Imagine Dragons are one of the most popular rock bands in the world right now, known for hits like “Radioactive,” “Believer,” and “Thunder.” With their unique mix of rock, pop, and electronic music, Imagine Dragons have developed a huge global fanbase eager to see them perform live.
Greece, with its rich musical history and beautiful outdoor venues, would be an ideal tour stop for the band. Currently, Imagine Dragons have not announced any plans for a concert in Greece. However, looking at their recent touring schedule provides some clues as to whether Greece could be on their roster for upcoming shows.
Imagine Dragons’ Recent Touring Activity
Imagine Dragons spend a significant portion of each year on the road, headlining major festivals and touring extensively through North America, Europe, and beyond. Here is a look at some of their recent touring:
2021 Touring
In 2021, Imagine Dragons toured extensively through the United States and Canada behind their album Mercury Act 1. They played over 60 shows on this North American tour, hitting major markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and more. The band did not perform in Europe in 2021.
2022 Touring
The Mercury World Tour continued into 2022, with Imagine Dragons returning to Europe for a number of festival performances and arena shows. Some of the major European cities and events included:
June 1 | Milan, Italy |
June 3 | Nickelsdorf, Austria (Nova Rock Festival) |
June 5 | Nuremberg, Germany (Rock im Park) |
June 8 | Aarhus, Denmark |
June 10 | Landgraaf, Netherlands (Pinkpop Festival) |
June 12 | Donington, UK (Download Festival) |
June 23 | Gdynia, Poland |
As shown above, Imagine Dragons hit major markets like Italy, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, and Poland during their 2022 European tour. However, Greece was notably absent from the schedule.
Upcoming 2023 Tour Dates
Looking ahead, Imagine Dragons have announced a new set of global tour dates for 2023. The Mercury World Tour will continue with shows scheduled across North America from January through April. A second leg of European tour dates has been announced for May through July 2023.
So far, most of these European shows are centered in the UK, France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Again, no dates in Greece have been revealed yet.
Analysis: Factors Supporting an Imagine Dragons Concert in Greece
Despite no scheduled appearances yet, there are several compelling factors that suggest Greece could potentially host an Imagine Dragons concert in the future:
Ideal Outdoor Venues
Imagine Dragons tend to perform well in large outdoor spaces where they can deliver an epic live production. Greece has no shortage of historic amphitheaters and stunning ancient venues that would be perfectly suited to an Imagine Dragons show. Examples include the ancient Herodes Atticus Theatre at the Acropolis in Athens and the Kipos Amphitheatre in Thessaloniki.
Strong Tourism Market
In addition to Greek fans, an Imagine Dragons concert in Greece could attract many music tourists visiting the country. Greece saw over 31 million international tourist arrivals in 2021. Capitalizing on this strong tourism market could be a strategic touring move for the band.
Proximity to Other European Tour Stops
When routing a European tour, Greece shares logical geographical proximity with countries like Italy, Austria, and Hungary where Imagine Dragons are already scheduled to perform in 2023. Short travel times could make Greece a convenient addition to the tour.
Greece’s Rich Musical Heritage
From ancient lyric poetry to bouzouki music and rebetiko, Greece has an incredibly rich musical tradition. Many bands appreciate the opportunity to perform in a country with such a vibrant musical heritage and influence. The historical setting could inspire an even more memorable Imagine Dragons show.
Analysis: Factors Working Against an Imagine Dragons Greece Concert
Despite the above factors, there are also some challenges and drawbacks that may explain why Imagine Dragons have not yet added a Greek date:
Logistics and Expenses
International tours require massive logistical coordination and significant expenses. If the travel routing is inefficient or the costs of putting on a Greek show are prohibitively high, it may not make the final itinerary.
Uncertainty of Demand
While Imagine Dragons are massively popular worldwide, Greece’s specific market demand for the band is untested. Unless they have data showing strong fan interest and ticket sales potential in Greece, the band may opt for larger or more obvious European tour stops.
Limited Flexibility
With a packed touring schedule and obligations elsewhere, Imagine Dragons may simply not have availability or flexibility left in their calendar to add a Greek date. Tour routing and scheduling can be extremely complex.
Politics and Bureaucracy
Unique political or bureaucratic challenges in Greece, such as obtaining visas or permits, could also deter the band from dealing with the hurdles of arranging a concert there. Navigating local policies and regulations requires time and effort.
Conclusion
In summary, while several factors indicate that Greece could be a feasible tour stop for Imagine Dragons someday, there are also substantial logistical and planning considerations that have likely kept a Greek concert off their schedule so far.
As huge stars in the pop rock scene, Imagine Dragons have lots of options and demands on where they can perform. For now, Greek fans will have to keep hopes alive and continue demonstrating their enthusiasm for the band to perform locally. The more Imagine Dragons see evidence of demand in Greece, the more incentive they will have to take on the challenges of booking a show there.
If any Greek dates eventually materialize, Imagine Dragons would undoubtedly deliver an iconic, high-energy show that fans would never forget. But only time will tell if Greece ultimately makes the setlist for one of rock’s biggest bands.
Appendix A – Imagine Dragons Discography and Chart Performance
Here is a quick overview of Imagine Dragons’ major releases and their performance on the charts in Greece and globally:
Night Visions (2012)
Debut studio album featuring the hits “Radioactive” and “Demons”
– Peak Greek Albums Chart Position: #30
– Peak Position on Billboard 200 (US): #2
Smoke + Mirrors (2015)
Second studio album with singles like “I Bet My Life” and “Shots”
– Peak Greek Albums Chart Position: #35
– Peak Position on Billboard 200 (US): #1
Evolve (2017)
Third studio album including “Believer,” “Thunder,” and “Whatever It Takes”
– Peak Greek Albums Chart Position: #8
– Peak Position on Billboard 200 (US): #1
Origins (2018)
Fourth studio album led by singles “Natural” and “Zero”
– Peak Greek Albums Chart Position: #35
– Peak Position on Billboard 200 (US): #2
Mercury Act 1 (2021)
First installment of their double album Mercury project
– Peak Greek Albums Chart Position: #10
– Peak Position on Billboard 200 (US): #5
As shown above, Imagine Dragons have become more popular in Greece with each album release, now consistently reaching the top 10 of the Greek charts. Their chart performance reflects a growing Greek fan base eager to see the band perform live.
Appendix B – Setlist From Imagine Dragons’ June 5, 2022 Concert in Germany
To get a sense of what an Imagine Dragons setlist in Greece might look like, here is the 24-song setlist performed at their show in Nuremberg, Germany on June 5, 2022:
1. | My Life |
2. | Believer |
3. | Polaroid |
4. | Thunder |
5. | It’s Time |
6. | Gold |
7. | Demons |
8. | Wrecked |
9. | Sharks |
10. | Follow You |
11. | Lonely |
12. | Monday |
13. | #1 |
14. | Bones |
15. | Enemy |
16. | Giants |
17. | Radioactive |
18. | Cutthroat |
19. | Peace of Mind |
20. | Walking the Wire |
21. | Whatever It Takes |
22. | Natural |
23. | Bad Liar |
24. | On Top of the World |
This balanced setlist of old and new material demonstrates Imagine Dragons’ live show energy and the range of hits they can draw from. Fans in Greece could expect a similar thrilling concert experience focused on the band’s chart-topping songs.