The Sam Smith Gloria tour is an upcoming concert tour by British singer Sam Smith in support of their fourth studio album Gloria. The tour is scheduled to start in July 2023 in the United Kingdom before visiting Europe and North America.
Some quick answers to key questions about the tour:
- Who is headlining? Sam Smith
- What’s the name of the tour? Gloria tour
- What album is it supporting? Gloria, Smith’s fourth studio album
- When does it start? July 2023
- What cities and countries will it visit? Major cities in the UK, Europe and North America
About Sam Smith
Sam Smith first rose to fame in 2012 when they featured on Disclosure’s hit single “Latch”. Their debut studio album In the Lonely Hour was released in 2014 and contained the hit single “Stay With Me”. The album was a huge commercial success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide.
Smith’s subsequent albums The Thrill of It All (2017) and Love Goes (2020) also achieved multi-platinum status. They have received numerous accolades including four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards and an Academy Award. With their soulful singing style and candid lyrics exploring heartbreak and loneliness, Sam Smith has become one of the world’s best-selling pop artists.
Some key facts about Sam Smith:
- Full name: Samuel Frederick Smith
- Born: May 19, 1992 in London, England
- Genre: Pop, soul, R&B
- Active since: 2012
- Labels: Capitol Records (US), EMI/Universal (UK)
- Total albums sales: Over 25 million
About the Gloria Tour
The Gloria tour is named after Smith’s fourth studio album Gloria, set for release in January 2023. The album’s lead single “Love Me More” was released in October 2022.
The tour will see Smith performing songs from throughout their discography as well as new songs from Gloria. It is shaping up to be Smith’s biggest tour yet in terms of production and venues.
Some key details about the Gloria tour:
- Number of dates: Over 30 shows currently announced
- Start date: July 2023 in the UK
- End date: September 2023 in North America
- Setlist: Songs from Gloria + previous hits
- Stage design: Smith’s largest production yet
- Support acts: To be announced
Tour Dates
The following tour dates have been announced so far for the Gloria tour:
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2023 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena |
| July 18, 2023 | Glasgow | UK | OVO Hydro |
| July 21, 2023 | London | UK | The O2 |
| July 23, 2023 | Birmingham | UK | Utilita Arena |
Many more dates to be announced across Europe and North America through summer and fall 2023.
Tickets
Tickets for the Sam Smith Gloria tour will go on general sale starting Friday, February 17, 2023. Various presales will happen in the days leading up to the public on-sale.
Fans can expect ticket prices to range from around $50 for nosebleed seats up to several hundred dollars for front row and VIP packages. Given Smith’s popularity, many shows are expected to sell out quickly once tickets go on sale.
The best way for fans to get tickets is to register for presales and be ready to buy when they start. Joining Sam Smith’s official fan club at samsmithworld.com will provide early ticketing access.
The Gloria Album
The Gloria tour is supporting Smith’s fourth studio album Gloria set for release on January 27, 2023. The album’s title and January release date were revealed in October 2022 along with the lead single “Love Me More”.
Some key details about the Gloria album:
- Release date: January 27, 2023
- Record label: Capitol Records
- Length: 13 tracks
- Producers: Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes, Stargate
- Singles: “Love Me More” (released October 2022)
Based on the lead single, Gloria sees Smith returning to the pop/dance sound of their early career after their last album Love Goes explored more melancholy ballads. Lyrically, the album focuses on self-love and finding inner glory.
In an Instagram post about the new album, Smith said: “It feels like emotional, sexual and spiritual liberation. It feels like the glory is within us and waiting to come out and be free.”
Tracklist
The Gloria tracklist features 13 songs including the lead single “Love Me More”:
| 1. Love Me More |
| 2. No God |
| 3. Lose You |
| 4. Perfect |
| 5. Stories of Old |
| 6. Gimme |
| 7. How to Cry |
| 8. Six Shots |
| 9. Unholy |
| 10. Gloria |
| 11. Who We Love |
| 12. Firecracker |
| 13. Gloria (Acoustic) |
The standard edition has 13 tracks while deluxe versions will include additional bonus tracks.
