Why Adele traded global stadium tours for a Las Vegas residency
In short: After a massive 121-show world tour in 2016, Adele famously suggested she might never tour again. Yet, she returned to the stage with a high-concept Las Vegas residency that defied industry norms, trading massive arenas for an intimate, high-production spectacle at The Colosseum.
Adele's 'Weekends with Adele' residency at Caesars Palace was not a standard career move. While many artists turn to Las Vegas after their commercial peak, critic Ben Beaumont-Thomas noted Adele was an outlier. The residency offered a solution to her aversion to giant venues and the logistical challenges of traditional touring, while keeping her close to her son and his father.
The production is a study in contrast. It begins with a minimalistic setup featuring only Adele and a pianist, performing ballads like 'Hello' and 'Easy on Me'. As the show progresses, the scale expands to include a band, background vocalists, an orchestra of 24 string players, and elaborate elements like pyrotechnics, a waterfall, and a sinking piano.
The residency faced significant hurdles. Originally slated for January 2022, it was postponed due to production delays and COVID-19 infections among her crew. This caused friction with fans awaiting refunds, leading Adele to describe the backlash as 'brutal.' Despite this, the residency became a massive success, with 100,000 tickets selling out in six hours and generating an average gross of $2.2 million per show.
The residency's longevity and scale were remarkable. Starting in November 2022, the engagement was extended multiple times, eventually concluding on 23 November 2024. It allowed Adele to perform her most extensive set list—20 tracks—without the physical toll of a traditional global tour.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Weekends with Adele
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-weekends-with-adele.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Traditions & customs · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
