| Concert Tour Name: | Imaginaerum World Tour |
| Album: | Imaginaerum |
| Artist: | Nightwish |
| Start Date: | January 19, 2012 |
| End Date: | August 11, 2013 |
| Number Of Legs: | 9 |
| Last Tour: | Dark Passion Play World Tour (2007–2009) |
| This Tour: | Imaginaerum World Tour (2012–2013) |
| Next Tour: | Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour (2015–2016) |
The Imaginaerum World Tour was a concert tour by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, in support of their seventh studio album, Imaginaerum.[1]
The tour started in Los Angeles, USA, on January 21, 2012,[2] and then the band played an arena tour in Europe between March and May,[3] and the group has also performed in North and Latin America later that year. In 2013, the band performed in Asia and Oceania, finishing the tour with festival shows in Europe, in a 104 concert tour that finished on August 11, 2013.[4]
A "secret" concert under the pseudonym "Rubber Band of Wolves" was held at the Key Club in Hollywood, California, on January 19, 2012.[5]
On September 28 in Denver, Colorado, Anette was rushed to the hospital and missed the show that night. Kamelot backup vocalists Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz stepped in and performed five songs.[6] Anette did her final show on the September 29th show in Salt Lake City, before parting ways with the band on October 1. Floor Jansen replaced Olzon on the remainder of the tour.[7]
The following set list was performed at a concert during the 70000 Tons of Metal festival, but has since had alterations to it:
One of the band's performances during the 70000 Tons of Metal festival included the song "Dead to the World" and another performance included "Romanticide."
When the band kicked off the first leg of their tour in March, the set list remained mostly unchanged, but with "Finlandia" moved to the beginning of the encore and "Taikatalvi" inserted to open the show. "The Siren" would occasionally be replaced with "Ever Dream" or "Dead to the World".
Starting with the concert held on March 4, "The Poet and the Pendulum" and "Over the Hills and Far Away" were moved up to close the show, and "Song of Myself" and "Last Ride of the Day" were moved down to serve as the encore.
The concert held on March 9, 2012, at the Paviljonki Areena in Jyväskylä, Finland included the world premiere of the song "Ghost River" following "Planet Hell". The following concert on March 10 included "Dead to the World" in place of "The Poet and the Penedulum". These songs have been used later on.
The concert held on March 17, 2012, in Ukraine included "Come Cover Me".[8] The song was played between Scaretale and The Siren. The song was performed again on April 13, 2012 in the Netherlands, and remained part of the set list until April 16. On these dates, "The Siren" was not played, and "Come Cover Me" was played between "I Want My Tears Back" and "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" with Marco's voice on the chorus, new arrangements and Troy playing.[9] This altered setlist was used again on April 21, remaining that way through May 3.
On 5 May 2012, "Dark Chest of Wonders" was played following "Ghost River", with "Dead to the World" played in place of "The Siren". "Dead to the World" was returned to its proper place in the set on 6 May, but "Ever Dream" was played in place of "The Siren".
Nightwish kicked off its North American Tour on September 12, 2012, with a few changes to the set list. "Roll Tide" was played as the intro instead of "Taikatalvi", "Dead to the World" was played in place of "The Siren", and "Dark Chest of Wonders" was played in place of "Ghost River".
The second performance in Atlanta, United States, on September 13, 2012, of the beginning North-American Tour included "Higher Than Hope"[10] played before "Over the Hills and Far Away", only played four times before with Anette Olzon. This show also included "The Siren" instead of "Dead to the World" and "Ghost River" instead of "Dark Chest of Wonders", and excluded "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove".
The concert held on 15 September 2012, in the Beacon Theatre, New York included "Escapist" played in place of "Planet Hell".
The concert held on 16 September 2012 featured "7 Days to the Wolves" played instead of "Planet Hell", with "Planet Hell" played instead of "Scaretale". This show was also the last to feature "The Siren" instead of "Dead to the World", which was played in place of "Higher Than Hope" for this performance.
From September 17, 2012 onward, the set list reverted to its format at the start of the North American tour, but with "Ghost River" played in place of "Dark Chest of Wonders". "Dark Chest of Wonders" was played after "Ghost River" on September 21; "Dead to the World" was replaced with "7 Days to the Wolves" on the same date.
"7 Days to the Wolves" was played in place of "Scaretale" on September 23 and 24.
On September 24, 25 and 27, "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" was omitted and "Dark Chest of Wonders" was played following "Ghost River". The concert held on September 27 also included "The Siren" played in place of "Dead to the World".
Olzon was hospitalized due to illness during the concert held on September 28, 2012 in Denver, Colorado, so Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz of Kamelot filled in on vocals. The shortened set list included the world premiere of "Rest Calm".
