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Billboard Boxscore Top 10 Tours of All Time: Beyoncé Breaks Ground

A recap of the 10 highest grossing tours in Billboard Boxscore's archives.

By Eric Frankenberg

Eric Frankenberg

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Over nearly four decades, Billboard Boxscore has charted the biggest tours in the world. From Whitney Houston and Billy Joel in the ‘80s to SZA and Post Malone in 2023, artists have topped Boxscore charts in Vegas theaters, international stadiums and everything in between.

Earlier this year, road warrior Elton John broke the record for the highest grossing tour of all time with the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. His tour began in September 2018, was interrupted by COVID for two years, and returned stronger than ever — and stronger than everyone else. Now, after more than 300 shows, the tour has ended, further extending its lead as the first tour to earn more than $900 million.

Most recently, Beyoncé broke the top 10, as the Renaissance World Tour closed on Oct. 1, 2023. One of four 2023 tours crowding the leaderboard, the Renaissance World Tour breaks up the near-monopoly of British rock acts, edging out Roger Waters ‘ The Wall Live.

The updated top 10 tours of all-time include previous record-holders by Ed Sheeran and The Rolling Stones, as well as live legends such as Guns N’ Roses .

John’s triumphant farewell tour is one of four in the top 10 with post-pandemic results, but more upheaval could be on the way. Still on the road, Sheeran recently slipped by the $400 million mark with his current tour, with more shows scheduled for this year. And that’s not to mention post-pandemic treks by P!nk , Taylor Swift , The Weeknd and more.

An influx of tours by these artists would not just help to modernize the top 10 but, on the back of Beyoncé’s entrance, would add more diversity, breaking up a current roster that includes seven tours by classic rock acts, eight acts from the U.K. and Ireland, and a top 10 that is almost exclusively white and male.

Below are the 10 highest grossing tours in the Boxscore archives, ranked by total earnings, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All 10 have grossed more than $500 million. Who will be next to join the club?

Coldplay - A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016-17)

Gross : $524 million Attendance : 5.4 million Shows : 115

Coldplay didn’t just level up with the A Head Full of Dreams Tour. The 2016-17 trek nearly tripled its previous best, 2011-12’s Mylo Xyloto Tour. The five-year gap, an extra 38 shows, and upgrading to stadiums worldwide turned the pop-rock group into titans of touring. Only recently was it surpassed by the band’s current tour, scaling the all-time list even further.

The Rolling Stones - No Filter Tour (2017-19, 2021)

Gross : $547 million Attendance : 2.9 million Shows : 58

The Stones move quickly. One of two top-10 tours that included fewer than 100 shows, The No Filter Tour was comprised of four brief summer runs, two in Europe and two in North America. Among the most powerful touring acts in the world, the rock legends averaged more than $11 million per show on the 2019 U.S. run, managing a $500-million-plus tour in less than 60 concerts.

The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-07)

Gross : $558 million Attendance : 3.5 million Shows : 111

We weren’t lying when we said that The Rolling Stones are among the most powerful touring acts in the world – they were the first act with two tours in the all-time top 10. Beginning in August 2005, A Bigger Bang Tour is the oldest trek on the ranking, inflation be damned.

Beyoncé - Renaissance World Tour (2023)

Gross : $580 million Attendance : 2.8 million Shows : 56

From 56 shows in the span of less than five months, Beyoncé claims the briefest tour among the all-time top 10, while establishing herself as an anomaly. She is the only woman, the only Black artist and the only American solo act on the list, bringing a mix of R&B, dance and pop to a group of almost exclusively British rock. The Renaissance World Tour wrapped on Oct. 1, 2023, with $141.8 million in Europe and $438 million in the U.S. and Canada.

