Latest news with #AfterHoursTilDawnTour
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I Came Back With a Vengeance': 7 Best Moments From Launch of The Weeknd's Sold-Out Run at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium
The Weeknd has a love-hate relationship with Los Angeles. He wanted to flee from the fast life on 'Escape From LA' from his 2020 blockbuster album After Hours. Five years later, he reflected on simpler, sun-soaked times on 'Take Me Back to LA' off of his latest album Hurry Up Tomorrow. But on Wednesday night (June 25), he seemed genuinely happy to be back in the city he's called home for years. More from Billboard White House Uses Usher's 'Hey Daddy' to Soundtrack Trump's NATO Return Kehlani Reflects on 'You Should Be Here' Mixtape 10 Years Later: 'I'm Grateful That It Changed My Life' Keke Palmer Dissects 'Just Keke' Visual Album and Why She's Found It 'So Hard Being a Person and a Product' 'It's been way too long, Los Angeles. It's been way too long. We have some memories on this stage right here, don't we?' he reminded the 70,000 fans at SoFi Stadium. The Weeknd and SoFi have quite the history. During his second of two sold-out shows at the Inglewood, Calif. stadium in September 2022, the Ethiopian-Canadian superstar lost his voice, an incident that made the pop star feel so defeated that he began debating taking a curtain call on the persona fans have come to know and love and inspired his first feature film Hurry Up Tomorrow that was released in theaters earlier this year. Even though he performed two make-up shows in November 2022, one might expect him to experience PTSD stepping back on that stage three years later. But for The Weeknd, how could he fear a venue he's now made history at? KTLA 5 reported that the 'Blinding Lights' hitmaker now holds the record for the most sold-out shows by a male artist at SoFi Stadium with a total of seven shows, three from the 2022 leg of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour and four from this current 2025 leg. Here are the seven best moments from The Weeknd's first SoFi Stadium stop of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. While The Weeknd has been honoring his Ethiopian heritage by donning a black and gold kaba – a hand-embroidered Ethiopian robe historically worn by royals and traditionally worn at weddings – during his latest live performances, his fans honored him by wearing his old wardrobe. From the white T-shirt, vest and pants from the 2023 European leg of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour to the infamous After Hours era red suit jacket and black slacks with a bloody, bandaged nose, the XO fans paid homage to his different eras. Travis Scott brought out Playboi Carti to perform 'FE!N' during his historic headlining show at SoFi Stadium back in November 2023. Almost two years later, the King Vamp returned the favor by surprising his ravenous fanbase with his raging partner in crime. Scott stepped out to 'Goosebumps' before the two sent the audience into a frenzy with a delirious performance of 'Crush' from Carti's Billboard 200-topping album MUSIC, with Carti's guttural shrieks bouncing off the walls and rapidly flashing strobe lights bouncing off the crowd. They saved 'FE!N' for the high-octane finale of Carti's opening set. The Weeknd and his right-hand producer Mike Dean cooked up a number of remarkably seamless transitions for his 2023 co-headlining Coachella set and first legs of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. But for this recent leg, and with the Hurry Up Tomorrow album now added to the setlist, the two had to go back into the lab and create a new experience. The final reverberating shrieks from 'Wake Me Up' blended right into the pulsating bassline from the second half of the After Hours title track. And a pitched-up version of the chorus from Metro Boomin's 'Creepin,' also featuring 21 Savage, led straight into the pitched-up sample of Jon B and Babyface's 1995 Hot 100 top 10 hit 'Someone to Love' that kicks off 'Niagara Falls.' After concluding 'Faith,' The Weeknd took off his gold-plated mask and came face-to-face with the crowd, who was in an uproar during the dramatic reveal. Right after revealing his face to fans, The Weeknd took a minute to bask in glory in the same spot he once felt defeated. 'I came back with a vengeance. Four nights, SoFi, back to back to back,' he exclaimed. 