The concert held on September 29 omitted "Dead to the World" and included "Rest Calm" after "Ghost River".
Following the departure of Anette Olzon on October 1, 2012, Floor Jansen agreed to continue touring with the group. The set list featuring Jansen was largely unchanged from that featuring Olzon, but with "Dark Chest of Wonders" following "Wish I Had an Angel", "Slow, Love, Slow" and "Over the Hills and Far Away" omitted, and "Song of Myself" and "Last Ride of the Day" moved up to follow "Ghost River", meaning the band no longer performed an encore.
"Slow, Love, Slow" was reintroduced into the set list on October 3, 2012 following "Dead to the World", with "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" removed.
The concert held on October 6, 2012, included "Higher Than Hope" played following "Ghost River" and omitted "Dead to the World".
Beginning October 7, 2012, "Dead to the World" was replaced with "Ever Dream".
The concert held on 10 October 2012, at Emo's, in Austin, Texas, included "Ghost Love Score" played following "Song of Myself"; "Scaretale" was not played. This change in the set list was used in later shows.
Beginning October 11, "Wish I Had an Angel" and "Dark Chest of Wonders" were switched in the set.
"The Siren" was played first time with Floor at Birmingham on 6 November 2012.
"Arabesque" was played first time at Hartwall Arena, Finland, and featured fire dancers.[11] The first public screening of Imaginaerum took place after the concert.
"Wishmaster" was played first time with Floor at Mexico City on 29 November 2012.
"7 Days to the Wolves" was played first time with Floor at Adelaide on 18 January 2013.
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Support Act(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 19, 2012 | Los Angeles | United States | Key Club | |
| January 21, 2012 | Gibson Amphitheatre | Amorphis Dommin | ||
| January 23, 2012 | Grand Cayman | Cayman Islands | 70000 Tons of Metal | |
| March 2, 2012 | Joensuu | Finland | Areena | Poisonblack |
| March 3, 2012 | Sotkamo | Vuokattihalli | ||
| March 4, 2012 | Oulu | Teatria 25 | ||
| March 9, 2012 | Jyväskylä | Paviljonki Areena | ||
| March 10, 2012 | Helsinki | Helsinki Ice Hall | ||
| March 11, 2012 | Tampere | Ice Hall | ||
| March 14, 2012 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | Lensoveta Culture Hall | rowspan="3" |
| March 15, 2012 | Moscow | Crocus City Hall | ||
| March 17, 2012 | Kyiv | Ukraine | MVC Arena | |
| April 10, 2012 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Lisebergshallen | Battle Beast |
| April 11, 2012 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Falconer Amphitheatre | Battle Beast Eklipse |
| April 13, 2012 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Heineken Music Hall | |
| April 14, 2012 | Düsseldorf | Germany | ISS Dome | |
| April 16, 2012 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National Arena | |
| April 17, 2012 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | |
| April 18, 2012 | Nantes | Le Zénith | ||
| April 20, 2012 | Lyon | Halle Tony Garnier | ||
| April 21, 2012 | Esch-sur-Alzette | Luxembourg | Rockhal | |
| April 23, 2012 | Frankfurt | Germany | Jahrhunderthalle | |
| April 24, 2012 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion | |
| April 25, 2012 | Milan | Italy | Datch Forum di Assago | |
| April 27, 2012 | Vienna | Austria | Gasometer | |
| April 29, 2012 | Budapest | Hungary | Sports Arena | |
| April 30, 2012 | Prague | Czech Republic | Tesla Arena | |
| May 1, 2012 | Leipzig | Germany | Arena | |
| May 3, 2012 | Hamburg | Color Line Arena | ||
| May 5, 2012 | Nuremberg | Arena | ||
| May 6, 2012 | Stuttgart | Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle | ||
| May 8, 2012 | Ljubljana | Slovenia | Tivoli Hall | |
| June 2, 2012 | Warsaw | Poland | Ursynalia – Warsaw Student Festival | rowspan="12" |
| June 8, 2012 | Leicestershire | England | Download Festival | |
| June 10, 2012 | Nickelsdorf | Austria | Nova Rock Festival | |
| June 15, 2012 | Seinäjoki | Finland | Provinssirock | |
| June 30, 2012 | Letisko Piešťany | Slovakia | Topfest 2012 | |
| July 5, 2012 | Gävle | Sweden | Getaway Rock Festival | |
