Once Upon a Tour
Concert tour nameOnce Upon a Tour
LocationAsia · Europe · North America · Oceania · South America
ArtistNightwish
Album
Start dateMay 22, 2004
End dateOctober 21, 2005
Number of shows130
Last tourWorld Tour of the Century
(2002–2003)
This tourOnce Upon a Tour
(2004–2005)
Next tourDark Passion Play World Tour
(2007–2009)

Once Upon a Tour was a concert tour by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, in 2004 and 2005, to promote the release of their fifth album, Once, released June 7, 2004.[1] A new greatest hits compilation, Highest Hopes, was also released to tie in with the tour. The albums combined with the band's most expansive merchandise campaign by Nuclear Blast Records meant this tour was heralded as the band's most important in many years.[2] Many of the band's songs had not been played in a long time.

Background

The success of the album allowed the band to perform in many countries they had never visited before: Colombia, Ecuador, Scotland, Estonia, Greece, Romania, Denmark, Japan, Australia, Portugal, and Slovenia. The band also played their first tour in the United States, with various sold-out concerts;[3] the South American leg also sold out all its concerts. A second tour was planned in the US, but it was cancelled by Tarja Turunen, who also cancelled some concerts in Australia.

After touring in Europe and South America in late 2004, and some separate shows in December, the band had some time off in January 2005. In February, Nightwish won five Emma-Gala Awards (Finnish Grammy); among other awards, they won "The Band of the Year" and "The Best Selling Album of the Year".[4] Tuomas Holopainen and Marko Hietala flew to Helsinki to receive the awards from touring in Europe. In March, Nightwish performed for the first time in Japan and Australia; in April and May, they had to have a break because of Turunen's other interests; but at the end of May, the band resumed the tour by playing with Iron Maiden in Poland and Mötley Crüe in Norway. During late 2005, Nightwish played several shows including a sold-out performance at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo in London. The last show on the European tour, in Stuttgart, Germany was up until then their biggest gig, with an audience of ten thousand.

The final concert was played on October 21 for 11,500 people in Hartwall Areena in Helsinki. The concert was also recorded to be released as an End of an Era live DVD and CD.

This was the last tour with Tarja Turunen; after the last concert the four other members of Nightwish decided it was best to continue Nightwish without Turunen, a feeling they expressed through an open letter Holopainen gave Turunen after the show, afterwards posted on the band's website.[5] It was written by Holopainen but signed by the other band members. The main justification for Turunen's dismissal given in the letter was the band felt both her husband Marcelo Cabuli (an Argentine businessman) and commercial interests had changed her attitude towards the band. In May 2007, former Alyson Avenue frontwoman Anette Olzon was revealed as Turunen's replacement.[6]

Set lists

2004

  1. "Dark Chest of Wonders"
  2. "Planet Hell"
  3. "Deep Silent Complete"
  4. "She Is My Sin"
  5. "The Phantom of the Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover)
  6. "Ever Dream"
  7. "Symphony of Destruction" (Megadeth cover)
  8. "Sleeping Sun"
  9. "Bless the Child"
  10. "The Trooper" ("Wishmaster" intro)
  11. "Wishmaster"
  12. "Nemo"
  13. "Slaying the Dreamer"
  14. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Gary Moore cover)
    Encore
  15. "Dead Boy's Poem"
  16. "Ghost Love Score"
  17. "Wish I Had an Angel"

2005

  1. "Dark Chest of Wonders"
  2. "Ever Dream"
  3. "Planet Hell"
  4. "The Kinslayer"
  5. "The Siren"
  6. "The Phantom of the Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover)
  7. "High Hopes" (Pink Floyd cover)
  8. "The Trooper" ("Wishmaster" intro)
  9. "Wishmaster"
  10. "Bless the Child"
  11. "Slaying the Dreamer"
  12. "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan"
  13. "Nemo"
    Encore
  14. "Sleeping Sun"
  15. "Ghost Love Score"
  16. "Wish I Had an Angel"