'And that's because of you. We gotta make sure night one is the best night out of four nights though, right?' He later commemorated the momentous occasion by tweaking the second verse on his and Anitta's 'São Paulo': 'Hit it from the back, she louder than four sold-out nights at SoFi.' Following his opening stint, Baby Boi hopped back on stage to perform their Hot 100 No. 3 hit 'Timeless' and 'Rather Lie' from MUSIC. Carti took a page out of The Weeknd's playbook by interspersing some (Auto-Tuned) melodic runs as well as his signature 'schyeah' ad-lib throughout both songs, and the joint performance reminded 00XO fans that outsiders can't handle the both of them at the top. When 'Rather Lie' debuted at No. 4 on the Hot 100 in March, The Weeknd earned his 20th top 10 hit and tied Mariah Carey and Prince's record for the most consecutive years with a top 10 hit (12) in history. That same week, Carti became the first rapper to notch more than 30 Hot 100 hits in a single week and the third artist ever, after Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift. The Weeknd coached one lucky girl through an intimate duet of the Dawn FM standout track 'Out of Time' on the floor of SoFi. He later handed the microphone to another fan right before the end of the chorus, who belted, '… make you mine, out of tiiime!' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Weeknd Embraces Full-Fledged Pop Star Status During 2-Night Chicago Stand
The Weeknd's sixth and most recent album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, was released in January and was accompanied months later by a film of the same name. In the mystifying thriller, the star—born Abel Tesfaye—portrays a thinly-veiled version of himself attempting to rectify an onstage crash out that resulted in not just embarrassment but also losing his voice. This real-life moment from 2022, which the singer ultimately attributed to self-imposed pressure and stress, clearly haunted the 'Blinding Lights' singer. However, this didn't deter The Weeknd from introducing the latest iteration of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour at Chicago's Soldier Field for two consecutive nights on May 30 and 31. Multi-instrumentalist and frequent Weeknd collaborator Mike Dean was the first opener for both evenings, followed by Atlanta-born rapper Playboi Carti. For the May 31 show, the emcee brought his signature high energy for songs like Future's 'Type Shit' and 'LIKE WEEZY.' However, when Carti introduced the one and only Travis Scott as his special guest, the crowd livened up even more for rousing renditions of 'goosebumps,' 'CRUSH' and 'FE!N.' It wasn't long before The Weeknd took the stage amidst a backdrop of a ruinous cityscape and gold robot statue designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. His dancers, clad in red hooded robes, appeared immediately for his very first song of the night, 'The Abyss' from Hurry Up Tomorrow. The vocalist stunned in a black hooded robe and a shiny chrome mask with illuminated eyes, which he would soon reveal to the delight of the audience. The Weeknd would go on to captivate by playing nearly 40 songs. 'Starboy' felt like a fever dream while 'Heartless' was riddled with jagged guitar riffs that gave it a treacherous edge. 'Can't Feel My Face,' one of the songs that catapulted the Toronto native into superstardom, was purely electrifying, and 'Often' sounded just as sumptuous as it did on 2015's Beauty Behind The Madness. The fiery nature of 'The Hills' was one of the most captivating instances from his set. Even though his cover of Metro Boomin's 'Creepin'' felt brief, the hits that followed were colossal. During 'Out Of Time,' he ventured his way into the crowd to sing along with fans–and was tightly hugged by one who was mesmerized by his presence. 'I Feel It Coming' and 'Die For You' were major sing-along moments, but when The Weeknd dipped into old-school classics onlookers were reminded of the depth of his catalog. More specifically, tracks from his 2011 debut mixtape House of Balloons were delivered with the urgency and conviction of that same mysterious musician with a penchant for lyrical tawdriness. 'Wicked Games,' 'The Morning,' 'High For This,' and 'House of Balloons' sounded less glacial and more heartfelt at this point in his career. The Weeknd didn't perform any songs with Playboi Carti on night two at Soldier Field, and he wasn't much for words throughout the performance. However, he did repeatedly thank Chicago for supporting him over the last 15 years. If there was any fear of coming up short onstage, the singer didn't show it. Instead, he did what he does best: let his transcendental vocals move the people who have believed in him the most. More from The Weeknd's 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Earns $3.3 Million Box Office Debut The Weeknd Might Not Be Retiring His Music Persona After All The Weeknd's 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Film Trailer Hints At A Mind-Bending Experience
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
The Weeknd brings ‘After Hours Til Dawn' back to Soldier Field, closing a chapter on the bad boy you can dance to