Guns N' Roses - Not in This Lifetime... Tour (2016-19)

Gross : $584 million Attendance : 5.4 million Shows : 158

The title of GnR’s comeback tour was apt, as the band shocked the world by reuniting most of its classic ‘80s lineup, getting Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan back together. The reinstated lineup paid dividends, first conquering the Americas in 2016, then Australia and Europe in 2017, and then all over again in 2018-19.

Harry Styles - Love on Tour (2021-23)

Gross : $617.3 million Attendance : 5 million Shows : 169

Combining post-pandemic shows in support of 2019’s Fine Line with ’22-’23 dates surrounding his Grammy-winning Harry’s House album, Styles earned more than $600 million across five continents. The tour ended on July 22, 2023, in Italy, with its total gross eclipsing the career earnings of One Direction, the pop group that shot him to stardom.

Coldplay - Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022-23)

Gross : $617.8 million Attendance : 6.3 million Shows : 107

With its post-pandemic return, Coldplay mounted its biggest tour ever and followed The Rolling Stones to become the second artist with multiple $500M tours. The band is making the most of the world tour, selling out stadiums in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Dates are scheduled through February 2024, leaving more room to scale this list.

U2 - U2 360° Tour (2009-11)

Gross : $736 million Attendance : 7.3 million Shows : 110

U2 held the all-time touring record from 2011 to 2019, having broken ground commercially as the first $700 million tour ever, and artistically with in-the-round technological advances that cemented the Irish rockers as one of the world’s premier live music experiences. Bono & co. dominated the 2009 year-end Top Tours ranking, slipped to No. 2 for 2010, and returned to the summit for 2011.

Ed Sheeran - The ÷ (Divide) Tour (2017-19)

Gross : $776 million Attendance : 8.9 million Shows : 258

Ed Sheeran broke U2’s record in August 2019 and held it for more than three years. Across six continents, Sheeran sold nearly nine million tickets, still more than any other run in Boxscore history. Sheeran’s tour is one of just a few in the all-time top 10 that was propelled by new music, launching while “Shape of You” remained atop the Billboard Hot 100, and running through the releases of ÷ (Divide) and No.6 Collaborations Project and lengthy chart runs of “Perfect” and “I Don’t Care,” with Justin Bieber.

Elton John - Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2018-20, 2022-23)

Gross : $939.1 million Attendance : 6 million Shows : 330

With eight shows in Australia and New Zealand in January 2023, Elton John officially secured the highest-grossing tour of all time . And with 49 final arena shows in Europe, the five-year farewell tour has come to a close, extending his lead over Sheeran, U2 and literally everyone else by more than $150 million. He began in arenas before the pandemic and graduated to global stadiums after, accelerating the tour’s rise from a top 20 contender to the all-time champ — a milestone Billboard commemorated in June with an award to John in a garden party at Windsor. While on tour, John’s career earnings have grown to $1.98 billion, making him the highest-grossing solo artist of all time.

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Aminé Concert Review: ‘Best Tour Ever’ In The House Of Blues

On March 4, Portland rapper Aminé dropped by the House of Blues as a pit stop on his “Best Tour Ever.” The tour promotes his latest album, “TwoPointFive,” that dropped last November as a sequel to his sophomore album “OnePointFive.” Donning his signature colorful beanie and graphic t-shirt, Aminé’s sunny personality radiated on stage as he vibed with the Boston crowd.

The stage featured a backdrop of various mementos dear to the rapper: the lifesize corner store Alberta’s Market, Rose Garden, a larger-than-life statue of Ollie (Aminé’s dog), the silhouette of Portland’s Broadway Bridge, and his signature Woodland Park sign featured in previous music videos like “ Shimmy .” With this miniature town at his back, Aminé’s “Best Tour Ever” started off with the bangers “Mad Funny Freestyle” and “meant2b.” These upbeat bops had the crowd grooving side to side, the thrumming bass keeping tempo for Aminé’s own funky dance moves. Snippets of Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” sounded after “Spice Girls,” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” after “REDMERCEDES,” highlighting the charismatic quality of Aminé’s performance.

