Stevie Nicks is an iconic singer-songwriter known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and her extensive solo career. She has cultivated a dedicated fanbase over her decades-long career, and her live shows are highly anticipated events. An opening act for a Stevie Nicks concert can gain great exposure by playing for her passionate fans. Her upcoming Hollywood Bowl show has generated much excitement over who she has chosen to open the performance. In this article, we will look at the speculation over the opening act and analyze the potential candidates.
Stevie Nicks’ Legendary Career
Stevie Nicks is truly a legend in the music world. She first rose to prominence in the mid 1970s as one of the lead singers and songwriters for Fleetwood Mac. Stevie wrote enduring smash hits for the band such as “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” and “Dreams.” Her mystical persona and raw, emotive voice became synonymous with the Fleetwood Mac sound. While still a member of the band, Stevie also began releasing solo albums starting with 1981’s Bella Donna. She has since put out over a dozen solo studio albums and has had an incredibly fruitful solo career. Some of her most beloved solo songs include “Edge of Seventeen,” “Stand Back,” and “Rooms on Fire.”
Stevie Nicks has earned tremendous critical acclaim and commercial success over the past five decades. She has sold well over 100 million records worldwide with Fleetwood Mac and as a soloist, putting her among the best-selling musical acts of all time. Some of Stevie’s many accolades include being named one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Fleetwood Mac and a solo artist), and receiving the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. At 74 years old, Stevie remains a powerful force in rock music and her concerts continue to draw huge crowds of adoring fans.
Hollywood Bowl Show Announcement
In June 2022, Stevie Nicks announced a six-city tour in the fall of 2022 titled “An Evening with Stevie Nicks.” The tour includes a highly anticipated stop at the legendary Hollywood Bowl amphitheater in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 8. The Hollywood Bowl is an iconic concert venue that has hosted everyone from The Beatles to Yo-Yo Ma. A Stevie Nicks show at this storied venue has unsurprisingly generated tremendous excitement among fans. Ticket demand was so high that additional dates were added after the initial tickets quickly sold out.
The Hollywood Bowl has a capacity of over 17,000, making it a relatively intimate venue for a superstar like Stevie Nicks to play. The setlist for this stop on the tour will likely include a deep selection of songs from across Stevie’s forty-plus year career. Fan speculation is high over whether she might dust off rare songs she hasn’t played in decades or even debut new material. This show provides a special opportunity for attendees to see a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer putting on an epic performance in a relatively small, iconic Los Angeles venue.
Speculation Over the Opening Act
With anticipation building for this must-see Stevie Nicks show, attention has turned to who will open the concert. The opening act slot on a tour of this magnitude can be a huge opportunity for exposure, especially with a fanbase as dedicated as Stevie’s followers. There has been much speculation among fans and media over which artist Stevie has picked to kick off this special night. Certain candidates seem more likely than others based on their music style and connection to Stevie Nicks. Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities:
Lindsey Buckingham
Many fans’ first guess for the opening act was Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie’s longtime Fleetwood Mac bandmate and collaborator. Lindsey and Stevie have a tumultuous history spanning their romantic relationship, decades of band infighting, and periods of reconciliation. Lindsey was fired from Fleetwood Mac in 2018 but appeared ready to reintegrate into the band before the pandemic derailed plans. With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Fleetwood Mac’s founding, Stevie opening for Lindsey or vice-versa on this Hollywood Bowl show would be poetic. However, Lindsey has since announced his own Solo Anthology tour on conflicting dates, so he is now ruled out.
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow is a veteran singer-songwriter with numerous hits under her belt including “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up the Sun,” and “Everyday is a Winding Road.” She has acted as an opening performer on past Stevie Nicks tours and the two artists are known to be good friends. Sheryl’s pop rock sound generally complements Stevie’s catalogue well. Sheryl doesn’t have any touring conflicts so she remains a strong contender for supporting Stevie at the Bowl.
A Younger Artist
Stevie Nicks has spoken glowingly about contemporary artists like Harry Styles and Billie Eilish. She has mentored young musicians and advocated for up-and-coming female artists. It’s possible she could use the opening slot to showcase an emerging talent. Female-fronted indie rock acts like Lucy Dacus or Snail Mail could fit the bill. This type of selection would expose a new artist with sonic similarities to Stevie to her broad fanbase. However, going with a low-profile performer would be a more surprising choice than a known commodity.
Potential Opening Act | Background |
---|---|
Sheryl Crow | – Veteran singer-songwriter with pop rock hits – Has opened for Stevie Nicks before – No touring conflicts |
Lucy Dacus | – Emerging indie rock musician – Stevie has advocated for new female acts – Lower profile choice |
Lindsey Buckingham | – Stevie’s Fleetwood Mac bandmate – Historic choice in anniversary year – Currently has conflicting solo tour |
Desirable Qualities in a Stevie Nicks Opener
Based on Stevie’s musical style, her fanbase, and the nature of this historic Hollywood Bowl show, we can determine the ideal qualities for her opening act:
– Established performer with name recognition – A high-profile artist will energize the crowd more effectively than an unknown.
– Female or female-fronted act – Aligns with Stevie’s promotion of women in rock.
– Big, dynamic voice – Should combine vocal power with vulnerability.
– Experience touring large venues – Must be able to command the Bowl’s massive stage.
– Upbeat catalog – Should complement Stevie’s faster-tempo rock songs.
– Connection to Stevie – Direct relationship boosts narrative around the pairing.
– Available in October – Cannot have a conflicting tour scheduled.
– Rock/pop stylistic sensibilities – Familiar sounding but not derivative of Stevie’s work.
An opening performer who checks most or all of these boxes would make an excellent choice to open this special Stevie Nicks Hollywood Bowl concert.
The Announcement
In late September, after much speculation, Stevie Nicks revealed who will join her as opening act at the Hollywood Bowl. The performer she chose is legendary rock icon…Billy Joel! While his name was not initially on many prediction lists, he fulfills many of the criteria for an optimal Stevie opener. He is known for a string of hit pop rock songs in the 1970s and 80s like “Piano Man,” “Just the Way You Are,” and “Uptown Girl.” His commanding stage presence and vocal chops will energize the crowd.
Though not directly affiliated like Sheryl Crow or Lindsey Buckingham, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks are both iconic singer-songwriters who rose to fame in the same era and genre. There is definitely a shared musical lineage between the two artists. While Billy Joel is known primarily for his skills on piano, his catalogue of melodic, story-driven rock songs should complement Stevie’s setlist nicely. This melding of two monumental musical figures promises to be a truly special night at the Hollywood Bowl.
Set Times
Now that the opening act is confirmed, more details have emerged about the concert schedule for the big night:
– Doors Open – 6:00 PM
– Billy Joel Opens – 7:30 PM
– Stevie Nicks Headlines – 9:00 PM
Billy Joel will have the stage for about an hour for his opening set. Then, after a 30 minute set change, the lights will dim and Stevie Nicks will take over the Bowl. She is expected to perform a 2+ hour set filled with her classics until the venue’s noise curfew at 11:00 PM.
Conclusion
Stevie Nicks selecting Billy Joel to open her epic Hollywood Bowl show delighted fans. His piano-driven rock music should perfectly warm up the crowd for Stevie’s headlining performance. This melding of two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers promises to be a special evening of musical excellence and nostalgia. While the concert is sold out, fans are already speculating about potential surprise guest appearances during the show. Regardless, October 8 is sure to be a memorable night as this iconic venue welcomes these two legends to its stage. It will undoubtedly be a show that goes down in the Hollywood Bowl’s storied history.