The Liberation Tour (Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo tour)

The Liberation Tour is a co-headlining concert tour by American recording artists, Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo. The North America tour supports Blige's tenth studio album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) (2011) and D'Angelo's third studio album, Black Messiah (2014). The tour also features special guest Melanie Fiona.[1]

The Liberation Tour
Tour by Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo
Promotional poster for the tour
LocationUnited States
Associated albumMy Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) and Black Messiah
Start dateAugust 18, 2012 (2012-08-18)
End dateJune 23, 2013 (2013-06-23)
No. of shows26
Mary J. Blige tour chronology
Music Saved My Life Tour
(2010–11)
The Liberation Tour
(2012–13)
The London Sessions Tour
(2015)
D'Angelo tour chronology
Occupy Music Tour
(2007)
The Liberation Tour
(2012–13)
The Second Coming Tour
(2015)

Background

edit

On July 7, 2012, Mary J. Blige headlined the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, during a brief interview with Rolling Stone she announced an upcoming 20 date summer tour with singer D'Angelo. Blige stated: "I felt like it would be refreshing and fun for people to see him and Mary J. Blige on the road together."[2]

Tickets for four shows went on sale a few days after.[3] During a four night stint at Caesars in Atlantic City (June 29, 30 & July 3, 4), Blige gave fans a peek of what was to come on the tour.[4]

The tour will feature supporting act Melanie Fiona, and include Starshell appearing only at select cities. The Liberation Tour will extend its run in the summer of 2013 with R&B singer Bridget Kelly opening for D'Angelo and Blige.[5] During the tour Vibe news announced a VIP contest giveaway to win two pair of tickets to any city of choice to see the tour.[6] During the tour, VIP Nation also offered fans VIP Packages for the tour.[7]

Opening acts

edit
  • Melanie Fiona (2012)
  • Starshell (2012 select dates)
  • Bridget Kelly (2013)

Set list

edit
D'Angelo
  1. "When I Die" (Instrumental intro)
  2. "Left & Right"
  3. "Devil's Pie"
  4. "Chicken Grease" (contain excerpts from "Shadrach" and "Freddie's Dead")
  5. "The Charade"
  6. "Crusin'"
  7. "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
  8. "Shi*t, Damn, Motherf*cker"
  9. "Lady"
  10. "Sugah Daddy"
  11. "Another Life"
  12. "Feel Like Makin' Love"
  13. "One Mo' Gin"
  14. "Brown Sugar"
Mary J. Blige
  1. "Ain't Nobody"
  2. "Family Affair"
  3. "Feel Inside"
  4. "Enough Cryin"
  5. Medley: "Real Love" / "Outstanding" / "Love No Limit" (contain elements of "Risin' to the Top")
  6. "Good Woman Down"
  7. "Don't Mind"
  8. "Why"
  9. "Everything"
  10. "Not Gon' Cry"
  11. "Love A Woman"
  12. "Mr. Wrong"
  13. "I'm Going Down"
  14. "Empty Prayers"
  15. "My Life"
  16. "No More Drama"
  17. "Sweet Thing"
  18. Medley: "Be Happy" / "You Bring Me Joy"
  19. "Midnight Drive"
  20. "Just Fine"
  21. "Be Without You"

Additional notes

edit
  • Blige performed "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" only in Washington, D.C. replacing "Midnight Drive".
  • "Why" was cut from Blige's setlist at some shows.
  • D'Angelo's setlist was changed often for selected dates during the tour.
  • "Brown Sugar" was his opening song at the Los Angeles show, and at select cities.

Tour dates

edit
List of 2012 U.S. concerts, showing date, city and venue[8][9][10]
Date
(2012)
City Venue
August 18 Virginia Beach Farm Bureau Live
August 19 Wantagh Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
August 21 Boston Bank of America Pavilion
August 23 Holmdel Township PNC Bank Arts Center
August 24 Philadelphia Mann Center
August 26 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
August 28 Atlanta Chastain Park Amphitheater
August 30 Miami American Airlines Arena
September 2 Houston Toyota Center
September 7 Las Vegas Pearl Concert Theater
September 8 Concord Sleep Train Pavilion
September 9 Los Angeles Gibson Amphitheatre
September 13 Chicago United Center
September 14 Clarkston DTE Energy Music Center
September 15 Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
List of 2013 U.S. concerts, showing date, city and venue
Date
(2013)
City Venue
June 6 Hampton Hampton Coliseum
June 7 Raleigh PNC Arena
June 8 Columbia Colonial Center
June 12 Shreveport CenturyTel Center
June 14 Louisville KFC Yum! Center
June 15 St. Louis Chaifetz Arena
June 16 Kansas City Sprint Center
June 19 Nashville Nashville Municipal Auditorium
June 21 Indianapolis Bankers Life Fieldhouse
June 22 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena
June 23 Rochester Blue Cross Arena

References

edit
  1. ^ "D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige Team for 'Liberation Tour'". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  2. ^ Spoto, Alex (July 7, 2012). "D'Angelo Woos Stadium Crowd At Essence Fest". Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ "D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige Team for 'The Liberation Tour'". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  4. ^ Cline, Georgette (2012-07-02). "Mary J. Blige Dazzles at Caesars Atlantic City, Thanks Fans for Support Through 'Hell'". The Boombox. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  5. ^ Olivier, Alley (June 5, 2013). "Bridget Kelly To Join Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo On 'The Liberation Tour'". Vibe.com.
  6. ^ "Vibe Giveaway: Win Tickets to 'The Liberation Tour' With Mary J. Blige, D'Angelo & Melanie Fiona". Vibe.com. August 21, 2012.
  7. ^ "Mary J Blige 'The Liberation Tour' VIP Nation Program". Vipnation.com. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (July 10, 2012). "D'Angelo and Mary J. Blige to launch joint tour". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Hailey, Jonathan (July 12, 2012). "Mary J. Blige & D'Angelo Release 'Liberation' Tour Dates". theurbandaily.com.
  10. ^ Brown, August (September 10, 2012). "Live Review: Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo at the Gibson Amphitheatre". Los Angeles Times.
edit

Mary J Blige & D'Angelo Tour