Tour dates

List of 2004 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and support act(s)[7]
DateCityCountryVenueSupport Act(s)
May 22, 2004KiteeFinlandIce HallTimo Rautiainen[8]
May 29, 2004TallinnEstoniaVon Krahl Theatrerowspan="11"
May 30, 2004
June 5, 2004[a]NijmegenNetherlandsGoffertpark
June 11, 2004[b]TampereFinlandEteläpuisto
June 12, 2004[c]SölvesborgSwedenNorje Havsbad
June 19, 2004[d]GlauchauGermanyGründelpark
June 20, 2004[e]MalakasaGreeceTerra Vibe Park
July 10, 2004[f]TurkuFinlandRuissalo
July 11, 2004[g]PamplonaSpainCarpa Rojilla
July 13, 2004BradfordEnglandBradford Rio
July 14, 2004NottinghamRock City
July 16, 2004LondonAstoria TheatreBrainstorm[9]
July 17, 2004[h]HelsinkiFinlandKaisaniemi Park
July 21, 2004OsloNorwayRockefeller Music HallEntwined
August 20, 2004WorcesterUnited StatesPalladiumLullacry[10]
August 22, 2004New York CityB.B. King's Blues Club
August 23, 2004ClevelandPhantasy Theater
August 24, 2004
August 25, 2004ChicagoHouse of Blues
August 26, 2004MinneapolisQuest Club
August 28, 2004DenverCervantes Club
August 30, 2004ScottsdaleCajun House
August 31, 2004AnaheimHouse of Blues
September 1, 2004Los Angeles
September 3, 2004San FranciscoSlim's Club
September 5, 2004SeattleGraceland Club
September 17, 2004TampereFinlandPakkahuone TheatreTwilightning[11]
September 18, 2004TurkuKaribia Resort
September 21, 2004HelsinkiNosturi Clubrowspan="2"
September 22, 2004
September 25, 2004JyväskyläFinlandPaviljonki AreenaTwilightning[11]
September 29, 2004StockholmSwedenStora ArenanLordi
October 1, 2004GothenburgLisebergshallen
October 2, 2004MalmöBaltiska Hallen
October 13, 2004HamburgGermanyColor Line ArenaSonata Arctica[12]
October 15, 2004LeipzigArena
October 16, 2004ErfurtThüringenhalle
October 19, 2004ColognePalladium
October 20, 2004BerlinTreptow Arena
October 22, 2004NurembergArena
October 23, 2004MunichZenith
October 25, 2004ViennaAustriaGasometer
October 26, 2004BudapestHungaryPetőfi Csarnok
October 28, 2004MilanItalyPalaSharp
October 30, 2004BaselSwitzerlandSt. Jakob Arena
November 1, 2004LyonFranceLe Transbordeur
November 4, 2004MadridSpainCentro Aqualung
November 5, 2004BarcelonaRazamatazz 1
November 7, 2004[i]BrusselsBelgiumAncienne Belgique
November 8, 2004AmsterdamNetherlandsParadiso ClubSonata Arctica[12]
November 19, 2004BucharestRomaniaSala Palatului
November 21, 2004ParisFranceLe ZénithConscience[13]
November 27, 2004Buenos AiresArgentinaArena Obrasrowspan="7"
November 28, 2004CampinasBrazilUsina Royal
November 30, 2004Rio de JaneiroCanecão
December 2, 2004Porto AlegreOpinião Club
December 3, 2004Belo HorizonteChevrolet Hall
December 4, 2004São PauloVia Funchal
December 8, 2004BogotáColombiaGran Salon de Corferias
December 10, 2004QuitoEcuadorPlaza de TorosViuda Negra[14]
December 12, 2004Mexico CityMexicoCirco Voladorrowspan="2"
December 13, 2004
December 15, 2004MontrealCanadaMétropolisHeaven's Cry
December 16, 2004
