Bits & Bytes

A collection of the latest U2 news and announcements posted by our staff.

U2 Set List: U2 Boston, June 25, 2017

U2 is back to U.S. The 22-song set list brings "The Little Things" return at the end of the show.

Bono talked about MusiCares honoring Adam Clayton. "We couldn’t be prouder of this dude."

"One Tree Hill" was dedicated to Martin Richard, a boy killed by the Boston marathon bombers in 2013.

During the intro of "One", Bono shout out to John Kerry who was in the audience. "He sounded the alarm on global HIV/AIDS before anyone was listening."

See the full Boston set list.

Next up is East Rutherford, NJ, on June 28.

U2 Set List: U2 Toronto, June 23, 2017

U2 planted its Joshua tree in Toronto tonight with a celebratory message to the Canadian audience. The 22-song set included tributes to Leonard Cohen, Canada’s 150th anniversary and Pride Toronto, as well as Live Nation’s Art Fogel and Michael Rapino. “The New Colossus” wasn't included at the end of “Miss Sarajevo,” and most of the American-centric messages from previous tour stops were not in the show. “Bullet The Blue Sky” ended with “They run into the arms of North America.” Instead, Bono celebrated Canada’s openness: “Oh Canada, when others build walls, you open doors! When others divide into tribes, you build a beautiful mosaic.”

Bono dedicated “One Tree Hill” to Leonard Cohen. Bono recalled being at Cohen’s 79th birthday party. He asked Cohen how he’d celebrate his 80th, and Cohen told Bono he’d like to have one cigarette (as he had given up smoking for many years). Earlier in the set, Bono sang Cohen’s “Suzanne” during “Bad,” ending with a flurry of “Hallelujah’s.”

See the full Toronto set list.

Next up for U2 is a return to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the band’s only New England-area gig on Sunday, June 25. 

Bono and Edge to Perform in Ottawa on Canada Day

According to CTV Ottawa, Bono and The Edge will perform at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Canada Day (July 1). At noon, CTV Ottawa said, they'll play one song. (U2 will be performing in Cleveland that night). The festivities are part of the celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. 

U2 announce a third and final show in São Paulo

U2 added a third show in São Paulo. The band will play Oct. 22 at Estádio do Morumbi.

It was also confirmed that it’s the final date of The Joshua Tree Tour 2017.

The presale for U2.com subscribers starts Saturday, June 24 at 10 a.m. and runs through Sunday, June 25 at 5 p.m. Note: The presale code can be used for a single transaction only.

Tickets will go on sale for the general public at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 29.

For more information, access U2.com FAQ’s.

Bono Multitasking on Capitol Hill Today

As several tweets sprung to life showing Bono walking through the U.S. Capitol, many wondered what he was up to as he didn't have time to stop for photos or autographs.

USA Today solved the mystery, reporting that he was there to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan and visit with the staff of Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot last week at a congressional baseball practice.

He's using this time in Washington, D.C. to lobby both sides of the political aisle for international affairs funding in the coming year.

Read the full story here.

Bono visits Capitol Hill, signs card for GOP lawmaker injured in shooting https://t.co/caWa7WjALT pic.twitter.com/AjvRfL0TYn

— The Hill (@thehill) June 21, 2017

U2 Set List: U2 Landover, June 20, 2017

U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 brought the band to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, for the second time in eight years. Bono thanked the audience for enduring the traffic on I-495 to be at the show, as well as asked for prayers for Rep. Steve Scalise after the incident in Alexandria, Virginia. The venue is about 10 miles outside of Washington, D.C., which made for a politically charged show. Ahead of “Where The Streets Have No Name,” Bono said, “Some people think the dream is dead, but not in this capital this evening.” Bono dedicated “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” to Washington Archbishop Emeritus Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. “One Tree Hill” was dedicated to Emma Elliott, widow of former ONE President and CEO Michael Elliott.

The show coincided with World Refugee Day, making “Miss Sarajevo” more poignant. New video of Omaima's banner circulating the stadium was added to the production, as were quotes and audio from former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy referencing Kennedy's “City On A Hill” speech. The speech highlighted how both a Republican president and a Democratic president shared similar ideals, and might be the first time U2 has used Ronald Reagan in a positive way in concert.

