy and hooks would set the stage well for Pink.
Bleachers
Jack Antonoff of the band Bleachers would bring some indie rock cred as an opener, along with plenty of pop savvy as a songwriter and producer for artists like Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, and Lorde. Bleachers’ upbeat sound and Antonoff’s charisma could warm up the crowd for Pink.
The Lumineers
Folk rockers The Lumineers have the musicality and raw earnestness to complement Pink’s emotionally resonant songs. Hits like “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia” show this band can get crowds singing and engaged early on.
OneRepublic
Ryan Tedder and OneRepublic have scored numerous pop hits over the years, from “Apologize” to “Counting Stars.” Their melodic, radio-ready sound would transition smoothly into Pink’s headlining set, and they’ve got the chops to deliver a compelling opening set.
Train
San Francisco rock band Train have been churning out feel-good, sing-along hits since the late 90s. Pat Monahan’s gravelly voice and the band’s upbeat blue-eyed soul sound makes them a strong choice to warm up the crowd before Pink takes over.
Announcing the openers
In a series of social media posts in January 2023, Pink finally revealed who would be joining her on the Trustfall tour as openers:
North America | Europe |
---|---|
Brandi Carlile | Wet Leg |
Grouplove | Nova Twins |
While none of the speculated options ended up on the final lineup, Pink did choose artists that embody her spirit. Brandi Carlile is a multiple Grammy-winning Americana/folk-pop artist with a powerful voice and progressive spirit. Grouplove are a bright, energizing indie pop/rock band. British post-punk duo Wet Leg and punk rockers Nova Twins both bring gritty, chaotic energy.
These picks show that rather than just going for maximum mainstream appeal, Pink wanted fresh, boundary-pushing artists who would bring something new to her tour. Fans can expect inspired, left-of-center opening sets before Pink takes the reins each night. The Trustfall tour is slated to visit over 40 cities from July through September 2023.
Why these artists make sense
Pink clearly wasn’t choosing her support acts based on charts success or having a pre-established mass following. But looking deeper, her opener picks for Trustfall make a lot of sense when you consider the artists’ styles and perspectives:
Brandi Carlile
Like Pink, Carlile is a powerful vocalist and multitalented musician who pours raw emotion into her rootsy yet polished songs. She also uses her platform to advocate for LGBTQ rights and other progressive causes. Carlile’s 2021 album In These Silent Days even features backing vocals from none other than Pink herself. They are mutual admirers and their collaboration on the road was clearly organic.
Grouplove
This LA-based indie outfit exudes feel-good energy and deftly mixes electronic and organic elements into catchy alt-pop songs. Grouplove’s sound is very much in line with Pink’s pop sensibilities but with an updated millennial vibe. Their tracks like “Tongue Tied” and “Shark Attack” also have the upbeat tempo of fan favorites like Pink’s “Get the Party Started.”
Wet Leg
Hailing from the Isle of Wight, Wet Leg broke out huge in 2022 with their massively viral hit “Chaise Longue.” Their post-punk revival sound is driven by fuzzy guitars, infectious basslines, and the deadpan vocals of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. With their irreverent attitudes, offbeat humor, and undeniable melodic hooks, Wet Leg make a bold, intriguing choice for Pink’s European dates.
Nova Twins
London duo Nova Twins – comprising vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South – thrive on high energy, punk-fueled chaos. Their sound is a seamless melding of alternative rock, grunge, and pop. Nova Twins will bring a jolt of frenzied garage rock to balance Pink’s more polished pop theatrics. Their punk spirit also aligns with Pink’s rock and roll essence.
While none of these artists are straight-up pop stars, they all bring adventurous styles that will complement Pink’s diverse tastes. Fans can expect the openers to bring fresh flavors ranging from folk and Americana to indie pop to punk rock. Then Pink will take over with her timeless brand of funk-infused pop/rock anchored by her powerhouse voice and larger-than-life persona.
Each region’s pair of openers also strikes a nice balance – Brandi Carlile and Grouplove offer more refined yet upbeat sounds for North America, while Wet Leg and Nova Twins will bring chaotic punk energy to Europe. This allows Pink to cater to each area’s musical tastes.
How the openers fit into Pink’s legacy
Beyond just helping to pump up crowds each night, Pink’s niche opener picks reflect her long-standing values and legacy in the music world. Some key connections:
- She is amplifying diverse, women-led acts. All the openers except Grouplove have female lead singers.
- She is giving relatively new artists a major platform. Aside from Brandi Carlile, the rest have had their biggest successes in the past 5 years.