December 18, 2004TorontoOpera HouseAesma Daeva
December 26, 2004HelsinkiFinlandIce HallAfter Forever[15]
December 28, 2004[j]OberhausenGermanyKönig-Pilsener-Arenarowspan="2"
December 29, 2004[j]HamburgFriedrichshafen Messehalle
List of 2005 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and support act(s)[16]
DateCityCountryVenueSupport Act(s)
February 9, 2005CopenhagenDenmarkStore Vega
February 11, 2005AmsterdamNetherlandsHeineken Music HallAfter Forever[17]
February 12, 2005LondonEnglandAstoria TheatreTristania[18]
February 15, 2005BirminghamO2 Academy
February 16, 2005GlasgowScotlandBarrowland Ballroom
February 18, 2005ManchesterEnglandApollo Theatre
February 19, 2005LondonAstoria Theatre
February 21, 2005WiezeBelgiumOktoberhallen
February 22, 2005TrierGermanyArena
February 24, 2005BraunschweigVolkswagen Halle
February 26, 2005BayreuthOberfrankenhalle
February 27, 2005ChurSwitzerlandStadthalle
February 28, 2005StuttgartGermanySchleyer-Halle
March 12, 2005OsakaJapanNamba HatchAngra[19]
March 13, 2005FukuokaZepp Hall
March 16, 2005TokyoShibuya AX
March 17, 2005
March 21, 2005MelbourneAustraliaCorner HotelVanishing Point[20]
March 22, 2005
March 23, 2005SydneyMetro TheatreDungeon[21]
March 26, 2005BrisbaneArenarowspan="20"
May 26, 2005BudapestHungaryPetőfi Csarnok
May 27, 2005[k]MadridSpainParque Natural de la Cantueña
May 29, 2005[l]ChorzówPolandSilesian Stadium
June 10, 2005OsloNorwaySpektrum Arena
June 11, 2005[m]NickelsdorfAustriaPannonia Fields II
June 12, 2005[n]LeicestershireEnglandDonington Park
June 17, 2005[o]SeinäjokiFinlandTörnävä
June 18, 2005[p]FrauenfeldSwitzerlandGrosse Allmend
June 24, 2005[q]JämsäFinlandHimos Areena
July 15, 2005[r]ZlínCzech RepublicAreál likérky R. Jelínek
July 16, 2005[s]Toscolano-MadernoItalyCampo Sportivo
July 22, 2005[t]ErfurtGermanyEventzentrum Strohofer
July 28, 2005[u]PortoPortugalVilar de Mouros
August 4, 2005[v]WackenGermanyHauptstrasse
August 5, 2005DresdenGroßer Garten
August 7, 2005[w]VantaaFinlandKorson Urheilupuisto
August 14, 2005[x]RothenburgGermanyEisweise
August 19, 2005[y]HasseltBelgiumDomein Kiewit
August 20, 2005[z]BiddinghuizenNetherlandsEvenemententerrein Walibi
September 3, 2005HellNorwayHellodromeStonegard
September 5, 2005OsloRockefeller Music Hallrowspan="2"
September 8, 2005StockholmSwedenArenan
September 9, 2005GothenburgLisebergshallenNocturnal Rites
September 11, 2005UmeåSkyCom Arenarowspan="4"
September 17, 2005ŽilinaSlovakiaBoräk Hall
September 19, 2005LjubljanaSloveniaKrizance Hall
September 23, 2005CopenhagenDenmarkK.B. Hallen
September 25, 2005LondonEnglandHammersmith ApolloParadise Lost[22]
September 30, 2005BucharestRomaniaPolivalenta Hallrowspan="5"
October 1, 2005AthensGreeceLycabettus Amphitheatre
October 8, 2005[aa]Mexico CityMexicoPalacio de los Deportes
October 12, 2005[aa]São PauloBrazilEstádio do Canindé
October 15, 2005[aa]Porto AlegreGigantinho
October 21, 2005HelsinkiFinlandHartwall AreenaSonata Arctica[23]

