Bastille is an English indie pop band that was formed in 2010. They have released 3 studio albums and are currently touring to promote their latest album, Give Me The Future, which came out in February 2022.
Bastille’s touring history
Bastille first started touring in 2012 when they were promoting their debut single “Overjoyed.” Their first tour was as the supporting act for Swiss American singer Noah. In 2013, Bastille released their debut album Bad Blood and embarked on a headline tour of the UK and Europe. They played several festivals that year including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, and T in the Park. The band continued touring through 2014, playing more festivals and touring North America for the first time.
In 2016, Bastille released their second album Wild World and headlined an extensive world tour in support of the album. They played over 100 shows across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and South America. The Wild Wild World Tour continued into 2017 with more festival appearances and Bastille’s first arena shows in the UK.
After a break in 2018 to write and record new music, Bastille returned to touring in 2019 with some festival dates and smaller shows to preview songs from their upcoming third album.
Bastille’s Give Me The Future Tour
Bastille’s current tour is in support of their February 2022 album Give Me The Future. The tour started in April 2022 with shows across Europe. In September and October, Bastille toured North America with supporting acts Joywave and KennyHoopla. The band will return to Europe in November and December before heading to South America and Asia in 2023.
Here is the full list of supporting acts for the Give Me The Future Tour:
Europe
- Joywave
- Griff
North America
- Joywave
- KennyHoopla
South America
- TBA
Asia
- TBA
Bastille chose the supporting acts to reflect the electric, retro-futuristic theme of their latest album. Joywave is an American indie rock band from New York whose synth-heavy music aligns well with Bastille’s new wave influence. Meanwhile, KennyHoopla is a Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter who blends pop, rap, rock, and punk elements for a high-energy live show.
Joywave
Joywave is an indie rock band from Rochester, New York consisting of members Daniel Armbruster (vocals), Joseph Morinelli (guitar), Benjamin Bailey (keyboards), and Paul Brenner (drums). The band formed in 2010 and released their debut mixtape 77777 in 2011 followed by the EP Koda Vista in 2012. Their first full-length album, How Do You Feel Now? came out in 2015 featuring the single “Tongues” which reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Joywave’s second studio album Content came out in 2017 and continued their synth-influenced indie rock sound. Their most recent release was the 2020 album Possession which featured more pop-leaning singles like “Obsession” and “Half Your Age.” Some of Joywave’s biggest influences include Talking Heads, The Strokes, and Gorillaz.
Joywave have previously toured with artists like The Killers, Brandon Flowers, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Supporting Bastille on their current tour is the band’s biggest opportunity yet to bring their energetic live show to new audiences across North America and Europe.
Key facts about Joywave
- Formed in 2010 in Rochester, NY
- Indie rock/synthpop sound
- 3 studio albums
- Noteworthy singles include “Tongues” and “Obsession”
- Previously toured with The Killers, Brandon Flowers, Thirty Seconds to Mars
KennyHoopla
KennyHoopla is the stage name of Kenneth La’ron Jr., a singer, rapper and songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started releasing music in 2017 and gained attention with his 2018 EP WAVEY. His energetic style blends elements of pop, punk, rap, and rock music.
In 2020, KennyHoopla released his first mixtape how will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?// which featured popular tracks “hollywood sucks//” and “estella//.” He continued gaining momentum with singles like “dust//” and “survivors guilt//” leading up to his debut studio album Survivors Guilt: The Mixtape which arrived in June 2022. KennyHoopla has cited Travis Barker and other pop punk groups as influences on his sound.
At just 24 years old, KennyHoopla is still early in his career but has already built a devoted fanbase with his exhilarating live performances. Opening for Bastille on their North American tour dates will give KennyHoopla his biggest shows yet and the opportunity to turn more indie pop fans into believers.
Key facts about KennyHoopla
- Real name Kenneth La’ron Jr.