Songs like “Shimmy” and “Ratchet Saturn Girl” had the crowd going wild, mosh pits and chants spurring on the audience while fueling Aminé’s performance. His stage presence multiplied when he belted out lyrics like “I got verses on verses, man, this shit could go all day.” However, the addition of mellow R&B jams like “OKWME” and “Compensating” balanced out the energy, preventing the show from getting over-hyped. He took time during these tender interludes to share some candid stories with his eager fans. Like the detailed narrative of his tour pants: how he wears them as his lucky charm for every show, adding in patches that represent each city along the tour. At this time — and throughout much of the concert — fans in the crowd could be heard screaming how attractive they thought Aminé was. In a call-and-response fashion, Aminé would send a cheeky smile and sing “And if you ain’t got a man, fuck with me boo.” This reciprocal love was evident in songs like “Cantu,” where Aminé stripped back the acoustics to sing the lyrics “Cause I might wanna let my hair down” acapella for his Bostonian fans.

These pivotal moments not only enriched the crowd interaction, but made for a more intimate and authentic performance.

The setlist was an amalgamation of chart-toppers and high-energy bops from Aminé’s entire discography — but the key moments in the concert were the lowkey vibes. The transition from an a capella rendition of “Caroline” to the energetic bars in “Reel It in” was smooth and natural, mimicking the parallel flows of the two albums in succession. Aminé slowed it down on the verse where his debut album “Good for You’”s “Caroline” was meant to be quick-paced, only to then speed it back up to the chorus of “Reel It In” from 2018’s “OnePointFive.” This stylistic finesse not only showed off the impressive narrative in Aminé’s discography, but also served to wind up the audience and to end the night on a high.

—Staff writer Alisa S. Regassa can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @alisaregassa.

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Entertainment News

The 21 biggest concert tours of all-time

You need two things to have one of the most successful and biggest concert tours of all time is pretty simple. First, your musical act needs to be an extremely recognizable name, preferably with decades of staying power. Secondly, you need to be on the road a lot. Sometimes for years on end. To prove this simple formula, we've compiled the 21 most successful touring acts of all time.

U2's 360° Tour was the most-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time. The rock band toured for just over two years, from June 2009 until July 2011, in support of their album "No Line On the Horizon," performing 110 times in that time span. More than 7.2 million people attended the shows, and the tour generated more than $736 million in ticket sales. 

The Rolling Stones

U2 may hold the top spot, but no other artist or band has had more successful tours than the Rolling Stones. The Stones' Voodoo Lounge Tour (1994-1995) was the second most-attended of all-time (more than 6.2 million people), and their A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-2007) is the second highest grossing of all time, raking in $558 million. 

One Direction

Pretty much every artist or band on this list has outlasted One Direction, but that doesn't mean the former boy band didn't do some serious touring. More than 3.4 million directioneers attended the group's 2014 Where We Are Tour, which is the highest grossing tour by a vocal group to date (it grossed $290 million). 

More than 3.5 million people came out to see the Material Girl during her Sticky & Sweet Tour, which went from August 2008 until September 2009. At $408 million in ticket sales, it is the highest grossing tour by a solo female artist to date. 

Queen Bey might not be putting up Madonna numbers, but she's no slouch. More than 2.24 million members of the Beyhive came out in support of her 2016 The Formation World Tour. The tour grossed more than $256 million, an impressive feat given that there were only 49 total stops (for comparison, just about every other tour on this list had 100+ stops). 

Legendary rock band AC/DC's Black Ice World Tour, which lasted from October 2008 until June 2010, should have been called the "Highway to (a) Hell (of a lot of money)." It made $441 million over 167 shows. 

Roger Waters

Money, it's a gas. Just ask Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd frontman, whose The Wall Live Tour, which went on from September 2010 until September 2013, grossed $458 million. That's enough for the third highest grossing tour of all time, and the highest by a solo male artist. It's also enough to buy him a football team.  

