Queen and Adam Lambert are the first band to play at the YTL Bristol Arena after they performed at the Brabazon Hangars today (Monday, May 23). The iconic band played some of their best-known songs to an invited audience to mark a "key milestone" in the venue's journey to becoming a top-five global music arena.
Marking 45 years since Queen performed at Bristol Hippodrome, the band performed at the Hangars which is where they have been rehearsing for their Rhapsody Tour, which kicks off this week. The band confirmed they would have been "delighted" to perform a Bristol show on their epic tour had the Arena - due to open in 2024 - been ready.
The band said: “We’ve been made to feel very welcome by YTL, and the Rhapsody Tour would have loved the opportunity to include a Bristol show if this fantastic venue was open. Hopefully we can come back and play here again, to a packed house, when YTL Arena Bristol is ready to welcome the public.”
Read next: Queen rock secret Bristol Arena gig with set of classic hits
In 2019, Bristol legends Massive Attack performed at a custom-built arena on the neighbouring former Filton Airfield. Queen and Adam Lambert’s performance indoors at the site is the latest major step forward to the Arena becoming reality.
CEO of YTL Arena Bristol, Andrew Billingham, said: “It has been a privilege to host Queen + Adam Lambert as they chose Bristol to complete full production rehearsals in a five-day residency at the Brabazon Hangars. We are honoured that Brian, Roger and Adam wanted to play their part in our story.
“Over the past week we have accommodated one of the largest touring productions with ease. With 40 artic lorries parking on site and more than 200 production crew in attendance, everybody has said what a fantastic venue the new Arena will be and predicts it will become one of the busiest.”
This was the first, and only time, that such an iconic band has played inside the Brabazon Hangars as they are today. To mark the occasion, the band placed personal items into a time capsule that will be built into a glazed Walk of Fame running 100 metres across the event floor, from stage to Runway Bar at the opposite end of the building.
It comes as YTL has confirmed the 17,000 capacity Arena is "on track" to open in 2024. The Arena will be arranged into three spaces - including a festival hall, hub for eating and drinking, and convention space. Read more about the plans here.
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