Personnel

Main article: List of Nightwish band members

Additional musicians

  • John Two-Hawks – vocals, flute

Footnotes

  1. ^ The June 5, 2004, concert was a part of Dynamo Open Air.
  2. ^ The June 11, 2004, concert was a part of Sauna Open Air.
  3. ^ The June 12, 2004, concert was a part of Sweden Rock Festival.
  4. ^ The June 19, 2004, concert was a part of Woodstage Open Air.
  5. ^ The June 20, 2004, concert was a part of Rockwave Festival.
  6. ^ The July 10, 2004, concert was a part of Ruisrock.
  7. ^ The July 11, 2004, concert was a part of San Fermin.
  8. ^ The July 17, 2004, concert was a part of Tuska Open Air.
  9. ^ The November 7, 2004, concert was a part of Metal Female Voices Fest.
  10. ^ The December 28 and 29, 2004, concerts were a part of On A Dark Winter's Night.
  11. ^ The May 27, 2005, concert was a part of Festimad.
  12. ^ The May 29, 2005, concert was a part of Mystic Festival.
  13. ^ The June 11, 2005, concert was a part of Nova Rock Festival.
  14. ^ The June 12, 2005, concert was a part of Download Festival.
  15. ^ The June 17, 2005, concert was a part of Provinssirock.
  16. ^ The June 18, 2005, concert was a part of Frauenfeld Open Air.
  17. ^ The June 24, 2005, concert was a part of Himos Festival.
  18. ^ The July 15, 2005, concert was a part of Masters of Rock.
  19. ^ The July 16, 2005, concert was a part of Evolution Festival.
  20. ^ The July 22, 2005, concert was a part of Earthshaker Festival.
  21. ^ The July 28, 2005, concert was a part of Vilar de Mouros Festival.
  22. ^ The August 4, 2005, concert was a part of Wacken Open Air.
  23. ^ The August 7, 2005, concert was a part of Ankkarock.
  24. ^ The August 14, 2005, concert was a part of Taubertal Open Air.
  25. ^ The August 19, 2005, concert was a part of Pukkelpop.
  26. ^ The August 20, 2005, concert was a part of Lowlands Festival.
  27. ^ The October 8, 12 and 15, 2005, concerts were a part of Live'N'Louder Festival.

References

  1. ^ "Once- Nuclear Blast Records". Yiannis. Metal-Temple.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  2. ^ "The Band – Biography". www.nightwish.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  3. ^ "Nightwish on USA tour". www.nightwish.com. January 16, 2004. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  4. ^ "NIGHTWISH Win Emma Awards For Best Finnish Artist And Most Sold Album 2005". Bravewords.com. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. March 5, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  5. ^ "Open letter to Tarja Turunen". Wikisource. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2005.
  6. ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET". NIGHTWISH Announces New Singer. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
  7. ^ "Live: Past Shows (2004)". www.nightwish.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  8. ^ Satu Reunanen. "Nightwish back in their hometown". Rock United. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  9. ^ Charlie Farrel. "Nightwish/Brainstorm". Get Ready to Rock. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Lullacry added to Nightwish Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  11. ^ "TWILIGHTNING Guitarist Forced To Sit Out NIGHTWISH Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 24 September 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Sonata Arctica Tour Dates- Tour 2004". CH.metal. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  13. ^ Mikäel. "Nightwish Le 21 Novembre 2004 à Paris, France (Zenith)" (in french). Trashocore.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Recuerdos y Relíquias del Rock em Ecuador" (in spanish). Facebook. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  15. ^ "NIGHTWISH Helsinki show sold out". Blabbermouth.net. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Live: Past Shows (2005)". www.nightwish.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  17. ^ Roos Glastra (18 February 2005). "Nightwish- Amsterdam 2005". Reflections of Darkness. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  18. ^ Fernando Fuchs (24 January 2005). "Tristania- Clipe e tour com Nightwish" (in portuguese). Whiplash.net. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  19. ^ "NIGHTWISH Singer Falls Ill, Band Postpone Sao Paulo Concert". Blabbermouth.net. 4 December 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  20. ^ "VANISHING POINT To Support NIGHTWISH In Australia". Blabbermouth.net. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  21. ^ "DUNGEON To Support MEGADETH In Australia". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  22. ^ Silvia Deurwaarder (13 October 2005). "Nightwish- London 2005". Reflections of Darkness. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  23. ^ Sato Reunanen. "LAST EVENING WITH TARJA; NIGHTWISH SAYS FAREWELL TO THEIR LEAD SINGER IN HARTWALL AREENA, HELSINKI, October 21st, 2005". Rock United. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

Sources