Peter Gabriel Opens 2023 Tour, His First in 7 Years

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Peter Gabriel (r) with Tony Levin, on opening night, May 18, 2023

Peter Gabriel opened his 2023 “i/o the Tour” on Thursday in Kraków, Poland, with a 23-song set that included much of the new album. The May 18 concert kicked off his first tour since he and Sting played their lengthy “Rock Paper Scissors” run in 2016. It represents his first solo tour since 2014’s “Back to Front” tour.

Produced by Live Nation, the 22 shows in Europe continue through June 25. It resumes with a North America tour that begins on Sept. 8. The touring band includes Gabriel veterans Tony Levin (bass), Richard Evans (guitar, flute), Manu Katché (drums), and David Rhodes (guitar), plus newcomers Ayanna Witter-Johnson (cello, piano, vocals), Marina Moore (violin, viola, vocals), Don McLean (keyboards), and Josh Shpak (trumpet, french horn, keys, vocals).

Gabriel had announced the tour six months’ earlier and began releasing tracks from the album on Jan. 6. As of opening night, Gabriel had shared five songs—all of which he played—yet, surprisingly, the album is still not available for pre-order. The evening’s set included nine songs from i/o…

Watch the world premiere of “Home”

…as well as such classic rock favorites as “Sledgehammer,” “Solsbury Hill” “Red Rain” and “In Your Eyes.”

Watch him close the first set with “Sledgehammer”

The concert omitted several of his well known tracks including “Games Without Frontiers” and “Shock the Monkey.” Fans hoping Gabriel would resurrect any of the material from his years as Genesis’ frontman would have gone home disappointed.

Watch him perform “Don’t Give Up,” “Red Rain” and “Big Time” during opening night’s second set

The European dates mark his first shows outside of North America since 2014. “It’s been a while and I am now surrounded by a whole lot of new songs and am excited to be taking them out on the road for a spin. Look forward to seeing you out there,” Gabriel said in the original Nov. 8 tour announcement.

The second set ended with “Solsbury Hill.”

Gabriel’s first encore was “In Your Eyes.”

“This is for all those willing to stand up for what they believe in.” Gabriel closed the show with “Biko.”

Peter Gabriel, Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland, May 18, 2023, Setlist (via Setlist.fm)
Set 1
Washing of the Water
Growing Up
Panopticom
Four Kinds of Horses
i/o
Digging in the Dir
Playing For Time
Olive Tree (world premiere)
Home (world premiere)
Sledgehammer

Set 2
Darkness
Love Can Heal
Road to Joy (world premiere)
Don’t Give Up
The Court
Red Rain
And Still
What Lies Ahead
Big Time
Live and Let Live
Solsbury Hill

Encore
In Your Eyes
Biko

Tickets to see the tour are available here and here.