DJ SHADOW SUMMER TOUR BLOG POST #5

July 30th

Please excuse the lateness of this blog, the last week of the tour was a bit of a marathon and there simply wasn’t much down time. Now that I’ve been home for a spell, I’m in a better headspace to reflect on what was ultimately a mammoth schedule of dates.

Many of the final eight shows took place in the United Kingdom...in fact, I played twelve gigs in the UK this year. That’s truly astounding to me, and a continuing testament to the overwhelming support I’ve enjoyed in the region since first playing London over thirty years ago. At the Norwich show, I found myself feeling quite sentimental and referenced a few of these milestones with the crowd. Regardless of what the future may hold it’s been an amazing run, and I’m left with a profound sense of gratitude. Thank you, UK!

From there, it was off to Gent, Belgium, a beautiful city (see a couple of my photos below) in full bloom for the Gent Jazz Festival, which I played over two consecutive nights. It was quite warm, but no one was complaining as the cold and rain had overstayed its welcome over much of western Europe. The shows were great, though on night two I somehow managed to completely botch the final five minutes by inadvertently retriggering the beginning of my show...no matter, the crowd stayed patient and I was able to fully recover. As much as I hate to admit it, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing something, mistakes are going to happen. The difference is learning how to handle the situation with humor and professionalism...something I’m admittedly still working on.

After Gent it was Electric Castle, a festival outside of Cluj, Romania. Out of all the shows I’ve played this year it was the furthest distance from home, but there were several old friends also working and playing the same festival, so the vibe was familial and upbeat. “Nobody Speak” got a great reaction, and it was a perfect finish to a long and satisfying final European 2024 tour.

It still doesn’t seem possible that Reykjavik and Istanbul were part of the same run...those dates literally seem like months ago...and they practically are! As difficult and tiring as touring can be, what a blessing it is to be able to travel and perform to an audience. There’s more to come this year, with over twenty North American dates throughout September and October, including several cities I’ve NEVER played before. After that...who knows? I still hope to make it to Australia and SE Asia, and perhaps a few festivals next year. I’m here for ALL of it, with overwhelming appreciation for everyone who attended and those who will attend.

-DJ Shadow