The DCX MMXVI World Tour was the fifth headlining concert tour from American country music trio Dixie Chicks. It started on April 16, 2016, in Antwerp, Belgium and finished on April 18, 2017, in London, Ontario, Canada. The tour was the first time in ten years the band had toured the United States and Australia as a headlining act. It was the first time the band performed in New Zealand. For the shows in 2017, the tour was renamed the DCX MMXVII World Tour. This was the last tour where they were known as the Dixie Chicks.

The sound of the show is more guitar and rock and roll driven than earlier shows, with re-worked Dixie Chicks classics and several covers by Patty Griffin, Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé, and Bob Dylan. Through large video projections several political and empowering messages are spread.

Background In June 2015, the group announced that they would tour Europe in April 2016, additional dates were announced in August. North American dates were announced in November 2015. Due to demand additional North American dates were announced on May 2, 2016. The Oceania leg was announced in October 2016.

Show synopsis The stage is set up as a classic stage with a big bars-shaped light rail that is pulled up during the opening song, revealing a large video screen. The Dixie Chicks are supported by a big band with a strong rock and roll sound. After a warm-up song, the band starts with a strong guitar version of "The Long Way Around", following "Lubbock or Leave It" featuring a trucker and rock and roll themed video. After the first of several Patty Griffin covers, a slowed down version of "Easy Silence" is performed with slow landscape shots and on-screen lyrics. After "Favorite Year" and "Long Time Gone", an acoustic cover of "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey follows. "Goodbye Earl" is another renewed version into a more guitar driven sound. During "Goodbye Earl" a video on domestic violence is shown, including Chris Brown, the Fritzl case and Donald Trump. A video interlude shows the Dixie Chicks in a video game-themed car race, while the instrumental cover of "Ace of Spades" is heard.

The show is split with a bluegrass acoustic segment, starting with "Travelin' Soldier", played by only the three core members of the band. After "Don't Let Me Die in Florida" and "White Trash Wedding", the touring band is introduced. The acoustic segment is closed with an instrumental medley, including Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes.

"Ready to Run" is themed as an election year parody, with a montage of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, while confetti is blown over the audience. Two more covers are performed: Bob Dylan's "Mississippi" and their version of "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.

After "Silent House", "I Like It", "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Wide Open Spaces" the show is concluded with "Sin Wagon". The encore starts with a dark version of "Not Ready to Make Nice" and a final encore is a positive and empowering message from Ben Harper's "Better Way", closed off by a drum segment.

Opening acts

Augustana The Heavy Anderson East Josh Herbert Elle King Smooth Hound Smith Vintage Trouble Avalanche City

Recordings At the second to last show in the U.S. on October 8, 2016, Natalie Maines announced: "As you can see we've chosen you guys and the forum to be the audience for our DVD". The Edmonton, Calgary, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Hamilton shows were included in a one-night cinema event DCX MMXVI Live that was shown in theatres on August 7, 2017, followed by a DVD/Blu-ray/CD release on September 1, 2017, from Columbia Records.

Setlist

"The Long Way Around" "Lubbock or Leave It" "Truth #2" "Easy Silence" "Everybody Knows" / "Favorite Year" / "Some Days You Gotta Dance" "Long Time Gone" "Video Games" / "Nothing Compares 2 U" ( "Top of the World" "Goodbye Earl" "Travelin' Soldier" "Daddy Lessons" ( "Don't Let Me Die in Florida" "White Trash Wedding" "Ready to Run" "Mississippi" "Landslide" "Silent House" "I Like It" "Cowboy Take Me Away" "Wide Open Spaces" "Sin Wagon" Encore "Not Ready to Make Nice" "Better Way"