What to Expect From the Shows
Based on previous tours, Sam Smith concerts are an emotional rollercoaster filled with soaring vocals, intimate storytelling, and plenty of sequins. Fans can expect a polished production with intricate staging and lights.
Here are some things fans can look forward to at the Gloria tour shows:
- A career-spanning setlist featuring the new Gloria songs plus hits like “Stay With Me”, “Too Good at Goodbyes” and “Dancing With a Stranger”
- Epic ballads like “Not in That Way” and “Lay Me Down” where Smith truly shines vocally
- Upbeat pop bangers like “Promises” and “To Die For” to get the crowd dancing
- Smith’s candid, heartfelt stage banter connecting with the audience
- Dramatic costumes and outfits changes (expect plenty of glitter and feathers!)
- Impressive staging and visuals to compliment the music
- A few surprises and unreleased songs!
Sam Smith puts their entire heart and soul into their live performances. Fans can expect to leave the show feeling inspired and uplifted.
Support Acts
The support acts for the Sam Smith Gloria tour are still to be announced. Given Smith’s pop/dance direction on the new album, they will likely choose contemporary pop acts as openers.
Some possibilities for Gloria tour support acts could include:
- Jessie Ware – Fellow British pop singer who previously opened for Smith
- Rina Sawayama – Rising pop artist who features on the Gloria single “Unholy”
- Sigrid – Norwegian pop singer who’s opened for Smith before
- Kim Petras – Up and coming German pop star
- Baby Queen – British pop singer/songwriter
- Joy Crookes – English R&B influenced singer
There’s a chance Smith may choose different support acts in different cities, like using more dance/house DJs for European shows versus pop acts in North America. Fans will have to wait for official announcements to see who the Gloria tour supports will be.
Impact of the Tour
The Sam Smith Gloria tour is expected to have a major impact, both for Smith’s career and pop music generally.
For Smith, this tour marks their return to arenas after nearly five years off the road. It will support their comeback album Gloria and re-establish Smith as a global pop superstar after taking a step back from the spotlight in recent years.
Commercially, the tour will generate huge revenue. Smith’s previous The Thrill of It All Tour grossed over $40 million from just 25 dates. With over 30 Gloria tour dates announced already, Smith is poised to surpass those numbers.
Culturally, the tour will promote themes of self-love, pride and inner glory to fans around the world. Smith is beloved for giving voice to outcasts and their openness about gender identity and sexuality has made them an icon for LGBTQ+ fans.
The tour will also energize the pop landscape. Smith’s soulful, gospel-inflected take on dance-pop sets them apart from peers and adds diversity to the pop genre. The Gloria Tour’s success could influence other artists to take more creative risks.
After a tumultuous few years, the Gloria Tour will cement Sam Smith’s return. For fans globally, it promises to be an uplifting, liberating celebration of finding one’s glory.
FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Sam Smith Gloria tour:
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on general sale starting Friday, February 17, 2023. Presales for fan club members and VIP packages begin in the preceding days.
How much are tickets?
Ticket prices vary by city and venue, but generally range from around $50 for upper level seats to over $500 for VIP packages. Floor seats typically start at $125-$200.
What’s the setlist?
The setlist is unknown but will likely feature new songs from Gloria alongside Sam Smith’s hits like “Stay With Me”, “I’m Not The Only One” and “Too Good At Goodbyes”. Ballads, pop anthems and dance tracks will all be represented.
Who’s opening for Sam Smith?
The opening acts are still to be announced. Pop singers like Jessie Ware or Sigrid would be good bets based on Smith’s past support acts.
What’s Sam Smith’s connection to the name Gloria?
Gloria is Smith’s middle name. The album and tour title refers to themes of finding inner glory, as Smith explained: “It feels like the glory is within us and waiting to come out.”
What cities is the tour visiting?
So far only UK and Ireland dates have been announced. More cities across Europe and North America will be revealed soon.
Conclusion
The Sam Smith Gloria Tour promises to be one of the biggest pop events of 2023. Smith is an exceptional live performer and these shows will allow fans to connect with the singer’s uplifting messages of self-love and pride. With Smith’s soaring vocals, slick production, and inspiring storytelling, the Gloria Tour is sure to be a glorious experience. Though still in the early stages of planning, this tour already feels like Smith’s triumphant return to pop dominance.
