Kenny Chesney is gearing up for his first-ever Las Vegas residency at the state-of-the-art Sphere, which is located at 255 Sands Ave in Las Vegas, Nevada. The East Tennessee native will take the stage for 15 nights, beginning Thursday, May 22, and running through June 21.
The eight-time Entertainer of the Year is set to make history as the first country artist to headline the groundbreaking venue. He joins an elite roster of performers who have graced the 17,600-seat Sphere, including U2, Dead & Company, Eagles, Phish, and Afterlife Presents Anyma.
This residency promises to be unlike anything Chesney has ever done before, thanks to the Sphere’s cutting-edge technology. The venue features 167,000 precision-tuned speakers, a fully immersive visual experience with 171 million pixels on a 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen, and 4D technologies, including haptic seating, delivering a next-level concert experience.
“I’m always looking for ways to deepen the way No Shoes Nation experiences this music,” Chesney added of his decision to host a concert residency at the next-level venue. “Over the years, they have shown me through their own response to these songs how passionate they are about what they mean, how these songs are part of their lives. When people give you that much heart, I want to give them even more.”
Kenny Chesney At The Sphere: Las Vegas Residency Dates
May: 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31
June: 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21
Music Mayhem compiled a full list of everything you need to know and fun facts about Kenny Chesney’s Las Vegas Residency at Sphere, which you can see below.
Everything You Need To Know About Kenny Chesney’s Las Vegas Residency At Sphere
To Make History As First Country Artist To Perform At Sphere
The eight-time Entertainer of the Year will make history as the first country artist and the fifth overall to perform at the world’s most innovative venue, joining a prestigious lineup of artists who have headlined the 17,600-seat Sin City venue, including U2, Dead & Company, Eagles, Phish, and Afterlife Presents Anyma.
This Marks Chesney’s First-Ever Residency
Chesney has never hosted a residency, not only in Las Vegas, but anywhere.
Set List Will Feature Songs He’s Never Played Live
Kenny Chesney revealed that he will not only be performing fan-favorite tunes and his biggest hits during his Las Vegas residency, but he will also play songs that are album cuts he’s never performed live.
“There’s going to be songs people are used to hearing, but there’s going to be four or five songs in the set, or maybe even more, that people go, ‘Yeah, I remember that song. He’s never done it [live].’ So that’s exciting for me, and it’s going to be new for the audience,” Chesney said in an interview with 92.5 XTU. A press release also confirmed that Chesney’s Sphere set list would consist of “previously un-played songs, rare favorites and myriad classics.”
The 56-year-old hitmaker has quite the catalog to choose from when it comes to crafting a set list, including his 33 No. 1 hits, multiple week No. 2s and Top 5s.
Fans Can Experience The Vibe Room
The East Tennessee native said that there will be a “Vibe Room” for fans to visit and relive his iconic career. This area will not require a ticket to his Sphere concert for access, and will be located within the vicinity of the Sphere. The “Vibe Room” experience will be curated by Chesney himself alongside his team.
“It’s like a space that’s 3000 square feet, and it’s just like… [my] stuff, you know? It’s going to be a really fun place to be,” he noted to 92.5 XTU. “I think there’s going to be a bar in there. I think there’s going to be merch in there. There’s going to be a museum on my journey so far in this business.”
Brandi Cyrus Will Open Chesney’s Sphere Concerts
DJ Brandi Cyrus will hype the crowd and serve as support on all Chesney’s Sphere shows.
“I wanted to make it about music, but I didn’t just want to throw a band up there. With the space on the floor – no chairs, no sun beating down – what could we do to transform what we do somewhere else? What could be better than a DJ to get the dancing started early?” Chesney shared of having Cyrus as part of the show.
Chesney To Include Sandbar Experience
Kenny Chesney wanted to make sure No Shoes Nation still got to have their Sandbar Experience (general admission pit/standing room only) as he normally offers for his tours.
