The concert will raise money for cancer research, and mark one of musician’s few major live events since retiring from the road in 2023
Elton John will headline a special stadium concert May 9 at San Diego’s Petco Park to raise money for cancer research. Tickets for the Curebound Concert for Cures go on sale Friday, with ticket prices beginning at $300.
The Concert for Cures live music series, which began in 2022, has previously featured performances by Ed Sheeran, and Alicia Keys with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. It’s raised more than $8.5 million, and will likely up that number dramatically with this Elton John concert.
Elton John formally retired from the road in July 2023 following the conclusion of his 330-date Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour. But he has played several one-off dates over the past couple of years. His most recent one took place at his annual Oscar Party in Los Angeles where he duetted with Chappell Roan on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Pink Pony Club.”
Prior to that, he played a private show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Cisco Live!, and performed at a birthday party at the Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts, for Anne Brown, the wife of Motorola CEO Greg Brown.
Much of his time, however, has been devoted to Who Believes in Angels?, a collaborative album he made with Brandi Carlile, and producer Andrew Watt. It arrives April 4, though leadoff single “Who Believes in Angels?” is already out. John and Carlile were backed on the record by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, former Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, and former Who bassist Pino Palladino.
John and Carlile are performing at the London Palladium on March 26. So far, there’s no word on any other shows planned in support of their collaborative album.