Three years ago, Abel Tesfaye — better known as The Weeknd — first brought his 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' to Soldier Field. An acclaimed spectacle, the tour that started on such a high eventually brought the artist to his lowest low. In September 2022, during a show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles near the end of his tour's North American leg, The Weeknd abruptly lost his voice while performing 'Can't Feel My Face.' The incident, brought on by 'self-imposed pressure' and stress, he said, left the artist reckoning with the realities of the world he'd built since breaking out of his underground, internet anonymity into global superstardom. It inspired a complete overhaul of his latest album, 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' (released Jan. 31), as well as a companion film of the same title, with actors Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan co-starring alongside Tesfaye in what's been widely regarded as a hyper-stylized, hollow vanity project. Upon the album and film's releases, Tesfaye announced he'd be leaving his famed moniker behind. He felt he had 'said everything he could say' under the Weeknd name and was looking to explore different creative avenues musically. Despite the critical reception for his ventures outside of music, fans showed up in droves Friday night for the first of two nights of the 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' (part deux), and to say goodbye (sort of). After opening sets from Mike Dean and Playboi Carti, the lights went down and a deep, crimson haze eclipsed the stage. Brooding and slightly ominous, it was a similar production to what graced the lakefront stadium in the summer of 2022, with a mainstage rising from a city of ruins, multiple runways and a towering, chrome Stargirl replacing what had been the moon. Tesfaye wasted no time getting right into the thick of it. Flanked by nearly three dozen shrouded and masked dancers, one of R&B's most enigmatic figures appeared as a glam Darth Vader or space-age Phantom of the Opera — ready to lead his followers through a celebration of excess, contradiction and dissociation like no one else can. Lyrically, The Weeknd's signature is oscillating between yearning lover boy and the worst guy you'd meet at the afters, set to a breakbeat pace. His career, both on the mic and on film ('Uncut Gems,' 'The Idol'), is built upon various layers and dynamics of who is ultimately the same person: himself. A hedonist hustler never satisfied. The predator and the prey. Secure in his insecurities and wreaking havoc because of it. As one concertgoer shared in passing, 'His music does remind you of a bad boyfriend, but when they make you like them again.' Is it survival mode? Maybe. For over the past decade, it has worked — making Tesfaye a cultural force. Adeptly walking the ever-thinning line between sexy and sleazy, he's undeniably one of modern pop music's most influential hitmakers and collaborators. For Stephanie Escobedo, longtime fan and owner of Through the Body Dance & Fitness Studio in West Town, the artist's latest album and film project heightened the anticipation ahead of this weekend's shows. 'It's visually beautiful, like a giant music video,' Escobedo said of the movie. 'I liked the imagery and how he played himself because he can't act for (expletive). I thought it was a cool omission of how awful of a person he was and how he used the two characters of Jenna and Barry to portray sides of himself. 'From what I understand,' she continued, 'he's going to step away from The Weeknd persona and just go by Abel. I'm interested to hear how Abel sounds, as opposed to this version of him I've loved since 2011.' For just over two hours, there were no breaks in the concert. Tesfaye delivered wall-to-wall vocals, showcasing a strength, clarity, and control over an instrument you'd never think once escaped him. 'It's been a long time since I've been in Chicago,' he recounted during the show. 'Last time I was here, I said I'd play two nights — and look what you did!' Telling his audience that Soldier Field would have to drag him off the stage, he promised to go all night. With a 40-song setlist that included Playboi Carti joining him for 'Timeless' and Carti's own 'Rather Lie,' deep hits 'Wicked Games,' 'The Morning,' and the title track from his debut project 'House of Balloons' (2011), as well as now-expected classics such as 'The Hills,' 'I Feel It Coming,' 'Die For You,' and 'Save Your Tears,' Tesfaye basked in the glory of soundtracking a generation of situation-ships and manipulative love-bombing-you-can-dance-to. But really, you cannot help but dance to it. Try not to be physically moved by the pulsating rush of the synths driving 'Blinding Lights' or throbbing bass behind 'São Paulo.' And sure, the 'ballad' portions of the evening piled on the slightly indulgent vocal runs and pleas from Tesfaye to hear someone say they love him (so committed, you do genuinely believe he needs to hear it) were eye roll-inducing, but expect nothing less from a man who set up the stage visual for 'Call Out My Name' to ultimately look like a sacrificial sermon. If you're not here for a little bit of artistic narcissism from The Weeknd, what are you even doing? Alesa Vera, who was invited last minute by her cousin, said she appreciated that the artist ran straight through his set without any intermissions, costume changes, or exaggerated encore, giving everyone the most for their money. 