Flicker Sessions Explained

Concert Tour Name:Flicker Sessions
Artist:Niall Horan
Album:Flicker
Number Of Legs:3
Number Of Shows:20
This Tour:Flicker Sessions
(2017)
Next Tour:Flicker World Tour
(2018)

The Flicker Sessions was the debut concert tour by Irish singer-songwriter, Niall Horan. The tour supported his first studio album, Flicker (2017). Performing in theatres, the tour played 20 shows in Europe, Australia, Asia and the Americas.

Background

In September 2016, it was announced that Horan had signed a solo recording contract with Capitol Records.[1] Horan released two singles, "This Town" and "Slow Hands" prior to releasing his debut album in October 2017.[2] [3]

The tour was officially announced on 10 July 2017 via Horan's social media accounts and website.[4] In North America, pre-sale tickets were made available via Ticketmaster's Verified Fan platform.[5] Many shows were sold-out, leaving fans upset with the limited number of shows and the small venues.[6] The singer responded to fans on social media that the 2017 shows were just the beginning.[7] His 2018 tour was announced in September 2017.[8]

Critical reception

The tour received favourable reviews from critics. Harry Guerin of RTÉ writes Horan gave a "polished performance" for the debut concert in Dublin. He continues: "With his well-drilled band already sounding like months on the road, his skills as a balladeer were impressive throughout. Upcoming Maren Morris duet "Seeing Blind" and the Fleetwood Mac-inspired "Since We're Alone" showed that the masses have yet to hear his classiest songs, while the man himself contended that the record's title track is the best thing he has written to date. He won't be alone in that opinion, either."[9] Rick Pearson from the London Evening Standard gave the show in London three out of five stars. He states: "[W]ith an electric guitar he did a fine job of recreating the Eighties driving rock of Don Henley on "Since We're Alone", while his acoustic version of Fool's Gold was far more affecting than the 1D original. "Slow Hands" sent the crowd into delirium, Horan sounding like a pop star who might yet give Messrs Styles and Malik a run for their money."[10]

For AXS, Marianne Meyer states the concert in Philadelphia was a "crowd pleaser". She goes on to say: "Horan gave the ladies just what they came for – a talented, charismatic onstage boyfriend who repeatedly thanked them for their support, cared that they were all having a good time, even apologized to those watching from the side balconies because he didn't directly face them as he sang."[11] In Silver Springs, Mareesha Galibs of The Hoya recalls the concert as "stellar". She says: "Horan is no longer performing alongside his bandmates, but if the Washington, D.C. stop on his tour is any indication, Horan is ready to make his mark on the world - all on his own."[12]

The show in Dallas was remarked as "stellar" by Preston Jones of the Dallas Observer. He writes: "It's a savvy creative choice, showcasing Horan's clear, light tenor voice, which stands firmly on its own and can adapt to whatever genres the singer-songwriter wants to explore. No one will mistake Horan's work for that of his fellow countrymen Glen Hansard and Van Morrison, but that tradition of iconoclastic troubadours isn't what Horan's current audience is after anyway."[13]

Opening acts

Setlist

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held 3 September 2017, at the Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.[17]

  1. "The Tide"
  2. "Seeing Blind"
  3. "This Town"
  4. "Paper Houses"
  5. "You and Me"
  6. "Fire Away"
  7. "Flicker"
  8. "Too Much to Ask"
  9. "Since We're Alone"
  10. "Mirrors"
  11. "On the Loose"
Encore
  1. "Fool's Gold"
  2. "Slow Hands"
  3. "On My Own"
Notes

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
Europe[20]
29 August 2017DublinIrelandOlympia Theatre
31 August 2017LondonEngland
3 September 2017StockholmSwedenAnnexet
Australia[21]
10 September 2017SydneyAustraliaEnmore Theatre
Asia[22]
14 September 2017TokyoJapanEx Theater Roppongi
North America[23]
19 September 2017Los AngelesUnited StatesHollywood Palladium
South America[24]
1 October 2017Rio de JaneiroBrazilVivo Rio
North America
29 October 2017PhiladelphiaUnited StatesThe Fillmore Philadelphia
31 October 2017New York CityBeacon Theatre
1 November 2017TorontoCanadaMassey Hall
3 November 2017BostonUnited StatesOrpheum Theatre
4 November 2017Silver SpringThe Fillmore Silver Spring
6 November 2017Miami BeachThe Fillmore Miami Beach
9 November 2017Lake Buena VistaHouse of Blues
10 November 2017AtlantaTabernacle
13 November 2017NashvilleRyman Auditorium
15 November 2017RosemontRosemont Theatre
17 November 2017DallasSouth Side Ballroom
20 November 2017PhoenixComerica Theatre
22 November 2017San FranciscoSF Masonic Auditorium
Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Box office score data

