Talk on Corners World Tour

Andrea Corr playing whistle at Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, 15 July 1998.

Caroline Corr playing bodhrán (London, 17 March 1998).

The Talk on Corners Tour (1997-1999) was the second major concert tour by Irish folk-rock band The Corrs—comprised of siblings Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle), Caroline (vocals, drums, bodhrán, piano), Jim (vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano) and Sharon Corr (vocals, violin, keyboards)—, launched in support of the their 1997 sophomore album of the same name. As usual, The Corrs were supported by their backing duo, Anto Drennan on guitars and Keith Duffy on bass guitar. To date, it was their most extensive tour, with 159 concerts performed at a range of venues across Europe, North America, Oceania and Southeast Asia between November 1997 and July 1999. From 8-17 March 1999, they toured the Northeastern US as openers for several dates of the Rolling Stones' No Security Tour (1999).

Background

The Talk on Corners tour initially began as promotion for The Corrs' 1997 second album of the same name, the band playing at more intimate live music venues and festivals across Europe and Southeast Asia. Following their 1995 debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, The Corrs had quickly earned a reputation as a solid live act, being consistently booked at numerous music events, where their fanbase grew. After working with producer and songwriter David Foster on their first album, The Corrs were introduced via Foster Canadian singer Céline Dion—who liked the group so much that she invited them to be her supporting act in the summer of 1996, giving the band their first taste of American audiences, on her Falling Into You Tour.

Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac, was featured at the Royal Albert Hall gig in London, 17 March 1998, after The Corrs covered their 1976 classic "Dreams".

Sharon Corr performing in London.

Still, by the end of 1997, The Corrs had yet to tap into mainstream success in North America or the UK. However, despite low to modest chart entries, the band had steadily gained a devoted following throughout much of mainland Europe, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with Australia and New Zealand being two of the first markets to truly embrace the group. Thus, on the Australian leg of the tour, a run of seven consecutive shows was booked at Sydney's State Theatre, with further dates in Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania.

By mid-1998, during the height of the tour, The Corrs had seen a significant rise in popularity, particularly in the UK and Europe, after having updated and re-released their second album as Talk on Corners: Special Edition (1998). This special edition features several tracks from Talk on Corners remixed and given a "fresher" sound. This was evidently a success, as the singles "Dreams" (a Fleetwood Mac cover), "What Can I Do?" (remixed by Tin Tin Out), "So Young" (remixed by K-Klass), and "Runaway" (also updated by Tin Tin Out) received widespread airplay and peaked at No. 6, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 2 on the UK singles chart, respectively. This sudden increase in success enabled The Corrs to begin booking significantly larger venues, such as London's Wembley Arena. The Talk on Corners Tour culminated with the band playing for over 40,000 fans at Dublin's Lansdowne Road stadium on 17 July 1999, with the show filmed and released on VHS/DVD.

Opening acts

• Dakota Moon (3–22 December 1998)
• Picturehouse (14 January–1 February 1999)
• Babel Fish (3–8 February 1999)
• Brian Kennedy (20–26 February 1999)
• An Pierlé (Amsterdam)
• Catie Curtis (Alexandria, Chicago, West Hollywood, Solana Beach)
• Michelle Lewis (New York, Roseland Ballroom)

Setlist

Setlist 1: The following setlist was taken from the 5 June 1998 concert at the Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth, UK. It does not represent all concerts during the tour, but is fairly typical of 1998 shows. On some dates,

1. "Interlude"
2. "When He's Not Around"
3. "No Good for Me"
4. "Love to Love You"
5. "Erin Shore" (Intro)/"Forgiven, Not Forgotten"
6. "Joy of Life" (jigs: 'The Carraroe'/‘Joy of My Life')
7. "Intimacy"
8. "What Can I Do?"
9. "The Right Time"
10. "Queen of Hollywood"
11. "Dreams"
12. "Haste to the Wedding" (jig)
13. "Runaway"
14. "Only When I Sleep"
15. "Hopelessly Addicted"
16. "I Never Loved You Anyway"
17. "So Young"
18. "Toss the Feathers" (reel)

Setlist 2: This setlist was taken from the Sopot Song Festival, Sopot, Poland, 21 August 1998.

1. "When He's Not Around"
2. "Erin Shore" (Intro)/"Forgiven, Not Forgotten"
3. "Joy Of Life" (jigs: "The Carraroe"/"Joy of My Life")
4. "What Can I Do?"
5. "The Right Time"
6. "Queen Of Hollywood"
7. "Dreams"
8. "Haste to the Wedding" (jig)
9. "Runaway"
10. "Only When I Sleep"
11. "Hopelessly Addicted"
12. "I Never Loved You Anyway"
13. "So Young"
14. "Toss the Feathers" (reel)

Setlist 3: This setlist is taken from the 17 July 1999 concert in Dublin at Lansdowne Road stadium.

