Early Adele Tour
In Jan. 2008, a fresh-faced 19-year-old named Adele launched her first-ever tour one day before the release of her debut studio album, “19.” That Adele tour of nearly 10 years ago was much different than the mammoth-sized arena venture she has lined up for 2016 in support of her new album, “25.”
While it may be hard to believe now considering the industry giant she’s become, the Adele early years resembles that of many other artists, right down to getting her start at clubs and other modest-sized venues around the world.
As you’ll see in the videos below, Adele’s wit, personality, and unmistakable laugh have all been prominent fixtures since the beginning, helping to set the foundation for the award-winning, best-selling career she boasts today.
If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to have experienced Adele on tour in 2008, you can now thanks to the magic of YouTube and many devoted early Adele fans. Check out the tour’s setlist in full via the videos below. To witness a show during the 2016 tour in person, shop for Adele tickets in the Vivid Seats marketplace.
Jump to a Song:
First Love | That's It, I Quit, I’m Movin’ On | Cold Shoulder | Crazy for You | Hometown Glory | Daydreamer | Make You Feel My Love | Melt My Heart to Stone | Many Shades of Black | Tired | Right As Rain | Fool That I Am | Chasing Pavements | Best for Last | Bonus: How to Meet Adele
1. "First Love" | Manchester, England - Royal Northern College of Music
Naturally, the first Adele tour began in her native England, and this show in particular was the very first of the career-launching trek. Approx. venue capacity: less than 1,000
2. "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On (Sam Cooke cover)" | Chicago - Martyrs'
3. "Cold Shoulder" | Chicago - Martyrs'
Sam Cooke's "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On" was one of three cover songs Adele performed during the tour, and this video also included "19" track, "Cold Shoulder." Fast forward to the 1:50 mark to hear her chat with the crowd about numerous topics including how they first heard her music. Approx. venue capacity: 320
4. "Crazy for You" | Chicago - Martyrs'
Enjoy this rare instance of just Adele and her guitar on the intimate Martyrs’ stage that also has welcomed artists like Beck, Wilco, Pete Townshend, The Black Keys, Of Monsters and Men, and Jack Johnson early on in their careers.
5. "Hometown Glory" | Los Angeles - Roxy Theatre
The song’s opening seconds reveal a rather nervous-looking Adele, but that all goes away once she digs into the GRAMMY-nominated track. Approx. venue capacity: 500
6. "Daydreamer" | San Francisco - Bimbo's
Like “Crazy for You,” this tune also places the spotlight on Adele’s guitar skills, though it’s still her voice that owns the stage. Approx. venue capacity: 475-685
7. "Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan cover) | New York - Joe's Pub
March 17 marked eight years since Adele’s grand North American debut at the 200-seat Joe’s Pub in New York City. In addition to checking out her cover of “Make You Feel My Love,” you also can read firsthand accounts of the show via this great piece by Vulture from November after Adele returned to the venue for her latest album launch. It’s worth noting that not only will Adele be stopping in New York during her 2016 tour, but she also sold out six nights at the 18,000-plus seat Madison Square Garden.
8. "Melt My Heart to Stone" | New York - Webster Hall
With beer in hand, Adele belts out arguably one of the most underrated songs in her catalog. According to the Wikipedia entry for “Melt My Heart to Stone,” the track is Adele’s favorite from “19.” Approx. venue capacity: 400-1,500
9. "Many Shades of Black" (The Raconteurs cover) | New York - Webster Hall
Though dubbed a cover, Adele did record a version with The Raconteurs, and she later included a live rendition of "Many Shades of Black" on a deluxe release of "19."
10. "Tired" | New York - Highline Ballroom
A return trip to New York later in the summer shows Adele sharing the stage with a variety of band members this time around, in addition to a wealth of colorful lighting that was relatively absent from toned down performances that took place earlier in the trek. Approx. venue capacity: 700
11. "Right As Rain" | Seattle - Triple Door
This Seattle stop was one of just a handful of West Coast dates for Adele during the tour’s initial run in 2008. Approx. venue capacity: 500
12. "Fool That I Am" (Etta James cover) | Portland - Mission Theatre
Adele gives a brief, but informative intro before tackling “Fool That I Am,” which reveals to be her favorite song by her favorite singer, Etta James. Approx. venue capacity: 300
13. "Chasing Pavements" | Minneapolis - Theatre de la Jeune Lune
Oddly enough, this venue closed not long after hosting Adele, but for the couple hundred in attendance, it surely went down as a concert to remember. “Chasing Pavements” of course went on to earn Adele her first GRAMMYs for Record of the Year and Song of the Year during the 2009 awards ceremony. Approx. venue capacity: 500-600
14. "Best for Last" | Minneapolis - Theatre de la Jeune Lune
Prior to bringing out her band, Adele breaks out the guitar again for a subtle, yet powerful rendering of “Best of Last.”
Bonus: How to Meet Adele
You can feel the excitement and anticipation build as Adele fans anxiously wait for the singer to emerge from the tour bus. Adele finally does appear at the 1:00 mark, pajamas and all, and is a delight to the many fans that were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.