Garth Brooks

Country star Garth Brooks current world tour, which began in March 2014, already holds the record for highest number of shows on a given tour. It's currently at over 300 shows, and it doesn't seem like he'll stop any time soon. It helps to have friends in low places, apparently.

In May 2007, The Police kicked off their Reunion Tour in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the band forming. By the time they finished in August 2008, they had performed 156 shows for 3.3 million people. In total, the tour grossed $362 million. 

Coldplay's A Head Full Of Dreams Tour, which began in March 2016, isn't scheduled to be over until October 2017. The tour has already grossed $308 million, enough to make it the 11th highest grossing tour to date. It'll undoubtedly move up on that list. 

Bon Jovi's 2013 Because We Can Tour, which ran from February until December, was named after a single off of their "What About Now" album. It should also be seen as a declarative statement about how easily they can make money by performing. The band performed for more than 2.67 million people over the course of 102 shows, raking in $259.5 million in ticket sales. 

Celine Dion

Near, far, wherever they are, Celine Dion fans will come out in full force to watch the Canadian songstress perform. For proof, look no further than her 2008-2009 Taking Chances World Tour, which saw an attendance of 2.2 million people. 

Paul McCartney

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney's Out There Tour, which lasted from May 2013 until October 2015, got by with a little help from 1.9 million friends. The tour grossed more than $275 million. 

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

There is a reason why people call him "The Boss." Bruce Springsteen has been one of the biggest touring musicians for quite some time now. His most successful tour to date was the Wrecking Ball World Tour, which ran from March 2012 until September 2013. Cumulatively, 3.65 million people went to go see Springsteen do the E Street Shuffle for a total gross of $355.6 million, making it the eighth biggest tour of all time.  

Michael Jackson

He was the King of Pop—and still is, despite not being alive anymore. Of course the most consequential pop artist of our time had several high-earning world tours. The biggest of them all was the HIStory World Tour, which lasted from September 1996 until October 1997. In that time, Michael Jackson did 82 total shows for approximately 4.5 million people. 

If Cher could turn back time, would she redo her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour over again? It'd be extremely tough. The tour ended up being 325 total shows, and it lasted from June 2002 until April 2005. 

Pink Floyd wasn't exactly hurting after Roger Waters (who's higher on this list) left the band. Their Momentary Lapse of Reason World Tour, the first without Waters, was the highest grossing tour of the 1980s. An estimated 4.25 million people saw the prog rock icons perform between September 1987 until June 1990. The tour sold $135 million in ticket sales, which in today's dollars would be $260.8 million. 

New Kids On The Block

At one point in time, the New Kids On The Block, the grandaddy of all boy bands (other than the Beatles, of course), were the biggest act in the world. Specifically, that time was between April 1990 and September 1991, when they were on the road for their Magic Summer Tour. Close to 3.3 million came out to see whether NKOTB truly had the right stuff. 

David Bowie

The Thin White Duke embarked on his Glass Spider Tour between May and October 1987. The tour was largely panned because critics thought it was too pretentious (there was spoken word among other non-musical acts). That didn't stop fans from going to it, though. Though the exact number is unknown, experts estimate that anywhere between two and six million people attended the tour.  

More than 2.5 million people attended Lady Gaga's The Monster Ball Tour. Between November 2009 and May 2011, Gaga performed 203 total shows worldwide. Gross ticket sales were estimated at $227.4 million. 

Drake & Future

Despite the fact that it has defined and dominated our culture pretty much since 1990s, hip hop hasn't really had that many big tours, at least not when compared to other genres like pop or rock. The most successful rap tour of all time was Drake and Future's Summer Sixteen Tour, which grossed just $84.3 million from 56 shows in 38 cities between July and October 2016. The crazy thing is that this tour didn't even crack the top ten of last year. 

