Kenny Chesney has broken many records in his 30-year career, from record-setting concert attendance to music chart milestones, and now the country superstar will add another accolade to his list when he becomes the first country artist to perform at the Las Vegas Sphere.
Chesney’s 12-date Live at Sphere residency kicks off May 22 with shows scheduled for May 24-25, 28 and 30-31 and June 4, 6-7, 11 and 13-14. Tickets are on sale at 1 p.m. ET Jan. 31 via kennychesney.com.
Chesney said in a statement he was “all in” when he learned of the technological possibilities at the singular entertainment venue, even without having seen a concert there.
“Just the idea of 4D technology and the impossibly dialed-in sound raises the experience for No Shoes Nation, literally immersing them in music, visuals, sound and being together. To me, this is going to be a whole new way of rocking the fans, and I can’t wait,” Chesney said.
More:The Sphere in Las Vegas really is a ‘quantum leap’ for live music: Inside the first shows
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How U2’s film inspired Kenny Chesney to play the Sphere
Chesney explained that visiting Las Vegas with his tour advisors and watching the immersive U2 concert film “V-U2” at the Sphere were enough to convince him to establish his own show at the venue.
“We stood on the floor as they ran the film of U2’s show and we were completely consumed. We could see the band, but it was so much more than that. It almost took what they were doing and multiplied it by another dimension,” Chesney said. “Knowing how much intensity our shows generate, my mind started thinking about all the things we could do. Once you see how the show wraps all the way around you, the dreaming begins.”
Graphics:How the Sphere in Las Vegas works
Chesney and his team have been working for almost a year with the tech and creative wizards at the 17,600-capacity venue to craft an immersive show.
The Sphere, which U2 christened at its September 2023 opening and played for 40 dates, has been a visual and sonic playground for Phish, Dead & Co, the Eagles (with dates through April) and Afterlife Presents Anyma.