1. "Only When I Sleep"
2. "The Right Time
3. "Joy of Life" (jigs: "The Carraroe"/"Joy of My Life")
4. "Erin Shore" (Intro)/"Forgiven, Not Forgotten"
5. "What Can I Do?"
6. "No Frontiers"
7. "Runaway" (acoustic version)
8. "Haste to the Wedding" (jig)
9. "Secret Life"
10. "Love to Love You"
11. "Queen of Hollywood"
12. "Dreams"
13. "I Never Loved You Anyway"
14. "Lough Erin Shore" (slow air)
15. "Closer"
16. "So Young"
17. "Toss the Feathers" (reel)

Notes

• "Love in the Milky Way" was performed during the first European leg and some Oceania dates of the tour.
• Before "Haste to the Wedding", Sharon would often play an haunting solo on violin before the jig began, with ethereal synths and backing by Jim on keyboard.
• The London concert on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1998, was recorded and released on VHS/DVD as The Corrs Live at the Royal Albert Hall (1998). The band was joined by Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood for their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" as well as the Irish tunes "Haste to the Wedding" and "Toss the Feathers".
• "No Frontiers" (1989), a ballad by Mary Black, was added as a duet featuring Caroline and Sharon beginning in December 1998.
• "1999" (1982), originally by Prince, was performed on select dates in December 1998.
• From December 1998, Jim would play a traditional Irish set on piano while the rest of the band took breaks offstage, simply titled "Jim's Solo". Tunes were "The Morning Star" reel and the jig "Young Tom Ennis".
• "Secret Life" (1995) was added to the setlist in December 1998.
• "Love to Love You" (1995) was removed from the setlist in September 1998; it was performed again on 17 July 1999 in Dublin.