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The 100 Greatest Tours of All Time

These are the tours we would've never turned down tickets to see

This isn’t a list of the best live performers or performances of all time, though, in many cases, this article might not look all that different if it was. After all, it’s not difficult to imagine, say, the Michael Jacksons and Led Zeppelins of the world (too obvious to be a spoiler) appearing near the top of both lists. Still, this is a ranking of the greatest tours of all time, and that difference should be stressed.

We attend concerts to immerse ourselves in a moment — one that can be communal, incredibly emotional, and even life-changing. Of course, as we leave the venue still intoxicated from the experience, vans, tour buses, and trailers full of equipment are already heading to the next city with the mission of creating a moment for an entirely new group of people. In that spirit, we really did our best to consider proper tours and not merely clusters of shows or residencies. In all these instances, the artist had a unifying vision for their trek, even if that vision was never putting on the same show twice.

We set out to create this daunting list with our good friends at Vivid Seats. Our goal was to highlight the greatest tours of all time while being as inclusive as possible. In other words, you won’t see more than one tour from an artist on this list; we chose instead to spread the love around in as many directions as possible.

Below, you’ll find spots 91-100. To check out the entire list , head on over to Vivid Seats . As always, we’ll save a seat for you.

–Matt Melis Editorial Director

100. OutKast – 2014 Reunion Tour (2014)

Not all iconic tours are flawless, as sometimes it’s their flaws that make them stand out. OutKast ’s reunion in 2014 to celebrate their 20th anniversary started off shakier than everyone, including André 3000 and Big Boi themselves, had hoped: technical problems sparked, the audio was too quiet, and they cut material after losing track of time. But over the course of their massive reunion tour playing at more than 40 festivals worldwide, OutKast found their footing, transforming from an underwhelming reunion set to a highlight-laden performance remembered for its stacked setlist, culture commentary via André’s custom jumpsuits, and the energy the duo still brought out of one another after all of these years. –Nina Corcoran

99. Barbra Streisand – Barbra Streisand in Concert (1993-94)

By the ‘90s, there wasn’t much this EGOT-winning star of stage, studio, and screens of all sizes hadn’t achieved. However, the one triumph that had evaded  Barbra Streisand was a successful tour. Pregnancy had cut a planned tour in the mid-‘60s down to a mere handful of shows, and stage fright had kept her away from performing ever since. It’s no surprise, then, that this long-anticipated tour set attendance records at each of its stops and resulted in a hit HBO special, a successful VHS release (later DVD), and a multi-platinum live album — not to mention several subsequent tours. Let’s face it: as Yentl, Babs, or Greg Focker’s mother, Barbra is like butter. –Matt Melis

98. Lady Gaga – Born This Way Ball (2012-13)

Billed as an “electro-metal pop-opera” with openers like Zedd and The Darkness tacked on, Lady Gaga ’s Born This Way Ball was set to be a spectacle even before she hit the road. By embracing ‘80s camp, the self-love themes of the record, and tour-specific Versace outfits, Gaga used innovative stage installations like a medieval castle and a puppeteered horse to create a world all her own through which to relay her music. More than anything else, it was a tour marked by a rigorous routine full of strenuous dance movements — moves so intense that she developed a break and labral tear of her right hip come the end, as if we couldn’t already tell Gaga gives performances her all. –Nina Corcoran

97. Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Tour (1974-75)

Few prog rock tours are as infamous as Genesis ’ jaunt in support of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway , the band’s sixth studio album and last with   Peter Gabriel  as the lead singer. Equal parts fantasy and character development about an emasculated youth, the record’s plot translated to the stage through a bizarre combination of grotesque costumes, hundreds of slides, and the largest drum kit ever used by Collins. Few things functioned as intended, be it the backdrops or the microphone pickups, which turned the tour into a legendary catastrophe-turned-spectacle. It’s so iconic that it’s routinely covered today (down to every last detail) by The Musical Box, a Genesis cover band that Gabriel himself donated instruments and set design pieces to so the tour can reach a new generation. –Nina Corcoran