'He really has so many hits. He sounded fantastic,' she shared after the show. 'That's hard to do. You forget how much you love certain songs. I was engaged the entire time.' As flames, fireworks, and synchronized, light-up bracelets decorated Soldier Field, The Weeknd wrapped his triumphant return by introducing himself as Abel Tesfaye. Whether a death or a rebirth, his performance was proof that no matter the perceived 'failures' he's endured — the music, the talent speaks for itself. For attendees Dre Holland and Amari White, however, The Weeknd will always be The Weeknd. 'The songs, he can't separate himself from those. People will always want to hear The Weeknd' Holland said while leaving Museum Campus. 'How much of his style can really change? I don't think he'll do it, but we'll see.' 'The fans are with him no matter what,' White added. 'He's captured something with his music and lyrics that only he does. I mean, look at all these people here.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Weeknd finds magic in the dark to kick off two-night Detroit stand at Ford Field
The Weeknd summoned musical rapture from the ruins of an otherworldly wasteland inside Ford Field on Saturday night. Broad in imagination, grand in scope, the R&B superstar's cinematic spectacular played out for a packed and exuberant crowd at the downtown stadium to kick off a two-night Detroit stand. The concert was part of the Weeknd's long, ever-morphing After Hours Til Dawn Tour, which originally brought him to Ford Field in 2022. Saturday's show deepened the post-apocalyptic chill of that night three years ago; the crumbling cityscape that surrounded him then has given way to the rubble of fallen buildings and a vast video backdrop crawling with trippy visuals. Returning to the no-expense-spared production were dozens of mysterious, red-cloaked figures who solemnly crept across the stage for much of the evening in a kind of surreal druid ritual. The show's new cross-shaped runway configuration featured a towering, sexy-robot statue designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. Still, amid the cyberpunk dystopia, a Saturday night party extravaganza blossomed. Songs flowed into one another like a live mixtape, with fans across the stadium belting along ecstatically as each new tune arrived. There was less aloofness in the Weeknd's presence this time, as he played to the crowd with frequent exclamations of 'Detroit!' and interacted with fans in the front rows. New to the proceedings were 11 numbers from 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' his recent sixth album, part of a set list that mingled crowd-pleasing hits with deeper cuts to service the diehards. Night one at Ford Field drew a slew of fans from neighboring Canada, including many from the Weeknd's Toronto hometown, where he'll play a pair of shows in July. It was part of a lively and crowded night in downtown Detroit, including a Tigers game next door, the riverside Movement festival and its array of associated parties, and preparations for next weekend's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The Weeknd was in strong voice for most of the night, though it's clear the 35-year-old has begun adapting his falsetto-rich studio style to suit the rigors of a global tour. It all unfolded atop a shimmering instrumental soundscape led by keyboardist Mike Dean, who deftly manned a corner of the stage amid his battery of synths. Ford Field is the second stop on the tour's fourth and final leg, though it came more than two weeks after opening night in Arizona. That down time was occupied with the May 16 premiere of 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' the Weeknd-starring companion film to the new album, and he took the opportunity to shake up the set list, swapping in the old-school fan faves 'Kiss Land' and 'High for This' among other tweaks. Following the dark, twinkling show opener 'The Abyss,' the 2-hour, 5-minute set tapped the Weeknd's assorted sonic shades: futuristic club pop ('Take My Breath'), slow burners ('Creepin',' 'Niagara Falls'), warm and melodic new wave ('Save Your Tears,' 'Less than Zero'), simmering anxiety turned into galloping salvation ("Baptized in Fear"), lush throwbacks drenched in '80s charms ('Out of Time,' 'I Feel it Coming'). Rapper Playboy Carti, who had been a bit of an odd fit as opening act, returned to the stage to join the Weeknd to revisit their recent collabs 'Timeless' and 'Rather Lie.' 