Arctic Monkeys performed their first concert since before the pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday, August 9th.
During the first of two nights at Zorlu Center PSM, the band played a career-spanning, 21-song set. It included classics like “Do I Wanna Know?,” “Brainstorm,” and “R U Mine?,” along with other hits like “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?,” “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” and “Teddy Picker.” While Alex Turner and co. didn’t debut any new music, they did break out “Potion Approaching” for the first time in over a decade.
For the next few weeks, Arctic Monkeys will play headlining shows in Europe ahead of headlining spots at festivals like Primavera Sound Los Angeles and Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. In November, they’ll appear at Primavera Sound’s trio of South American festivals in Brasil, Chile, and Argentina before heading over to Australia for a run of dates; grab your tickets here.
Watch fan-shot videos from the concert and see the setlist below.
Back in May, Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders teased the band’s upcoming album, saying it “kinda picks up where” 2018’s Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino left off. “There are riffs in there and [it’s] a bit more uptempo, even though it’s not loud,” he added. “It’s hard to explain!” The soundbite came after Helders told BBC in November 2021 that the LP was “pretty much” ready to go, aside from a few “bits to finish off.”
Arctic Monkeys perform Do I Wanna Know? tonight in Istanbul, Turkey.pic.twitter.com/gjCAS37y5M
— Arctic Monkeys Tour (@monkeystour) August 9, 2022
do me a favour you will always be famous #amturkey #amistanbul pic.twitter.com/zSKxCWCFsU
— nat | AM DAY (@cthfireside) August 9, 2022
Arctic Monkeys look fucking incredible pic.twitter.com/rSrmPdhCZv
— Liam (@amnotliam) August 9, 2022
Arctic Monkeys performing “505” tonight in Istanbul
pic.twitter.com/iQpW62kw8n
— Mainly Oasis (@mainlyoasis) August 9, 2022
Arctic Monkeys performing Whyʼd You Only Call Me When You’re High tonight in Istanbul!pic.twitter.com/YHLqrGYIJ0
— Arctic Monkeys Tour (@monkeystour) August 9, 2022
Arctic Monkeys Setlist
Do I Wanna Know?
Brianstorm
Snap Out of It
Crying Lightning
Teddy Picker
Potion Approaching (First time live since 2011)
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
Arabella
Fireside
Pretty Visitors
Library Pictures
Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
The View From the Afternoon
Do Me a Favour
One Point Perspective
One for the Road
505
Cornerstone
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
R U Mine?
