Ghost Launches Skeletour 2025: Phone-Free Shows and a Mix of New and Classic Hits
By Archyde News
Ghost has officially launched their highly anticipated skeletour World Tour 2025, commencing at the sold-out AO Arena in Manchester, UK. The 23,000-strong crowd was treated to a carefully curated setlist, blending fresh tracks from the new album, Skeletá
, with a selection of Ghost’s most beloved anthems. But beyond the music, the band is making headlines with a bold move: a fully phone-free concert experience.
Manchester setlist: A Blend of New and Nostalgic
The manchester show offered a diverse sonic landscape, showcasing the band’s evolution while honoring its roots. New tracks like Peacefield
(the set opener), the recently released single Lachryma
, and the dark, driving Satanized
were woven seamlessly into the performance. Fan were also treated to Umbra
along with live debuts of The Future Is a Foreign Land
(originally released last year) and Darkness At The Heart Of My Love
from the 2022 album Impera
. The surprises didn’t stop there; long-absent favorites such as Majesty
(last played in 2019) and Monstrance Clock
(absent since the North American “A Few Shows Named Death” tour in 2019) made triumphant returns, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
| Category | Songs |
|---|---|
| New Album Skeletá | Peacefield, Lachryma, Satanized, Umbra |
| Recent Releases | The Future Is A Foreign Land (2024), Darkness At The Heart Of My Love (2022) |
| Returning Favorites | Majesty (last played in 2019), Monstrance Clock (last played in 2019) |
Here’s the full setlist from the manchester show:
- Peacefield
- Lachryma
- Spirit
- From the Pinnacle To The Pit
- Majesty
- The Future Is A Foreign Land
- Cirice
- Darkness At The Heart Of My Love
- Satanized
- Ritual
- Umbra
- Year Zero
- He Is
- Rats
- Kiss The Go-Goat
- Mummy Dust
- Monstrance Clock
- Encore: Mary On A Cross
- Dance Macabre
- Square Hammer
Phone-Free Zone: Enhancing the Concert Experience
In a move designed to encourage deeper engagement and a more immersive atmosphere, Ghost is implementing a strict phone-free policy at all Skeletour shows. This means that upon entering the venue, all phones will be secured in Yondr pouches, which remain in the possession of the concertgoers throughout the performance. This initiative aims to eliminate distractions and foster a stronger connection between the band and its audience.This policy might seem radical, but it’s gaining traction in the industry as artists seek to reclaim the live music experience from a sea of glowing screens.Artists like Alicia Keys and Dave Chappelle have used similar methods, with positive results.
Frontman Tobias Forge addressed the policy earlier this year, explaining to Rock Sound the positive impact it had on their shows: I have never seen a crowd interact the way that they did since I was in a club band. They were the best shows I’ve ever done with Ghost, just because I didn’t have to see those fucking mobile phones.
The phone-free policy sparks debate.Some fans lament their inability to capture and share moments, while others praise the immersive experience. Some concert-goers expressed concerns about emergencies, but Yondr pouches can be unlocked by event staff in designated areas. The debate highlights how perceptions of live music are evolving in the digital age.
U.S. Dates Announced: Get Ready for the Skeletour
For American fans, the wait is almost over. Ghost’s Skeletour will be hitting venues across the U.S. starting in July. From Baltimore to Las Vegas, the tour promises to bring the same electrifying performance and unique phone-free experience that European audiences are currently enjoying.
Here’s a full list of the U.S. tour dates:
- Jul 09: Baltimore CFG Bank arena, MD
- jul 11: Atlanta State Farm Arena, GA
- Jul 12: Tampa Amalie Arena, FL
- Jul 13: miami Kaseya Center, FL
- Jul 15: Raleigh PNC Arena, NC
- jul 17: Cleveland Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, OH
- Jul 18: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA
- Jul 19: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA
- Jul 21: Boston TD Garden, MA
- Jul 22: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
- Jul 24: Detroit little Caesars arena, MI
- Jul 25: Louisville KFC Yum! Center, KY
- Jul 26: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN
- Jul 28: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
- Jul 29: Milwaukee Fiserv Forum, WI
- Jul 30: St Louis Enterprise Center, MO
- Aug 01: Rosemont Allstate Arena, IL
- Aug 02: Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
- Aug 03: Omaha CHI Health Center, NE
- Aug 05: Kansas City T-Mobile Center, MO
- Aug 07: Denver Ball Arena, CO
- Aug 09: Las Vegas MGM Grand garden Arena, NV
- Aug 10: San Diego Viejas Arena, CA
- Aug 11: Phoenix Footprint Center, AZ
- Aug 14: Austin Moody Center ATX, TX
- Aug 15: Fort Worth Dickies arena, TX
- Aug 16: Houston Toyota Center, TX
The Skeletour continues its european leg before crossing the Atlantic. Following the UK shows, Ghost will perform across mainland Europe, with dates in Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Apr 16 | Glasgow OVO Hydro, UK |
| Apr 19 | London The O2, UK |
| Apr 20 | Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK |
| Apr 22 | Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium |
| Apr 23 | Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany |
| Apr 24 | Munich Olympiahalle, Germany |
| Apr 26 | Lyon LDLC Arena, France |
| Apr 27 | Toulouse Zenith Metropole, France |
| Apr 29 | Lisbon MEO Arena, Portugal |
| Apr 30 | Madrid Palacio Vistalegre, Spain |
| May 03 | Zurich AG Hallenstadion, switzerland |
| May 04 | Milan Unipol Forum, Italy |
| May 07 | Berlin Uber arena, Germany |
| May 08 | Amsterdam ziggo Dome, Netherlands |
| May 10 | Lodz Atlas Arena, Poland |
| May 11 | Prague O2 Arena, Czech republic |
| May 13 | Paris Accor Arena, France |
| May 14 | Oberhausen Rudolph Weber Arena, Germany |
| May 15 | Hannover ZAG Arena, Germany |
| May 17 | Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark |
| May 20 | Tampere Nokia Arena, Finland |
| May 22 | Linköping saab Arena, Sweden |
| May 23 | Sandviken Göransson Arena, Sweden |
| May 24 | Oslo Spektrum, Norway |
Tickets and more Information
Tickets for the Skeletour are available now. Check Ticketmaster or your local venue’s website for availability. Don’t miss your chance to experience Ghost’s unique brand of theatrical rock in a truly immersive and phone-free habitat.
The tour will conclude September 24 in Mexico City at the Palacio De Los deportes.
What aspects of Ghost’s musical direction have evolved or changed since the last tour?
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Exclusive Interview: Cardinal Copia on Ghost’s Skeletour 2025
Archyde news Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Cardinal Copia. The Skeletour 2025 is generating a lot of buzz. The launch at the AO Arena in Manchester, UK, was a massive success. Can you give us your initial thoughts?
Cardinal Copia: The response has been phenomenal. Manchester was electric! It’s been a while since we played some of those tracks, and the energy was incredible. Seeing the fans react too the new material alongside the classics was a truly rewarding experience. we’re very proud of what we’ve created.
Diving into the Music: A Blend of Old and New
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