- She favors artists with unique, unorthodox styles over pure pop stars.
- She appreciates the spirit of rock, punk, and rebellion over polished commercial sounds.
Since breaking out in 2000, Pink has always bucked stereotypes for female pop artists. She embedded her pop songs with rock and R&B grit, embraced her tomboyish qualities, and cultivated a rebellious image. The openers all reflect Pink’s rebel spirit as well as her penchant for redefining what a pop star can be. Even as she’s now a 41-year-old mom, Pink continues using her platform to boost artists who are themselves pushing pop into new directions.
How Pink is supporting these artists beyond the tour
Beyond having them open her shows, Pink is also giving some of these artists added support in other ways:
- She brought Grouplove along to feature in her “Trustfall” music video and did a group roller skating shoot with them.
- She had Brandi Carlile collaborate on the Trustfall album cut “Just Say I’m Sorry.”
- She promoted Nova Twins by posing with them in photos wearing merchandise from their 2022 album Supernova.
So Pink is helping to cross-promote these artists and expose them to more of her fanbase in meaningful ways. Her hands-on support offers them long-term benefits beyond the tour itself. Based on Pink’s ongoing mentorship of artists like Grouplove, we can likely expect more collaborations down the line too.
How up-and-coming artists benefit from exposure on major tours
For any emerging musical act, getting an opening slot on a tour of this magnitude can provide huge dividends:
- Building fanbases – They play directly to large captive audiences each night who already like similar music.
- Honing skills – They adapt to playing bigger stages andfeeding off the headliner’s crowds.
- Networking – They work alongside seasoned industry pros and makekey connections.
- Boosting profile – Media coverage of the tour raises their visibilityand public awareness.
Even if these artists don’t immediately rocket to stardom, the residual benefits can last for years. Opening for Pink enables them to reach thousands who may never have heard them otherwise. It fast-tracks their progression from small clubs to big venues. When audiences see them on a bill with someone as iconic as Pink, it also elevates their status and plants them more firmly in people’s minds.
How Pink has helped launch careers in the past
This isn’t the first time Pink has given lesser-known acts a leg up early on. A few examples of artists who gained crucial exposure opening for Pink tours include:
- The Donnas – This all-female California punk band opened dates on Pink’s Try This tour in 2004 right after their breakthrough album. The Donnas cited Pink as an early inspiration.
- The Ting Tings – The English indie pop duo landed coveted support slots on Pink’s 2008 Funhouse Tour across Europe. They topped charts months later with their single “That’s Not My Name.”
- Butch Walker – Before going solo, Walker’s band Marvelous 3 opened arena shows for teen star Pink in 2000. He called it a “dream-come-true break.”
In interviews, many artists consistently credit early opening slots with Pink as pivotal tipping points for their fledgling careers. Based on her proven track record of identifying talent, we can expect her fresh Trustfall tour openers to enjoy similar trajectories in the years ahead.
How Pink creates an uplifting concert experience
Beyond just showcasing talent, Pink also seems to choose openers who will set an inspiring, positive tone at her shows. In a 2018 Twitter thread, Pink explained her philosophy on curating her shows:
“When I go on tour, I want to create an environment that is uplifting. I want to bring joy during a time when some chose to spread hate…I want people leaving my show feeling joyful, inspired and free!”
This ethos certainly comes through in the Trustfall lineup based on the artists she hand-picked. While their music styles are varied, they unite around spreading infectious energy and conveying themes of self-empowerment. Pink is crafting an all-around experience where concertgoers can lose themselves in the soaring vocals of Brandi Carlile or the unbridled punk chaos of Wet Leg before Pink headlines with her own brand of catharsis.
Pink’s tours have always had a communal, spiritual undercurrent – the feeling that audiences are bonding together amid the pressures of life. By choosing positive, uplifting openers who amplify freedom and human connection, Pink will again curate a transcendent space for shared hope, resilience, and joy.
Conclusion
Though unconventional, Pink’s choices of Brandi Carlile, Grouplove, Wet Leg, and Nova Twins as tour openers stay true to the values that have defined her career. She consistently uses her platform to amplify fresh talent, particularly women who color outside the lines of pop conventions. These artists also reflect Pink’s rebel spirit and determination to forge her own path.
Beyond just serving as hype acts, Pink’s deep support for her openers helps launch their careers and public standing. She uplifts kindred spirits who help set the stage for her empowering shows. For Trustfall, she’s bringing together a sisterhood of artists who all thrive on risk-taking, positivity, and forging human connection through music. Now more than ever, those are attributes we could all use more of in live entertainment and the world at large.