Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Radiohead Open Berlin Run With Immersive Arena Return After Seven Years

A circular stage with moving screens created an unusually intimate atmosphere at the Uber Arena.

Overview

  • Radiohead launched the Berlin leg of their 20-date European comeback with the first of four shows at the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena, drawing 68,000 attendees across the run.
  • The band performed for roughly two hours with about 25 songs, closing with “Karma Police” as the arena sang the refrain in unison.
  • A round, center-floor stage encased in grid-like panels and semi-transparent screens delivered rotating close-ups, sharp sightlines from all seats, and a striking sense of enclosure.
  • The set moved fluidly between ballads and driving rock and electronics, with trance-like peaks during “No Surprises” and high-energy passages such as “Idioteque”; “Creep” was not included.
  • Thom Yorke showed no sign of the recent illness that caused a Copenhagen cancellation, while wider public debates and past milestones referenced in coverage did not intrude on the Berlin performance.