Grand Rapids • Monday, August 15, 2016

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From paulmccartney.com, April 27, 2016:

First Ever Grand Rapids Appearance
August 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena

He’s conquered some of the largest venues on the earth, set numerous records across the globe, cemented a singular position in music history, and now he sets his sights on Grand Rapids.

Paul McCartney is set to make his first ever Grand Rapids appearance at Van Andel Arena this summer. McCartney brings his brand new ‘One On One’ Tour to West Michigan on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 8:00 PM.

From nwi.com, August 17, 2016:

There are rock icons and then there’s music royalty.

A sold-out crowd celebrated more than six decades of music by Sir Paul McCartney during his One on One Tour show Monday night at Van Andel Arena.

McCartney, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (The Beatles, solo career), served hit after ginormous hit like an Olympic volleyball athlete during his merely 3-hour, 40-song performance.

From the moment he appeared playing “A Hard Day’s Night” to his famous finale “The End,” Sir Paul rocks hard.

The 21-time Grammy Award-winning artist’s shows play out like instant classic rockumentaries as he shares his recollections of mixing with Hendrix and Clapton and his time with the Beatles and Wings.

The evening became emotional at times when McCartney remembered his late band mates George Harrison, during “Something,” and “Here Today,” written for John Lennon.

“Sometimes in life, you want to tell people things and you put it off until tomorrow or next week and it may be too late,” McCartney said. “I wrote this to my mate John and it takes the form of a conversation we didn’t get to have.”

Whether he’s tearing up the riffs on his bass guitar or wailing away at the keyboard, McCartney’s musical genius is awe-inspiring. He still struts around the stage with the swagger of a man in his 20s and banters with the audience like when he promised them “this is the only wardrobe change” after taking off his jacket. At one point, he brought a group of fans onstage and chuckled, “I guess I’m just autographing stuff for grandmas and grandpas now.”

From mlive.com, September 8, 2016:

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Paul McCartney’s Aug. 15 concert at Van Andel Arena shattered sales records to become the highest grossing show in the arena’s 20-year history, according to SMG, the arena’s manager.

The former Beatle’s first appearance in Grand Rapids topped the previously highest grossing show by Fleetwood Mac in 2015, according to a news release issued on Thursday, Sept. 8.

In a show that sold out in minutes, McCartney and his four-piece band played a nearly three-hour set that included classic Beatles songs and songs from his solo career.

With roughly 11,000 seats available for concerts, the Van Andel Arena was the smallest venue on McCartney’s “One on One” tour, which has played mainly at baseball, football and soccer stadiums and indoor arenas used by NBA and NHL teams. […]

Last updated on March 6, 2021

Van Andel Arena

This was the 1st and only concert played at Van Andel Arena.

Setlist for the concert