96. Taylor Swift – The 1989 World Tour (2015)

If Taylor Swift is an icon who will go down in history, then the 1989 World Tour is what future generations will study to understand why. Apart from the casual 250.7 million dollars it brought in or the endless thinking pieces surrounding it, the 1989 World Tour stood out because of how Taylor Swift embraced her role as an artist intent on doing it up big while still creating a faux intimacy that fans in the nosebleed seats could enjoy. And for the final touch? Nearly every night of the tour, fans were surprised by casual guest appearances, including Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Beck, John Legend, Lorde, Mary J. Blige, Mick Jagger, St. Vincent, and more. No big deal. –Nina Corcoran

95. Tom Waits – Big Time Tour (1987)

Tom Waits had left his drunken piano lounge act long behind him by the mid-‘80s and stumbled into his alter ego of Frank O’Brien, a character he and wife Kathleen Brennan would both incorporate into his records and adapt for the stage. The Big Time shows captured those two worlds colliding. A loose narrative about Frank trying to break into show business connected a series of avant-garde performances, including the pencil-mustachioed Waits singing “Innocent When You Dream” in a bathtub and hammering on boiler room steam pipes during “16 Shells from a 30-Ought Six”. Not even when the footage got edited into the Big Time concert film did anything really make sense. However, it was a chance to see our favorite rain dog performing some of his finest material at the height of his quirky powers. –Matt Melis

94. Alanis Morissette – Can’t Not Tour (1995-96)

Oh, what a difference a few years can make. In 1991, Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette was opening on tour for Vanilla Ice and probably still best remembered in America for being one of dozens of childhood stars regularly slimed on Nickelodeon in the ‘80s. By 1995, she was touring what would become one of the biggest records of the decade, Jagged Little Pill , with the likes of fellow alt-rock stalwarts Our Lady Peace and future luminaries Radiohead opening. Looking back, those who caught Morissette’s Can’t Not Tour can safely say they saw the artist who solidified the place of women in ‘90s alternative rock truly coming into her own onstage. –Matt Melis

93. Depeche Mode – World Violation Tour (1990)

One of the most popular tours among Depeche Mode fans and electronic fans in general, the World Violation tour saw them kick off 1990 in style. The band’s synthpop was at a musical peak, as was their energy. Live videos from the tour capture what it felt like to be there, from people’s shrieking screams for the band at the start of songs to the mischievous air that hung during their stripped-down, acoustic renditions. Depeche Mode still sound strong today, but catching them during their peak in the middle of a tour fans still gush over is a bucket list for any synthpop-loving music obsessive. –Nina Corcoran

92. Florence + the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Tour (2015)

With each passing year, Florence + the Machine seem to thrive on life’s most daunting moments, and never was it more evident than during their tour in support of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Whether it was fearlessly taunting a lightning storm at Lollapalooza or lunging into the audience at indoor shows throughout the tour, Florence Welch showed the type of full-faced courage that fills the band’s music with tangible flashes of life. Watching the band onstage, it was impossible not to feel her energy transmit to onlookers, encouraging them, too, to seize as much as possible out of life in any given chance. –Nina Corcoran

91. Against Me! and Mastodon – 2007 Spring Tour (2007)

The biggest difference between looking back on remarkable tours versus remarkable concerts is what the full package includes. Of all the punk tours of the 2000s, it’s hard not to look at this 2007 trek and wish you were there. Against Me! and Mastodon announced the co-headlining tour during critical points in both bands’ careers, especially since it was just before Against Me! released their major label debut and after Mastodon made theirs. With equally beloved acts like Cursive, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and These Arms Are Snakes locked in as openers, it was a tour-de-force trip that still stands out today as the perfect storm of punk, no matter how old you would have been then. –Nina Corcoran

To check out the entire list , head on over to Vivid Seats . 

