In 2010 Paul performed over 30 ‘Up and Coming’ tour dates across North America, South America and the UK. Last year saw many career firsts wherever the band played. These included rocking The White House in front of President Barack Obama and his family in June when Paul was made the first ever British recipient of the prestigious Gershwin Prize For Popular Song.  Paul returned to the White House again in December (where even the President joked about Paul becoming a regular there!) to be awarded with a Kennedy Center Honor. Paul ended 2010 with a visit to Saturday Night Live in New York City followed by a career landmark first ever performance at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater on December 13 and three intimate homecoming shows in the UK.  He played the smallest club show of his career at London’s legendary 100 Club to just 300 people, which made headlines as far as China.  The final two shows were at the Hammersmith Apollo and at Liverpool’s O2 Academy, both of which broke venue box office records.

McCartney kicked off his 2011 live agenda with his first ever show in Peru, his first Chilean gig since 1993, and two blockbuster shows at Rio de Janeiro’s Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange, which also resulted in the first ever concert to be broadcast live on the internet throughout Latin America - allowing over 1.5 million fans who were unable to snap up one of the 100,000 tickets to share in the magic.  Like his visits to South America in 2010, these trips resulted in total and utter Macca-mania wherever he went.  Fans built makeshift ‘McCartney villages’ as they camped outside the stadiums, waiting for days for the doors to open, in order to get the best possible positions at the front of the crowd. Over fifty years into his career, he continues to push boundaries, perform to millions and make global news with countless monumental shows.

On The Run – Tour Dates

Monday 19th December The MEN Arena, Manchester, England / 0844 847 8000

Tuesday 20th December The Echo Arena, Liverpool, England / 0844 8000 400

www.paulmccartney.com

Up and Coming Tour… what the critics have been saying…

As the show moved towards its climax, they pulled off an incredible version of’ Paperback Writer’ - all harmonies present and correct - followed by an emotional ‘A Day in the Life’, and a literally explosive ‘Live and Let Die’, during which a blitz of fireworks soared into the night sky, high above the park. Evening Standard

McCartney didn’t put a foot wrong. If only everything English was so reliable… News Of The World

Fireworks, flames and the deafening bang of expensive pyrotechnics would normally be the most dazzling aspect of any rock show. But this is no ordinary gig and tonight even the stunning special effects that accompany the stonking version of ‘Live and Let Die’ that comes towards the end of this incredible 36 song set take second place to the calibre of the tracks themselves. Canada Toronto Star

Paul McCartney performed like a man one-quarter of his age before an adoring crowd at a packed Air Canada Centre last night. For the first of two concerts—he returns to the ACC tonight—the living legend’s stamina was absolutely stupefying. He seemed to turn back the hands of time during a nearly three-hour marathon that featured 36 songs and nary a sip of water between them. Toronto Sun

Over the course of nearly 3 hours and three-dozen songs in a set brimming with solo hits and Fab Four jewels, McCartney and his strong four-piece band could basically do little wrong. What might have been the biggest surprise though was not how the songs have stood the test of time but perhaps just how well McCartney stood up vocally to the rigours of delivering the parade of singles. US. College Times (Phoenix)

It’s still shocking to see that after 50 years in the music industry, he has barely gained a pound since his youth and still has the energy and agility of a 20-year old. Even more surprising is his obvious adoration for playing live shows and warmly interacting with fans. I’m not afraid to say that this is the best live show I have ever seen…..As one man put it as he was walking out, ‘I’m not sure we paid enough for that show.’ I saw it with my own two eyes. Paul McCartney is human. But just barely. Hollywood Reporter

If anyone could be excused for having a rock star’s distant, aloof persona, it would be Paul McCartney. But that’s simply not him; he exudes a genuine likability and unforced charm that flattens any barriers between him and a live audience. And Tuesday’s fantastic show also was an example of how music - certain music - can bridge cultural and generational chasms. But a show like this is critic-proof, plain and simple. Anyone who would quibble about it is doing so for quibbling’s sake. Variety

McCartney is rolling out a marathon performance: 38 songs over the course of two hours and 45 minutes. There are no breaks for him to rest his voice, no theatrics beyond some videos filled with arty or nostalgic imagery, and none of the bouncy pop that earned his critical complaints in the 1980’s and 90’s. It’s as raw as we have ever seen McCartney. St Joseph News Press (Kansas)

McCartney gave the adoring 15,000-plus attendees three hours of music spanning his incomparable career with The Beatles, Wings and his solo work. The show included two encores and was all performed with a near-inhuman amount of effortless endurance. Between the man, the songs and the show itself, it became something you were guaranteed to tell your grandkids about. American Songwriter (Nashville)

A Paul McCartney concert makes up for every bad show you’ve ever seen in your life. Seriously.