- From Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Blends pop, punk, rap, and rock
- Debut mixtape in 2018, debut album in 2022
- Notable tracks “hollywood sucks//” and “dust//”
- Has cited pop punk acts like Travis Barker as influences
Why Joywave and KennyHoopla are great openers for Bastille
Both Joywave and KennyHoopla make sense as supporting acts for Bastille because their music has a similar electronic, retro feel that complements Bastille’s synth-pop style. Even though they have different influences like new wave, post-punk, and hip hop, there is a throughline between the two openers and Bastille when it comes to high-energy stage shows and pop-centric songwriting.
Having Joywave and KennyHoopla share the bill also provides some variety for concert-goers. Fans can discover new artists that may appeal to them if they like Bastille. The mix of indie rock and punk-pop covers more musical ground while still remaining in the vein of Bastille’s anthemic alt-pop.
Below is a table comparing the musical styles of Bastille, Joywave, and KennyHoopla:
| Artist | Genre | Influences |
|---|---|---|
| Bastille | Indie pop, synthpop | New wave, post-punk |
| Joywave | Indie rock, synthpop | New wave, post-punk |
| KennyHoopla | Pop punk, hip hop | Pop punk, hip hop, trap |
Based on their overlapping pop/rock sensibilities and electronic influences, Joywave and KennyHoopla make a cohesive lineup together with Bastille for an energizing show. Fans get the best of multiple genres while still experiencing Bastille’s signature sound as the headliner.
Setlist expectations
Since Bastille is touring behind their newest album Give Me The Future, fans can expect to hear a lot of those songs in the setlist. Some fan favorites from the record like “Distorted Light Beam” and “No Bad Days” seem very likely to make appearances. However, Bastille has such a rich discography at this point that they will still mix in hits, deep cuts, and remixes from throughout their career.
Here are some songs Bastille is most likely to play on their current tour:
- “Good Grief”
- “World Gone Mad”
- “Happier”
- “Pompeii”
- “Flaws”
- “4AM”
- “Distorted Light Beam”
- “No Bad Days”
- “Quarter Past Midnight”
As supporting acts, Joywave and KennyHoopla will get shorter sets ranging from 30 to 45 minutes each. Joywave can highlight tracks from their latest album as well as previous hits like “Tongues.” KennyHoopla may lean on singles like “dust//” from his recent debut album. For both openers, covering fan favorites but also giving audiences a taste of their prowess as live performers is key.
Tour impact
Going on a major tour with sold-out shows gives Bastille the opportunity to fully return to live performing after interruptions caused by COVID-19. Fans have been eager to see Bastille and their new music live. For Joywave and KennyHoopla, joining Bastille on tour represents a chance to gain exposure by playing their biggest shows yet.
Some key impacts of the tour include:
- Bastille can showcase songs from Give Me The Future and reconnect with fans after the pandemic
- Joywave and KennyHoopla gain more listeners by opening for a popular headliner like Bastille
- All three acts can demonstrate their skills as live performers
- The bands get to share their music with bigger audiences in new cities and countries
- Fans are treated to an entertaining lineup representing multiple genres and generations of artists
Overall, touring gives both the headliner and supporting acts opportunities for growth. For Bastille, it’s a victory lap after two years with limited live shows. For the openers, it’s a chance to level up their careers and make an impression on huge crowds. The end result is a synergistic experience where new fans are made and hits are performed live for thousands each night.
Conclusion
Bastille’s Give Me The Future Tour with Joywave and KennyHoopla as supporting acts is primed to be an energetic combination. Joywave’s synth-heavy indie rock complements Bastille’s electronic pop style. Meanwhile, KennyHoopla brings some punk attitude and hip hop flair to the lineup. Together, all three acts create diverse but cohesive shows centered on dynamic live performances.
The tour allows Bastille to properly debut songs from their latest album after disruptions caused by COVID-19. For the openers, it represents an opportunity to play their biggest venues yet and impress new audiences. Fans win as well by getting to see fresh new acts alongside Bastille’s bombastic production.
Based on their festival appearances over the past decade and the appeal of their catalog, Bastille always delivers an entertaining live show. With Joywave and KennyHoopla now along for the ride, the Give Me The Future Tour promises to be a highlight of the year for alt-pop and rock fans. If you get the chance to catch a date, this is one indie-fueled lineup not to be missed!