| July 7, 2012 | Turku | Finland | Ruisrock | |
| July 12, 2012 | Montreux | Switzerland | Montreux Jazz Festival | |
| July 14, 2012 | Vizovice | Czech Republic | Masters of Rock | |
| July 21, 2012 | Benicàssim | Spain | Costa de Fuego Festival | |
| July 28, 2012 | Kuopio | Finland | RockCock | |
| August 5, 2012 | Colmar | France | Foire Aux Vins | |
| August 25, 2012 | Trondheim | Norway | Borggården Festival | Triosphere |
| September 12, 2012 | Atlanta | United States | Center Stage | Kamelot |
| September 13, 2012 | ||||
| September 15, 2012 | New York City | Beacon Theatre | ||
| September 16, 2012 | Philadelphia | Electric Factory | ||
| September 17, 2012 | Worcester | Palladium | ||
| September 19, 2012 | Montreal | Canada | Cepsum Arena | |
| September 20, 2012 | Toronto | Sound Academy | ||
| September 21, 2012 | Columbus | United States | Newport Hall | |
| September 23, 2012 | Royal Oak | Royal Oak Music Theatre | ||
| September 24, 2012 | Chicago | Congress Theater | ||
| September 25, 2012 | Sauget | Pop's Club | ||
| September 27, 2012 | Kansas City | Beaumont Club | ||
| September 28, 2012 | Denver | |||
| September 29, 2012 | Salt Lake City | Complex Hall | ||
| October 1, 2012 | Seattle | Showbox | ||
| October 2, 2012 | Portland | Crystal Ballroom | ||
| October 3, 2012 | San Francisco | Warfield Theatre | ||
| October 5, 2012 | Anaheim | Grove Club | ||
| October 6, 2012 | San Diego | House of Blues | ||
| October 7, 2012 | Phoenix | Marquee Theatre | ||
| October 9, 2012 | Oklahoma City | Diamond Ballroom | ||
| October 10, 2012 | Austin | Emos Club | ||
| October 11, 2012 | New Orleans | House of Blues | ||
| October 13, 2012 | Fort Lauderdale | Revolution Club | ||
| October 14, 2012 | Lake Buena Vista | House of Blues | ||
| November 4, 2012 | Manchester | England | O2 Apollo | rowspan="15" |
| November 5, 2012 | London | O2 Academy, Brixton | ||
| November 6, 2012 | Birmingham | O2 Academy | ||
| November 7, 2012 | Glasgow | Scotland | O2 Academy | |
| November 10, 2012 | Helsinki | Finland | Hartwall Areena | |
| November 28, 2012 | Mexico City | Mexico | Teatro Metropolitan | |
| November 29, 2012 | ||||
| December 1, 2012 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | Tito Puente Amphitheatre | |
| December 3, 2012 | San José | Costa Rica | Peppers Club | |
| December 5, 2012 | Lima | Peru | Centro de Convenciones Plaza San Miguel | |
| December 9, 2012 | Porto Alegre | Brazil | Opinião Club | |
| December 10, 2012 | Rio de Janeiro | Circo Voador | ||
| December 12, 2012 | São Paulo | Credicard Hall | ||
| December 14, 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Teatro Flores | |
| December 15, 2012 |
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Support Act(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 4, 2013 | Brisbane | Australia | Arena | rowspan="22" |
| January 8, 2013 | Auckland | New Zealand | Studio Club | |
| January 11, 2013 | Sydney | Australia | Enmore Theatre | |
| January 14, 2013 | Melbourne | Palace Theatre | ||
| January 15, 2013 | ||||
| January 18, 2013 | Adelaide | HQ Complex | ||
| January 20, 2013 | Perth | Metropolis Fremantle | ||
| May 21, 2013 | Osaka | Japan | Namba Hatch | |
| May 23, 2013 | Nagoya | Diamond Hall | ||
| May 24, 2013 | Tokyo | Liquidroom | ||
| May 25, 2013 | St Coast (Finland Fest) | |||
| June 8, 2013 | Tampere | Finland | Sauna Open Air | |
| June 15, 2013 | Interlaken | Switzerland | Greenfield Festival | |
| June 30, 2013 | Helsinki | Finland | Tuska Open Air | |
| July 4, 2013 | Byblos | Lebanon | Byblos International Festival | |
| July 11, 2013 | Lakselv | Norway | Midnattsrocken | |
| July 13, 2013 | Joensuu | Finland | Ilosaarirock | |
| July 20, 2013 | Vuokatti | Sotkamon Syke | ||
| July 27, 2013 | Liberec | Czech Republic | Benatska Noc | |
| August 3, 2013 | Wacken | Germany | Wacken Open Air | |
| August 10, 2013 | Kortrijk | Belgium | Alcatraz Festival | |
| August 11, 2013 | Hildesheim | Germany | M'era Luna Festival |
Nightwish
Additional musicians
* filled in as vocalist during the September 28, 2012 show in Denver, Colorado while Anette Olzon was hospitalized due to illness.[14] [15] [16]