VenueCityTickets sold / AvailableGross revenue
Hollywood PalladiumLos Angeles3,665 / 3,868 (95%)$137,438[26]
Beacon TheatreNew York City2,766 / 2,766 (100%)$170,117[27]
TOTAL6,431 / 6,634 (97%)$307,555

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . Rumor Mill: Niall In the Family. Hits. HITS Digital Ventures. 8 September 2016. 7 September 2016.
  2. Niall Horan Plots Intimate 'Flicker Sessions 2017' World Tour . Reed . Ryan . 10 July 2017 . . Wenner Media LLC. 10 July 2017.
  3. Bacle . Ariana. Niall Horan gets funky on new track, 'Slow Hands' . 4 May 2017 . Entertainment Weekly. . 29 May 2017.
  4. Niall Horan Announces Worldwide Tour . Bell . Sadie . 10 July 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  5. Web site: Niall Horan Announces Epic Headlining Worldwide Tour For First Solo Album. Ginsberg . Gabriella . 10 July 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  6. Web site: Niall Horan fans left devastated as Irish gig sells out in minutes. Finn. Melanie. 15 July 2017. Irish Independent. 7 August 2018.
  7. Niall Horan is Sorry His Flicker Sessions Tour Isn't Hitting Your Town, But Says 'Bear With Me' . Kaufman . Gil . 11 July 2017 . Billboard . Eldridge Industries . 21 November 2017.
  8. Web site: Niall Horan Announces "Flicker World Tour 2018" Dates . Crockett . Jasmine . 19 September 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  9. Review: Niall Horan at the Olympia Theatre . Guerin . Harry . 1 September 2017 . RTÉ.ie . 21 November 2017.
  10. Web site: Niall Horan review: Navel-gazing ballads make 1D fans weak at the knees. Pearson . Rick . 1 September 2017 . London Evening Standard. 21 November 2017.
  11. Web site: Review: Niall Horan warms up a damp D.C. area night on 'Flicker Sessions' tour . Meyer . Marianne . 6 November 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  12. Web site: Concert Review: Niall Horan at the Fillmore . Galiba . Mayeesha . 7 November 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  13. Web site: Niall Horan Celebrates Fans, Berates Cellphones at Southside Ballroom Show . Jones . Preston . 20 November 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  14. Web site: Niall Horan Announces Opening Acts For His Upcoming Solo Tour . Ellenbogen . Rachael . 15 August 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  15. Web site: Niall Horan makes his world tour as 'Irish as possible' with local acts . . 15 August 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  16. News: Northern Ireland musicians join Niall Horan on stage as Flicker Sessions tour kicks off in Dublin . . 30 August 2017 . Belfasttelegraph.co.uk . 21 November 2017.
  17. Web site: Niall Horan — en stor karaktär i en liten produktion . sv . Niall Horan - a big character in a small production . Azarmi . Natasha . 4 September 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  18. Web site: Hornstein . Paula . 7 November 2017 . Niall Horan's first solo show in Boston sells out the Orpheum . 7 April 2023 . The Huntington News.
  19. Web site: Niall Horan Setlist at Comerica Theatre, Phoenix. setlist.fm .
  20. Sources for tour dates in Europe:
  21. Web site: Niall Horan touring Australia — but only playing in one capital city . Adams . Cameron . 11 July 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  22. Web site: Niall Horan Kicks Off Flicker Sessions Tour . . 29 August 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  23. . Niall Horan Announces "Flicker Sessions 2017" . . . . 10 July 2017 . 21 November 2017.
  24. Web site: Niall Horan, do One Direction, anuncia show no Rio de Janeiro em outubro . . 11 July 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  25. Web site: Niall Horan Forced To Cancel Mexico City Concert After Devastating Earthquake . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043854/https://etcanada.com/news/258996/niall-horan-forced-to-cancel-mexico-city-concert-after-devastating-earthquake/ . dead . 1 December 2017 . Mahjouri . Shakiel . 26 September 2017 . . . 21 November 2017.
  26. Current Boxscore. Billboard. 20 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221142737/https://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore. 21 February 2018. 2013-01-25.
  27. 25 November 2017. Billboard Boxscore. Billboard. 129. 0006-2510. 17 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115163912/http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore. live. 15 November 2017.