Notes

Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueOpening actsAttendanceRevenueEuropeApril 16, 2016AntwerpBelgiumLotto ArenaAugustana3,805 / 4,382 $223,464April 17, 2016ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadion9,500 / 9,500 $754,847April 19, 2016AmsterdamNetherlandsHeineken Music Hallrowspan="7" rowspan="7" April 20, 2016April 22, 2016HorsensDenmarkForum HorsensApril 24, 2016OsloNorwayOslo SpektrumApril 25, 2016StockholmSwedenHovetApril 27, 2016MalmöMalmö ArenaApril 29, 2016BirminghamEnglandBarclaycard ArenaApril 30, 2016ManchesterManchester Arena8,546 / 9,134 $606,008May 1, 2016LondonThe O2 Arena13,078 / 15,471 $898,090May 3, 2016GlasgowScotlandThe SSE Hydro11,259 / 11,421 $563,845May 4, 2016DublinIreland3Arenacolspan="2" North America Leg 1June 1, 2016 CincinnatiUnited StatesRiverbend Music CenterAugustanaJosh Herbert19,877 / 19,877$1,150,340June 3, 2016Cuyahoga FallsBlossom Music Center18,428 / 20,415$1,045,808June 4, 2016 ClarkstonDTE Energy Music Theatre 14,197 / 14,841 $952,409June 5, 2016Tinley ParkHollywood Casino Amphitheatre21,516 / 28,059 $1,372,366June 8, 2016HolmdelPNC Bank Arts CenterThe HeavyJosh Herbert8,210 / 15,883 $511,197June 10, 2016BurgettstownFirst Niagara Pavilion11,262 / 21,731$514,181 June 11, 2016Saratoga SpringsSaratoga Performing Arts Center15,943 / 24,599 $824,242June 13, 2016New York CityMadison Square Garden10,366 / 14,521 $1,387,319June 14, 2016MansfieldXfinity Center10,503 / 19,422 $753,200June 16, 2016BangorDarling's Waterfront PavilionAnderson EastJosh Herbert10,876 / 12,877$706,634June 17, 2016HartfordXfinity Theatre10,291 / 23,089$668,426June 18, 2016CamdenBB&T Pavilion9,573 / 23,429 $565,407June 21, 2016TorontoCanadaMolson Canadian Amphitheatre30,477 / 31,351$2,022,400June 22, 2016June 24, 2016HersheyUnited States Hersheypark Stadium12,157 / 16,532$817,664June 25, 2016BristowJiffy Lube Live17,742 / 21,297$1,191,951July 7, 2016VancouverCanadaRogers Arena12,870 / 14,463$1,030,490July 8, 2016AuburnUnited StatesWhite River Amphitheatre13,758 / 15,432$927,073July 9, 2016RidgefieldSunlight Supply Amphitheater15,342 / 17,160$1,057,715July 12, 2016Mountain ViewShoreline Amphitheatre17,832 / 21,142$979,925July 13, 2016WheatlandToyota Amphitheatre14,783 / 17,271$736,778July 15, 2016Chula VistaSleep Train AmphitheatreAugustanaLSmooth Hound Smith12,816 / 18,841$797,272July 16, 2016Las VegasT-Mobile Arena9,319 / 11,059$970,166 July 17, 2016PhoenixAk-Chin Pavilion13,480 / 19,102$682,771July 20, 2016IrvineIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre12,402 / 13,844$992,657August 5, 2016DallasGexa Energy PavilionVintage TroubleSmooth Hound Smith19,701 / 19,701 $1,367,443August 6, 2016The WoodlandsCynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion15,626 / 15,626$1,082,571August 7, 2016AustinAustin360 Amphitheatre12,277 / 12,277$975,008August 10, 2016Virginia BeachVeterans United Home Loans Amphitheater10,443 / 17,804$550,568August 12, 2016RaleighCoastal Credit Union Music Park17,785 / 19,408$897,444August 13, 2016CharlottePNC Music Pavilion18,010 / 18,184$1,178,026August 14, 2016AlpharettaVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre12,229 / 12,229$760,235August 17, 2016NashvilleBridgestone Arena16,325 / 16,325$1,517,305 August 19, 2016TampaMidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre15,588 / 18,629$897,334August 20, 2016West Palm BeachPerfect Vodka Amphitheatre10,405 / 18,186$555,878August 24, 2016Maryland HeightsHollywood Casino Amphitheatre17,897 / 19,521$911,283August 25, 2016NoblesvilleKlipsch Music Center16,909 / 23,252$852,771August 27, 2016Falcon HeightsMinnesota State Fair Grandstandcolspan="2" August 28, 2016August 30, 2016Kansas CitySprint Center13,520 / 13,520$1,138,510September 1, 2016Greenwood VillageFiddler's Green Amphitheatrecolspan="2" September 2, 2016West Valley CityUSANA Amphitheatre18,483 / 19,011$898,560September 8, 2016TulsaBOK CenterElle King8,063 / 9,337$766,268September 9, 2016North Little RockVerizon Arena8,809 / 14,259$691,159September 10, 2016New OrleansSmoothie King Center9,529 / 10,041$812,884September 15, 2016MolineiWireless Center6,783 / 9,668$500,689September 16, 2016ColumbusNationwide Arena9,430 / 13,651$828,362September 17, 2016BuffaloFirst Niagara Center7,621 / 10,545$592,808September 22, 2016LouisvilleKFC Yum! Center9,821 / 10,780$862,342September 23, 2016ToledoHuntington CenterAugustana 4,778 / 5,614$424,653September 24, 2016Green BayResch Center6,464 / 6,917$620,056September 29, 2016EdmontonCanadaRogers PlaceElle King12,152 / 12,152$1,018,230September 30, 2016SaskatoonSaskTel Centre9,841 / 10,713$800,788October 1, 2016CalgaryScotiabank Saddledome11,194 / 11,194$933,512October 7, 2016OaklandUnited StatesOracle Arena7,228 / 10,560$561,848October 8, 2016InglewoodThe Forum5,766 / 6,134$572,898October 10, 2016Los AngelesHollywood Bowl16,048 / 16,048$1,345,158OceaniaMarch 25, 2017BrisbaneAustraliaBrisbane Entertainment CentreAvalanche City9,252 / 9,686$1,073,410March 26, 2017IpswichWillowbank Racewaycolspan="2" March 29, 2017SydneyQudos Bank Arena12,383 / 12,508$1,243,770March 30, 2017ICC Sydney Theatre6,702 / 7,919$729,867April 1, 2017MelbourneRod Laver Arena21,304 / 21,650$2,487,280April 2, 2017April 5, 2017PerthPerth Arena — —April 8, 2017NapierNew ZealandMission Estate Winery — —North America Leg 2April 14, 2017OttawaCanadaCanadian Tire CentreSmooth Hound Smith rowspan="4" rowspan="4" April 15, 2017MontrealBell CentreApril 17, 2017HamiltonFirstOntario CentreApril 18, 2017LondonBudweiser GardensTotal 788,574 / 959,194$56,153,563

Notes

Critical reception Anastasia Verleysen of the Het Nieuwsblad says, "The Dixie Chicks are not just singing some country, but ladies with balls on their backs and even a high rock 'n roll content. And yet, their songs always go back to basics with the nonchalant banjo-strumming Emily Robinson, Martie Maguire handsome violin lines and the impressive voice of Natalie Maines." The Daily Telegraph'''s Sarah Carson stated, "the triumphant trio proved the power lies in their musicianship, not notoriety, and their talents remain as rich and fierce as ever." Erik Leijon for Montreal Gazette'' wrote about the 2017 leg of the tour: "Saturday night's set was a reminder that beyond having the courage to speak openly, the Dixie Chicks possess the heart-stopping harmonies, bluegrass stompers, superstar presence and enviable pop instincts to back up any words."

References