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
Europe (1997)
17 November	Ghent	Belgium	Vooruit
18 November	Amsterdam	Netherlands	Melkweg
19 November	Copenhagen	Denmark	Vega Musikkens Hus
21 November	Hamburg	Germany	Große Freiheit 36
23 November	Köln		E-Werk
24 November	München		Incognito
25 November	Zürich	Switzerland	Jail Club
26 November	Milano	Italia	Magazzini Generali
28 November	Barcelona	España	Sala Razzmatazz
29 November	Madrid		Sala Macumba
30 November	Pamplona		Pabellón Anaitasuna
2 December	London	United Kingdom	Shepherd's Bush Empire
3 December	Paris	France	L'Olympia
6 December	Belfast	United Kingdom	Whitla Hall
7 December
8 December	Dublin	Ireland	Olympia
9 December
11 December	London	United Kingdom	Forum
14 December	Oslo	Norway	Spektrum
15 December	Stockholm	Sweden	Münchenbryggeriet
Oceania (1998)
4 February	Perth, WA	Australia	Perth Entertainment Centre
6 February	Adelaide, SA		Adelaide Entertainment Centre
7 February	Melbourne, VI		Centre Court
9 February	Brisbane, QL		Brisbane Entertainment Centre
11 February	Sydney, NSW		State Theatre
12 February
13 February
14 February
15 February
16 February
17 February
18 February	Newcastle, NSW		Newcastle Entertainment Centre
19 February	Canberra, ACT		Royal Theatre
20 February	Launceston, TAS		Silverdome
21 February	Christchurch	New Zealand	Christchurch Town Hall
23 February	Wellington		Queens Wharf Events Centre
25 February	Auckland		Aotea Centre
26 February
Europe (1998)
8 March	Madrid	España	Stage 40
12 March	Cardiff	United Kingdom	St. David's Hall
13 March	York		Barbican
14 March	Manchester		Apollo
16 March	Birmingham		Symphony Hall
17 March	London		Royal Albert Hall
18 March	Nottingham		Royal Concert Hall
20 March	Glasgow		Royal Concert Hall
22 March	Sheffield		Sheffield City Hall
23 March	Northampton		Derngate Theatre
24 March	Croydon		Fairfield Concert Hall
Asia (1998)
5 April	Bangkok	Thailand	Thailand Cultural Centre
6 April
7 April
8 April
11 April	Singapore	Singapore	Sparks
12 April	Petaling Jaya	Malaysia	Sunway Lagoon
14 April	Kuala Lumpur		Concorde Ballroom
15 April	Makati	Philippines	Fashion Café
16 April	Mandaluyong		SM Megamall
17 April	Makati		Fashion Café
Europe (1998)
25 May	Stuttgart	Germany	Kongresshalle
27 May	Frankfurt		Hugenottenhalle
28 May	Hamburg		CCH Hall 3
30 May	Köln		E-Werk
5 June	Portsmouth	United Kingdom	Guildhall
6 June	London		Finsbury Park (London Fleadh Festival)
	Epsom		Epsom Downs (Derby Day Picnic)
9 June	Modena	Italia	Pavarotti & Friends charity concert
North America (1998)
13 June	New York, NY	United States	Guinness Fleadh Festival (NYC)
17 June	Alexandria, VA		The Birchmere
18 June	Chicago, IL		House of Blues
20 June	Arlington Heights, IL		Guinness Fleadh Festival (Chicago)
28 June	San Jose, CA		Guinness Fleadh Festival (Bay Area)
29 June	Los Angeles, CA		The Troubadour
30 June	Solana Beach, CA		Belly Up Tavern
Europe (1998)
3 July	Baden-Baden	Germany	SWF Studios / Ohne Filter
4 July	Östersund	Sweden	Storsjöyran Festival
5 July	Odense	Denmark	Midtfyns Festival
	London	United Kingdom	Prince's Trust Party in the Park
8 July	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	Den Atelier
10 July	Köln	Germany	Roncalliplatz (for Simple Minds)
11 July	Balingen		Balinger Messegelände (Open-Air Festival)
12 July	Escalarre	España	Vall d'Àneu (Doctor Music Festival)
15 July	Montreux	Switzerland	Montreux Jazz Festival
16 July	Milano	Italia	Arena Civica (Milan Fleadh Festival)
17 July	Zeebrugge	Belgium	Axion Beach Rock Festival
18 July	Chateau-Crioux	France	Chateau-Arneaux
19 July	Bern	Switzerland	Gurtenfestival
21 July	Lyon	France	Nights of Fourvière Festival
5 August	Budapest	Hungary	Sziget Festival
18 August	Bournemouth	United Kingdom	Bournemouth Pier (Radio 1 Roadshow)
21 August	Sopot	Poland	Forest Opera (Sopot Song Festival)
10 September	Berlin	Germany	Waldbuhne (for Rolling Stones)
11 September	Mannheim		Maimarkt (for Rolling Stones)
Asia (1998)
21 September	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	Stadium Nasional (XVI Commonwealth Games)
North America (1998)
7 October	New York, NY	United States	Mercury Lounge
8 October	Philadelphia, PA		Theatre of the Living Arts
14 October	Montréal, QC	Canada	Cabaret Music-Hall
16 October	Toronto, ON		Hummingbird Centre (w/ Natalio Merchant)
18 October	Ottawa, ON		Barrymore's
20 October	Pontiac, MI	United States	7th House
22 October	Chicago, IL		Park West
23 October	Columbus, OH		Southern Theatre
25 October	Alexandria, VA		The Birchmere
26 October	Boston, MA		Paradise Rock Club
27 October	Philadelphia, PA		Theatre of the Living Arts
27 October	New York, NY		Irving Plaza
30 October	Halifax, NS	Canada	Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
31 October	St. John's, NF		Newfoundland Memorial University
Europe (1998-99)
27 November	Barcelona	Spain	Palau Sant Jordi
28 November	Leganés		Plaza de Toros La Cubierta
3 December	Nottingham	United Kingdom	Royal Concert Hall
4 December
6 December	Liverpool		Empire Theatre
7 December	Manchester		Apollo
8 December
10 December	Glasgow		Clyde Auditorium
11 December
13 December	Birmingham		NEC Arena
14 December	London		Wembley Arena
15 December	Brighton		Brighton Centre
17 December	Bournemouth		Windsor Hall
18 December	Cardiff		Cardiff International Arena
20 December	Manchester		Apollo
21 December	Birmingham		NEC Arena
22 December
14 January 1999	Belfast		Kings Hall
15 January	Dublin	Ireland	The Point
16 January
18 January	Cardiff	United Kingdom	Cardiff International Arena
19 January
21 January	London		Wembley Arena
22 January
23 January	Birmingham		NEC Arena
25 January	Clyst St Mary		Westpoint Arena
26 January
27 January	London		Wembley Arena
29 January	Sheffield		Sheffield Arena
30 January	Newcastle		Telewest Arena
31 January	Edinburgh		Royal Highland Centre
1 February	Manchester		Manchester Evening News Arena
3 February	Paris	France	Zénith
4 February	Utrecht	Netherlands	Muziekcentrum Vredenburg
6 February	Stockholm	Sweden	Globe Arena
8 February	Hamburg	Germany	Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
20 February	London	United Kingdom	London Arena
21 February	Birmingham		NEC Arena
22 February	London		Wembley Arena
24 February	Birmingham		NEC Arena
25 February	Sheffield		Sheffield Arena
26 February	Glasgow		SECC
North America (1999)
9 March	Washington, DC	United States	9:30 Club
17 March	New York, NY		Roseland Ballroom
19 March	Boston, MA		Avalon Ballroom
21 March	Chicago, IL		Park West
25 March	San Francisco, CA		The Fillmore
28 March	Los Angeles, CA		House of Blues (WeHo)
Europe (1999)
19 May	Madrid	Spain	Círculo de Bellas Artes
30 May	Nottingham	United Kingdom	Wollaton Park
27 June	Pilton		Glastonbury Festival
2 July	Skellefteå	Sweden	Guldtorget Festival
4 July	London	United Kingdom	Hyde Park (Prince's Truat Party in the Park)
10 July	Paris	France	Solidays Festival
17 July	Dublin	Ireland	Lansdowne Road
31 July	A Coruña, Galicia	Spain	Xacobeo Festival