'Blinding Lights' — the eternally infectious, dayglo-streaked hit that stands as the most-streamed song in history — was the inevitable climax late in the show. It was followed by a wind-down that ultimately culminated with 'Moth to a Flame' and a few final fiery blasts from the flame projectors that had been busy across the stadium all night. The Weeknd and company will do it again Sunday night at Ford Field as the After Hours Til Dawn tour kicks into high gear for its final run across North America. (Note for ticketholders: The Weeknd took the stage Saturday at 9:12 p.m.) Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The Weeknd finds magic in the dark to kick off two-night Detroit stand
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How to buy discounted tickets for the Weeknd's 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour'
It's a big year for Abel Tesfaye, the artist better known as The Weeknd. He just released his 6th studio album album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, to critical acclaim, and he'll be making his feature film debut alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan in an accompanying film of the same name, which is set for a May 16 theatrical release. And on top of all that, he'll be heading out on a major stadium tour starting on May 9. The tour will also feature supporting acts Playboi Carti and Mike Dean. Tickets are on sale to the general public now. Here's everything you need to know about how to see The Weeknd in person during his After Hours Til Dawn 2025 tour. The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn Tour began on May 9 in Phoenix, AZ. The tour runs through Sept. 3. The Weeknd will be joined by Playboi Carti and Mike Dean on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. Tickets for the Weeknd's tour went on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 7. Due to high demand, a second show, on July 4, has been added in Las Vegas, and fans can grab tickets and concert/hotel packages for that newly-added show now by clicking here. Check Ticketmaster Tickets for the Weeknd's tour start between $61 and $150 depending on the venue, and reach upwards of $750 for VIP packages. Tickets are also available for resale on trusted third party vendors like StubHub starting at $83. Find tickets on StubHub Another way to score seats — and discounted ones at that: SeatGeek. Right now, SeatGeek is offering 20% (up to $25) off tons of tickets — including to The Weeknd! Find discount tickets on SeatGeek The Weeknd will be coming to 24 cities on his 2025 tour, including U.S. cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The tour will also feature several Canadian dates in Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto. 05/09/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ State Farm Stadium 05/24/25 – Detroit, MI @ Ford Field 05/30/25 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field 05/31/25 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field 06/05/25 – East Rutherford, NJ @ Metlife Stadium 06/06/25 – East Rutherford, NJ @ Metlife Stadium 06/10/25 – Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium 06/14/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ US Bank Stadium 06/21/25 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High 06/25/25 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium 06/26/25 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium 06/28/25 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium 07/04/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium 07/05/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium 07/08/25 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi's Stadium 07/12/25 – Seattle, WA @ Lumen Field 07/15/25 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place 07/19/25 – Edmonton, AB @ Commonwealth Stadium 07/24/25 – Montréal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau 07/27/25 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre 07/28/25 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre 07/30/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field 08/02/25 – Landover, MD @ Northwest Stadium 08/07/25 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre 08/12/25 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium 08/15/25 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium 08/21/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes Benz Stadium 08/24/25 – Orlando, FL @ Camping World Stadium 08/27/25 – Arlington, TX @ AT&T Stadium 08/30/25 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium 09/03/25 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome While you wait for the Weeknd's upcoming tour, you can check out the trailer to Hurry Up Tomorrow, arriving to theaters in May.
