Keith Urban is an award-winning country music artist known for hits like “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “Somebody Like You.” In 2022, he began an exciting new chapter of his career with a residency in Las Vegas. So how long can fans expect Keith Urban to take up residency in Sin City?
What is a Las Vegas residency?
A Las Vegas residency occurs when an artist or group agrees to perform regularly at a specific venue in Las Vegas. Residencies have become very popular for major music artists in recent years. Stars like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Usher, and more have enjoyed successful residencies in Vegas.
Residencies allow artists to settle into one venue for an extended period of time. This lets them put together spectacular, large-scale productions full of lights, costumes, dancers, and more. Fans know exactly where to see their favorite act perform when planning a trip to Las Vegas.
Keith Urban’s residency details
In 2022, Keith Urban announced he would be taking up a residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The initial residency consists of 12 shows spread throughout 2022.
Urban’s residency is titled “Keith Urban: The Las Vegas Residency.” It kicked off on March 25, 2022. Here are the currently announced 2022 show dates:
- March 25-26
- June 3-4
- September 16-17
- December 2-3 and 7-10
The venue
The Colosseum is an impressive venue often used for star residencies. It seats approximately 4,300 people and features state-of-the-art sound and lighting. The Colosseum has hosted residencies by huge names like Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and more.
The production
Keith Urban has promised fans a one-of-a-kind production for his Vegas shows. There will be multiple stages, immersive video, and intimate moments. He has described it as a complete fusion of music and technology.
How does Urban’s residency length compare to others?
Every artist’s residency is a bit different in terms of number of shows and length of commitment. Here’s a look at the initial lengths of several recent Las Vegas residencies:
| Artist | Residency | Venue | Initial Number of Shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Urban | Keith Urban: The Las Vegas Residency | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | 12 |
| Katy Perry | Katy Perry: PLAY | Resorts World Theatre | 16 |
| Lady Gaga | Lady Gaga Enigma | Park Theater at Park MGM | 74 |
| Usher | Usher: The Vegas Residency | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | 12 |
As we can see, initial residency lengths vary quite a bit. Keith Urban’s 12 shows lands on the shorter end of the spectrum.
Why do residencies vary in length?
There are a few key factors that determine the length of an artist’s initial residency commitment:
Schedule flexibility
Some artists may not want to commit to a long period of time in one place. A short residency allows them to work around other tour dates or obligations. It also leaves the door open for extensions if they end up enjoying the residency.
Production scale
The bigger the production (sets, costumes, dancers, etc.), the more shows may be needed to make it financially viable. Massive productions like Lady Gaga’s can require a longer residency to be worthwhile.
Venue availability
Artists have to work around a venue’s schedule. Headliners often book up residency venues years in advance. Shorter residencies may be all that’s initially available.
Ticket demand
Artists with massive fan bases can sell out dozens of shows right away. Others may start with a handful of shows and add more later if demand is there.
Will Keith Urban extend his residency?
While Urban’s initial Vegas residency is only 12 shows, it seems very likely he will extend it. Extra shows have already been announced for 2023. Urban also had the following to say about the open-ended nature of the residency:
“I want to have the flexibility to keep doing this for a couple of decades if I can. Take breaks from the road and go play Vegas.”
So while fans only have a dozen chances to see the show in 2022, it looks like Urban plans to make recurring Vegas engagements a major part of his career moving forward.
How his residency length adds up for fans
For Keith Urban fans, here’s a quick rundown of what his Vegas residency length means:
- 12 total shows scheduled in 2022
- Each show is approximately 90 minutes long
- That’s over 18 hours of Keith Urban concert time
- The setlist will vary, letting fans see multiple shows
- 2023 shows are already being added, extending Urban’s residency
While it’s not the longest residency in Vegas history, Keith Urban’s 12 shows still give fans plenty of concert time. It lets the singer test the residency format out. And all signs point to Urban sticking around Sin City for many years to come.
Conclusion
Keith Urban’s initial Las Vegas residency length at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is 12 shows in 2022. This puts him on the shorter end of the spectrum when looking at recent star Vegas residencies. However, Urban has expressed his desire to keep the residency going for decades. Fans can expect him to extend the residency into 2023 and beyond.
The shorter initial run allows Urban flexibility to work around other tour plans. It also gives him a chance to perfect his lavish production before committing to a much longer engagement. Given his affinity for performing and trying new things, everything points to an ongoing Keith Urban presence in Las Vegas for years to come.
