Arctic Monkeys return with first gig in three years
The band returned with a string of fan favourites and also played 'Potion Approaching' for the first time in over a decade
Arctic Monkeys returned with their first live show in three years yesterday (9 August), playing the first of two nights at the Zorlu Centre in Istanbul, Turkey.
Alex Turner and co. performed a 21-song setlist, playing fan favourites like ‘Do I Wanna Know’, ‘Snap Out Of It’, and ‘R U Mine?’, but did not debut any new material.
The Sheffield rock giants also played ‘Potion Approaching’ for the first time in over a decade.
“It’s lovely to see you all,” Turner told the crowd under a glittering disco ball before playing the track, which hadn’t been performed live since 2011.
You can check out videos, fan shot footage and the full setlist below.
The band will head to Bulgaria (12 August), Croatia (16 August) and the Czech Republic (18 August) next, along with festivals including Sziget in Budapest, Hungary and Rock En Seine in Paris, France, before taking to Reading and Leeds to headline for a third time later this month.
The band have not yet announced the follow-up to their 2018 album ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’, but fans suspect there may be new music later this year.
Drummer Matt Helders spoke about their upcoming new album in November last year. “We tend to always move it on a little bit. For us, because we’re so involved in it, it always makes sense,” he said during an interview for DrumathonLIVE 2022.
“It kinda like picks up where the other one [‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’] left off musically,” he explained.
“I mean, it’s never gonna be like ‘R U Mine?’ and all that stuff again, you know, the heavy riffs and stuff.
But there are riffs in there and [it’s] a bit more up-tempo, even though it’s not loud,” he added. “It’s hard to explain!”
When asked by Radio 5 Live Breakfast if the new album was “ready to go” late last year, Helders said: “Yeah, pretty much, yeah. It was a bit disjointed how we had to do it, and there are bits to finish off, but yeah, it’s all in the works.”
He added that he thinks the album will be released in 2022. “I think by the time we get everything together it’ll be next year. Hopefully we can get out and tour next summer,” he said.
Arctic Monkeys played:
‘Do I Wanna Know?’
‘Brainstorm’
‘Snap Out Of It’
‘Crying Lightening’
‘Teddy Picker’
‘Potion Approaching’
‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?’
‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’
‘Arabella’
‘Fireside’
‘Pretty Visitors’
‘Library Pictures’
‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’
‘The View From The Afternoon’
‘Do Me A Favour’
‘One Point Perspective’
‘One For The Road’
‘505’
Encore:
‘Cornerstone’
‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’
‘R U Mine?’