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Upcoming Tears for Fears dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Tears for Fears seats at a glance
For most Tears for Fears concerts, buy a center section of the reserved pavilion at an amphitheater. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith share lead vocals and often stand on opposite sides of the stage, so a centered seat keeps both singers in view, while a steep side angle can leave one of them hard to see. Their recent North American tours have mostly played amphitheaters (outdoor sheds with a covered reserved pavilion and a lawn behind it) in summer.
- Top pick: center pavilion.
- Fine for sound: side pavilion, inner edge.
- Check the map first: rear pavilion rows under the roof.
- Easygoing value: the lawn.
Inside the amphitheater: four zones
Center pavilion
The sound is mixed for this area, the roof keeps you dry, and you face both singers straight on. Demand concentrates here.
Side pavilion
The audio is still good, but the singer on the far side can slip out of easy view as the angle sharpens. Choose sections closer to center when you can.
Back rows under the roof
At some sheds, the roof overhang (the front lip of the pavilion roof) cuts off the top of the stage screens from the final rows. The venue's seating map usually shows where that starts.
Lawn
General admission on the grass behind the pavilion, good for a relaxed summer evening. Arrive early for a center spot, plan on watching the screens, and bring a blanket only if the venue permits it.
Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl
The duo occasionally plays arenas and landmark venues. At an arena such as Madison Square Garden, a lower-bowl seat facing the stage serves you better than a close side section, again because the two singers work from opposite sides. At the Hollywood Bowl, the center boxes and front benches strike the best balance of sightline and sound.
What the duo plays live
Expect the big singles from The Hurting and Songs from the Big Chair, mixed with songs from The Tipping Point. With two lead singers, the show moves back and forth between voices rather than centering on one frontman, backed by a full band.
For a preview, listen to Songs for a Nervous Planet, a live album recorded in Franklin, Tennessee, on July 11, 2023, and released in 2024. The music is melodic and mostly mid-tempo, and the crowd mixes original 1980s fans with younger listeners who found the songs through film, TV and streaming. Many shed shows stay largely seated until the encore, which suits reserved seating.
Bath, the Big Chair and two No. 1s
Orzabal (guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Smith (bass, keyboards, vocals) formed Tears for Fears in Bath, Somerset, in 1981. Their second album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), produced both of their US Hot 100 No. 1 singles, "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," and the latter won the 1986 Brit Award for Best British Single.
The studio catalog also includes The Hurting (1983), The Seeds of Love (1989), Elemental (1993), Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004) and The Tipping Point (2022), which debuted at No. 2 in the UK.
Touring since 2010
- 2010: shows with Spandau Ballet in Australia and New Zealand, headline dates in Southeast Asia and a 17-date US run.
- 2015–2016: a US and Canada tour in 2015, then in July 2016 their first UK shows in more than ten years, at Newmarket Racecourse and Camp Bestival.
- 2017: a North American co-headline tour with Hall & Oates, plus British Summer Time in Hyde Park and Rock in Rio.
- 2022–2023, The Tipping Point World Tour: opened in Cincinnati in May 2022 with Garbage supporting. Smith broke four ribs in an accident in July 2022, and the rest of that year's dates, the UK leg included, were canceled. A second North American part, announced in April 2023 with Cold War Kids opening, played Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2023, and finished at the Hollywood Bowl.
- 2024: UK and European festivals and North American dates.
Confirmed shows appear in the event list on this page.
How Tears for Fears tickets sell
- Weekends lead. Friday and Saturday summer shed dates move before weeknights.
- Landmark rooms draw more. Madison Square Garden or the Hollywood Bowl attract more demand than an ordinary shed nearby.
- Pavilion before lawn. Reserved seats near the stage go first; lawn tickets often last until close to the date.
- Gaps between tours. The duo tours in concentrated runs with breaks, so fans tend to buy rather than wait.
Resale prices can fall above or below face value and usually shift as the show approaches. Reserved Seat ships orders free. For band news, see the official Tears for Fears site.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I sit to see both Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith?
A center section, either in the amphitheater pavilion or the arena lower bowl facing the stage. The two often perform from opposite sides, so steep side seats can leave one of them hard to see.
Which Tears for Fears songs hit No. 1 in the US?
Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World, both from Songs from the Big Chair (1985).
Why were Tears for Fears shows canceled in 2022?
Curt Smith broke four ribs in an accident in July 2022, and the remaining 2022 dates of the Tipping Point World Tour, including the UK leg, were canceled.
Do Tears for Fears play the lawn-and-pavilion sheds?
Yes. Recent North American tours played mostly amphitheaters and pavilions, with occasional arenas and the Hollywood Bowl.
What is Songs for a Nervous Planet?
A live album recorded on July 11, 2023, in Franklin, Tennessee, during the Tipping Point World Tour, released in 2024.