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Category: Music Author : Steven Hodson Posted: June 23, 2009
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Is U2 heralding in a new concert going experience?


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There is no doubt that very few enjoyable experiences can equal the memories we might have of our first concert. Mine was Jethro Tull’s War Child Tour at Maple Leaf Garden back in the early 70s.

For the most part the concert experience has never really changed with the band at one end of a huge arena on a gigantic stage with huge towers of speakers and massive light shows. The stage may be as simple as a single platform with the drum kit on a riser, or it can be a Disneyland type where just about anything can happen. But in the end the people who have come to see the show do so from a unequal distances to the stage.

U2 in its upcoming concert tour is looking to change that experience with a unique setup. Starting in Barcelona on June 30th U2 will unveil its 360° concert experience where the band will play on a stage smack in the middle of the arena.

U2’s long time show director, Willie Williams, worked again with architect Mark Fisher to create the innovative 360° design which will gives fans of the band an unobstructed view of the band as it plays. You can see a virtual tour of the stage at 360.U2.com.

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Comments


3 Archived Responses to “ Is U2 heralding in a new concert going experience? ”

  1. jjprojects
    Jun 23, 2009

    Makes a lot of sense, although it's not exactly new. Maybe it is for rock concerts with a lot of tech components, but wasn't theatre “in the round” way back in Shakespeare's day?

  2. 1ohndoogan2
    Jun 24, 2009

    Yes did the round stage in the center of the arena for several of their tours back in the '70s and it was great, so this really isn't groundbreaking. By the way Yes had the best concert sound in terms of quality that I have ever heard, bar none…loud and powerful, but clear and high fidelity.

  3. Todd
    Jun 24, 2009

    The stage won't be smack in the middle. It will still be at one end of the stadium; however, it'll be a little closer to the middle than normal and it will provide a 360 view so people can site behind it, which means more revenue and their ability to charge less for ticket prices.