On the Run II Tour
The On the Run II Tour was the second co-headlining stadium tour by American singer Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z. The tour was officially announced on March 12, 2018, and began on June 6, 2018 in Cardiff. It concluded on October 4, 2018 in Seattle. This is their first tour together since On the Run Tour in 2014.
On May 31, it was announced via Twitter that R&B duo Chloe x Halle and DJ Khaled would be the opening acts for the North American leg of the tour.
Following the show in London on June 16, 2018, the pair released their collaborative album Everything Is Love exclusively on Tidal. The news of the duo's new album was announced by a showing of the music video for its lead single, "Apeshit", followed by a sign on stage which announced "ALBUM OUT NOW”. The release was then shared on the artists' respective Instagram and Facebook profiles with the artist of the album being dubbed as The Carters. On the same day, the music video for "Apeshit", was released on Beyoncé's official YouTube channel.
Commercial performance
Billboard stated the tour could double the On the Run Tour's gross, predicting it could gross between $180 million and $200 million, if the success of the previous tour is replicated.Following the first day of general sale, an extra show was added in Amsterdam, after the first date sold out within an hour, as well as in Paris, Landover, East Rutherford, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Pasadena and London. Newly added shows were also announced on March 20, in Columbus, Columbia, Seattle, and London.
Billboard ranked On the Run II Tour as the 3rd-highest-grossing tour of the year, selling over 2,177,049 tickets and grossing over $253 million.
Critical response
The opening show in Cardiff received positive reviews. Mark Sutherland from Rolling Stone gave the opening show in Cardiff a positive review. He called it a sort of reaffirmation of dominance for the pair as they deliver a "a hits-packed, visually stunning show". Writing for The Guardian, Rachel Aroesti awarded the concert four out of five stars and noted that the concept of the show revolved around the singers showing the "deathless nature of their love rather than its perfection". Beyoncé was critiqued after some of her "biggest hits" were left out of the set list on the opening night, including "Halo" and "Single Ladies ". However, with over 60 songs rehearsed for the tour, the set list was believed to change between shows.Bonginkosi Tshabalala of No Name publications added that the show at Houston proved that "no matter what happens LOVE wins".
Set list
Shows
Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening acts | Attendance | Revenue |
June 6 | Cardiff | Wales | Principality Stadium | DJ Tom Clugston | 39,731 / 39,731 | $4,186,450 |
June 9 | Glasgow | Scotland | Hampden Park | Nasty P | 37,963 / 37,963 | $4,132,251 |
June 13 | Manchester | England | Etihad Stadium | DJ Stylus | 46,990 / 46,990 | $5,782,025 |
June 15 | London | England | London Stadium | 126,443 / 126,443 | $11,035,860 | |
June 16 | London | England | London Stadium | 126,443 / 126,443 | $11,035,860 | |
June 19 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Amsterdam Arena | DeeJay Abstract | 97,869 / 97,869 | $9,753,269 |
June 20 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Amsterdam Arena | DJ Flava | 97,869 / 97,869 | $9,753,269 |
June 23 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Telia Parken | N/A | 45,356 / 45,356 | $5,741,911 |
June 25 | Stockholm | Sweden | Friends Arena | N/A | 46,647 / 46,647 | $4,610,554 |
June 28 | Berlin | Germany | Olympiastadion | N/A | 57,155 / 57,155 | $5,697,111 |
June 30 | Warsaw | Poland | PGE Narodowy | DJ Eprom | 53,500 / 53,500 | $4,624,995 |
July 3 | Cologne | Germany | RheinEnergieStadion | DJ Teddy-O | 39,501 / 39,501 | $4,520,814 |
July 6 | Milan | Italy | San Siro | N/A | 49,051 / 49,051 | $4,460,552 |
July 8 | Rome | Italy | Stadio Olimpico | N/A | 40,440 / 40,440 | $3,475,543 |
July 11 | Barcelona | Spain | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys | N/A | 46,982 / 46,982 | $4,733,549 |
July 14 | Saint-Denis | France | Stade de France | N/A | 111,615 / 111,615 | $10,905,089 |
July 15 | Saint-Denis | France | Stade de France | N/A | 111,615 / 111,615 | $10,905,089 |
July 17 | Nice | France | Allianz Riviera | N/A | 33,662 / 33,662 | $3,898,900 |
Personnel
Creative direction and executive producers
- Jay-Z and Beyoncé – Creative director and executive producer
- Ed Burke – Creative director
- Todd Tourso – Additional creative direction
- Erin Williams – Executive producer
- Mark A. Ritchie - Live Video Director
Musical arrangement
- Jay-Z
- Beyoncé
- Derek Dixie
- Omar Edwards
- Chris Grant
- Gimel Keaton
- Stuart White
Band
- Dammo Farmer The Great - Bass
- Agape Woodlyn - Guitars
- Eric "Boots/Booty" Greene - Drums, Percussion
- Joy Williams - Drums, Percussion
- Quintin Gulledge - Keyboards
- DJ Guru - DJ
- 1500 Or Nothin
- Horns & Strings Sections
Background Vocalist
- Tiffany Moníque Ryan – Lead Background Vocalist
- Kiandra Richardson
- Steve Epting
- Jerome "J Rome" Wayne
Choreography
- Chris Grant
- JaQuel Knight
- Vincent Stevenson
Additional choreography
- Dana Foglia
- Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
- Jasmine Badie
- Frank Gatson Jr.
- Jamal Rasheed
- Ashanti Ledon
- Dnay Baptiste
- Sheryl Murakami
- Les Twins
- Tanisha Scott
- LaVelle Smith
Dancers
- Ashley Everett – Dance captain
- Kimberly "Kimmie" Gipson – Dance captain
- Jasmine Badie
- Keith Dennis-Taylor
- Dnay Baptiste
- Bianca Brewton
- Hannah Douglass
- Jasmine Harper
- Corbin Hunter
- Dominique Loude
- Tacir Roberson
- Deijah Robinson
- Ashley Seldon
- Quinetta Wilmington
- Rameer Colon
- Lazaedryn Gordwin
- Habby Jacques
- Huwer "Havoc" Marche
- Jo'Artis "Big Mijo" Ratti
- Britton Shaw
- Nicholas "Slick" Stewart