“I can’t forget the most hardcore, which is why we’ve got a Sandbar on the floor. No holds barred, it’s like stadiums without the other bands, the wait or weather,” Chesney said. “I know this is a whole other way to play live. But that doesn’t mean we don’t feed like vampires off that energy down front. Everything the people in the Sandbar give us, we turn right around and put into the music.”
A Sandbar Experience ticket offers priority entry into Sphere, early access to The Kenny Chesney Experience on show days for a crowd-free shopping experience with exclusive merchandise, a dedicated shopping lane during public hours, entry to the No Shoes Island VIP Pool Party, and an exclusive, specially curated gift from Kenny Chesney.
Show Will Be Unlike Any Other Chesney Concert
Chesney’s concert at the Sphere will be unlike anything he’s ever done with the help of the Sphere’s groundbreaking technology.
“I’m always looking for ways to deepen the way No Shoes Nation experiences this music,” Chesney explained of his decision to host a concert residency at the next-level venue.
“Over the years, they have shown me through their own response to these songs how passionate they are about what they mean, how these songs are part of their lives. When people give you that much heart, I want to give them even more.” Chesney continued, “When we started talking about all of the possibilities playing Sphere offered, I was all in. 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.”
360-Degree Fully-Immersive Visual Experience
The Sphere features an immersive 360-degree video and sound system, which will give fans an unparalleled concert experience. Chesney’s performance will utilize the fully immersive visual features, offering over 171 million pixels across the world’s highest resolution (160,000-square-foot) LED screen that wraps around the audience. Additionally, the venue boasts 4D technologies, including haptic seats that are capable of moving and vibrating according to the sound and visuals.
“I have always said No Shoes Nation is voracious in how they consume our music and the live shows, especially in the stadiums,” Chesney stated. “But now we have the potential with the way this theater is built, along with the super high-definition screen and sound, to almost have the music consume No Shoes Nation. The visuals and the mix will wrap around them, go over their heads and reinforce everything we’re doing on the stage. So, it’s not just seeing us, it’s having this whole new super vivid, full immersion way to experience the show, the band and absolutely the songs.”
The visuals for the show are captured on the patented Big Sky camera, which requires 12 people to operate it. “When we were starting to think about what we should shoot, how to present the songs in this completely consuming environment showed me how much No Shoes Nation has been coming for the joy, but also for the sense that life can be lived fully no matter where you are or what you’re doing.” he continued. “Twenty years into playing stadiums, I’m amazed at the things I’m still learning about the songs I’ve been blessed to sing.”
State-Of-The-Art Sound System
The Sphere is renowned for its 167,000 individual speakers, which can be finely tuned to each section with remarkable precision.
Chesney Said “Yes” To Residency Without Ever Attending A Show At Sphere
Yes, you read that right. Kenny Chesney agreed to the residency without ever actually attending a concert at the venue.
“When we started talking, I flew to Vegas with my key tour team. 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 added. “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.”
Every Show Will Be Unique
Chesney vows that each date of his Las Vegas residency will be unique. Whether it’s a one-night-only song, a surprise guest, or an unforgettable moment, the country music icon ensures that each night will be truly special for fans.
“And we’re going to leave room in each show to create a couple special moments that will be unique to that night,” Chesney stated in a press release. “Maybe it’s a surprise guest, a song we will only play that specific night, but I’ve been blessed with an amazing group of friends, songs and players, so why not make each night something really individual for No Shoes Nation?”
Sphere-Themed Merchandise
There will be Kenny Chesney Sphere-themed merchandise available for purchase every night of his residency. Each artist who performs at Sphere offers exclusive merchandise that is specific to the Sphere and often times includes cool artwork.
Presented By Blue Chair Bay Rum
The country music icon’s concerts at Sphere are presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum, a liquor brand owned by Chesney. It’s likely that fans attending the show will be able to order a cocktail at the Sphere that includes Blue Chair Bay Rum.
