The Rave & Roses Tour was the first major concert tour by Nigerian singer-songwriter Rema, launched in support of his debut studio album Rave & Roses (2022). The tour featured performances across Africa, Europe, and North America, and played a significant role in expanding his international audience.
Background Following the release of Rema's debut studio album Rave & Roses on 25 March 2022, He announced plans for his first world tour to promote the project. The album featured guest appearances from 6lack, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult, and was marketed as a blend of Afrobeats with influences from Arabian and Indian music, a style Rema dubbed "Afrorave".
The first leg of the tour began in Africa, with an opening performance at the R&G Arena in Lusaka, Zambia, on 29 April 2022. Additional African dates included stops in Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
The European leg featured appearances at major festivals including We Love Green in Paris, Wireless Festival in London, and Afro Nation Portugal, alongside headline shows in Brussels, Rotterdam, and Oslo. His London show at the O₂ Brixton Academy included guest performances by Fireboy DML, UK rapper Dave, and Nigerian artist Victony.
The North American leg, produced by Duke Concept, was announced in May 2022 and included 14 shows across the United States. It began in Seattle on 11 August 2022 and concluded in Minneapolis on 4 September 2022, with stops in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. The combination of festival appearances and headline shows reflected Rema's strategy of reaching diverse audiences while promoting Rave & Roses as a global Afrobeats record.
Legs and notable performances
Africa and Europe The African leg included stops in Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa, while the European leg featured shows in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. In November 2022, Rema performed at the O₂ Brixton Academy in London, where he was joined by guest artists Fireboy DML, UK rapper Dave, and Victony.
North America The North American leg was produced by Duke Concept and comprised 14 shows between 11 August and 4 September 2022, starting in Seattle and ending in Minneapolis.
Set list While the set list varied by location, common songs performed included:
"Calm Down" "Soundgasm" "Time N Affection" "Dumebi"
Tour dates Date City Venue Country 29 April 2022 Lusaka R&G Arena Zambia 7 May 2022 Nairobi Rema MNE FEST Kenya 15 May 2022 Las Vegas Chop Vegas United States 4 June 2022 Paris We Love Green Festival France 17 June 2022 Cambridge Strawberries & Creem Festival United Kingdom 19 June 2022 Malta DLT Brunch Malta 25 June 2022 Brussels Couleur Café Festival Belgium 26 June 2022 Rotterdam Oh My Festival Netherlands 28 June 2022 Sandvika Kadetten Festival Norway 1 July 2022 Portugal Afro Nation Portugal† Portugal 8 July 2022 London Wireless Festival United Kingdom 11 August 2022 Seattle Neumos United States 13 August 2022 San Francisco August Hall United States 14 August 2022 Los Angeles Echoplex United States 18 August 2022 Denver Bluebird Theater United States 20 August 2022 Houston House of Blues United States 21 August 2022 Dallas Echo Lounge & Music Hall United States 24 August 2022 Atlanta Center Stage United States 26 August 2022 Minneapolis Pour House United States 27 August 2022 Chicago Park West / The Promontory United States 28 August 2022 Columbus The KING of CLUBS United States 30 August 2022 Philadelphia The Foundry at The Fillmore United States 1 September 2022 Silver Spring The Fillmore United States 2 September 2022 New York City Irving Plaza United States 3 September 2022 Cambridge, MA The Sinclair United States Denotes “Rema MNE FEST” in Kenya—presumably a festival named after the artist. † Represents a festival in Portugal (Afro Nation Portugal).
References