“Ultraviolet” made its return to the setlist, and among the “luminous icons” Bono namechecked were Rep. Kay Grainger (R-Texas) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), who were at the show. Ahead of “One,” Bono saluted the One Campaign’s new President and CEO Gayle Smith, congratulated Edge on his work with the Angiogenesis Foundation, and namechecked Sojourner’s Jim Wallis.

Many members of the One Campaign’s Washington, D.C. office attended the show. National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins joined children and family members battling illness as guests of The Edge. Sen. Ted Cruz, focus group expert Frank Luntz, and Global Citizen founding editor (and daughter of Ali and Bono) Jordan Hewson were also in attendance.

Just as the show was ending, a fan made his way onto the stage and performed a headstand while Larry did a drumroll. Bono said as the fan was taking his position, “Generally, we don’t work with tall people or animals.” (Thanks, @bethandbono, for the video.)

See the full Landover setlist.

Next up for U2 is a performance in Toronto, Canada, on Friday.

The Edge Advocates Healthy Food for Cancer Prevention

Aside from genius guitar playing, The Edge devotes time to the Angiogenesis Foundation, where he serves as a board member. The group is, "the leading nonprofit organization disrupting disease through angiogenesis, the process the body uses to grow new blood vessels."

Many fans will remember that several years back, a U2 tour was delayed when it was discovered that The Edge's daughter had leukemia. Thankfully, she beat the cancer, but that hasn't stopped her father from wanting to prevent more people from enduring what his family went through.

He's currently "pressing for more research" into how integrating certain healthy foods into regular diets can minimize cancer risk even further than what's already known. His quest led him to Capitol Hill Monday to lobby for support.

Read more about his mission in today's article in The Washington Post.

"SOE is ready to go, but I'm not sure when it's going to go," says Adam Clayton

Adam Clayton talked to Variety about The Joshua Tree Tour, MusiCares Award, the new album Songs of Experience and the next tour.

Here are some highlights:

"The Joshua Tree Tour has been an enormous, runaway success and we just keep adding dates. Songs of Experience is ready to go, but at this point I’m not sure when it’s going to go because the tour is still up and running."

"We planned Songs of Experience as an indoor tour; we just don’t think it’s something that would work outdoors. The Songs of Innocence (arena) tour two years ago was really powerful and really touched people and touched us. We wanted to continue that intensity and I think that’s what we’re going to try to do."

U2 Add Phoenix to Joshua Tree Tour 2017

U2 have now added Phoenix to The Joshua Tree Tour 2017. They'll play a show Sept. 19 at University of Phoenix Stadium. Presale tickets for subscribers will be on sale from 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) Tuesday, June 20 through 5 p.m. Thursday, June 22. The general sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday, June 23. Tickets available at www.u2.com/tour. 

U2 Set List: U2 Philadelphia, June 18, 2017

U2 returned to Philly for the first time since 2011 tonight, surprising fans with the first appearance of "Mysterious Ways" on this tour. It replaced, "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" and featured the screens of "luminous women," who have changed the world for the better. Dennis Sheehan got a shoutout during "One Tree Hill," and his widow Pam was in the audience, and Delaware Senator Chris Coons (also present) was mentioned before "One."

See the full Philadelphia set list.

Next up for U2 is a performance Tues. at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

U2 add 2nd shows in Buenos Aires and São Paulo

As expected, tickets for The Joshua Tree 2017 Tour sold out in Argentina and Brazil in a few hours.

New dates were announced today due to the huge demand. U2 will play in Buenos Aires at Estadio Unico de La Plata on Oct. 11, and in São Paulo at Estadio do Morumbi on Oct. 21.

Details about presale for U2.com subscribers: from 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, until 5 p.m. Sunday, June 18 (all local times).

Tickets for the Buenos Aires show will go on sale to the general public at noon Wednesday, June 21. General sale for the São Paulo show will happen on Thursday, June 22 at 12:01 a.m.

For tickets or more information, visit www.u2.com/tour.

U2 Add 2nd Joshua Tree Tour Show in Mexico City

U2 have announced a second Joshua Tree Tour 2017 in Mexico City at Foro Sol on Oct. 4, in addition to the show on Oct. 3.

The presale for U2.com subscribers will run from 10 a.m. Friday, June 16 through 5 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Tickets for the general public will go on sale at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 21. (All times are local to the venue.)

For tickets or more information, visit www.u2.com/tour.