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Aminé’s “Best Tour Ever” Lives Up to Its Name

Brooks Coleman

Aminé performs “Spice Girl” in front of a raucous Moda Center crowd.

Brooks Coleman , Staff Reporter February 16, 2022

The following article includes music containing explicit content.

“I wanna make everyone feel beautiful tonight,” Aminé said. “When I say ‘You’re beautiful,’ I want everyone to say ‘I know.’”

Aminé’s dynamic set on Jan. 29 was interrupted time after time for this refrain. Whenever Aminé screamed “You’re beautiful,” thousands of voices responded, “I know.”

The tour’s merch reflected Aminé’s famed sense of humor. One shirt said “I went 2 the Best Tour Ever and it was the best tour ever.” I opted for a long sleeve that had Aminé photoshopped onto Morpheus from “The Matrix.”

The stage was spectacular. It was adorned with all sorts of iconic parts of Portland. The Alberta Market sat on the left of the stage. In the middle was the Broadway Bridge with Mount Hood in the background. Signs for the Rose Garden and Woodlawn Park were on the right — along with a massive statue of Aminé’s dog Oliver.

After two hours of waiting and an underwhelming opening from Mic Capes and Cousin Stizz, the lights dimmed, and Aminé strode out of the Alberta Market to begin the night with “Shimmy,” his lead single from his sophomore album “Limbo.” The energy from the crowd was undeniable, and you got the sense immediately that this was about to be an unforgettable night.

Aminé has always proudly represented Portland. He grew up in Northeast Portland, and graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School before dropping out of Portland State University to pursue his rap career. He has made repeated references to Woodlawn Park, including a song about the park itself, and often features Rip City landmarks during his music videos. His video for “Shimmy“ serves as a de facto tour of Portland, traveling through places such as PDX International Airport and Tryon Creek.

Aminé pulled out all the stops for his Portland homecoming. He brought out Vine star Rickey Thompson to introduce the show, to the delight of hardcore fans. Thompson lent his trademark flamboyance to Aminé’s 2018 mixtape “ ONEPOINTFIVE ” as well as his 2021 mixtape “ TWOPOINTFIVE .”

The biggest surprise of the night came when Aminé performed “ Pressure in My Palms .” When his verse came up, rapper Vince Staples strode out of the Alberta Market to rap it. Staples then performed his song “ ARE YOU WITH THAT? ” before giving Aminé a hug and bounding offstage.

Aminé has expressed his love for the Spice Girls many times, and he proved it once again. After a spectacular performance of his 2017 hit “ Spice Girl ,” he transitioned into “ Wannabe ,” the iconic 1996 Spice Girls mega-hit. 

But the night’s highlight came near the end of the concert. Aminé began playing a song that had everyone confused – until they realized it was an alternative version of his breakout single “ Caroline .” The song soon transitioned into its original beat, and everyone lost their minds.

Aminé explained that he wrote this song when he was still in college, before he dropped out. It was a truly magical and poetic way to cap off an amazing show.

As he finished up his set, Aminé thanked everyone who came to the tour. He said it was a dream come true to play the Moda Center and said that he intended to bring his Portland-inspired stage to every city.

When he walked off the stage and back through the door of the Alberta Market, everyone in the crowd knew one thing.

Portland has a superstar on its hands.

Brooks Coleman is a senior at La Salle. He has lived in the Sellwood-Moreland area of Portland his entire life. Prior to attending La Salle, Brooks...

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Aminé reveals 2022 “Best Tour Ever” dates

Aj tracey, cochise, and 454 will open the north american shows..

Last week, Portland rapper Aminé shared his latest mixtape TWOPOINTFIVE . The release, Aminé said, served as an arena for him to get a bit more experimental as he worked on his next album, the follow-up to 2020's Limbo . Of course, that doesn't mean that Aminé won't be touring behind his new mixtape. Winter 2022 will see a bunch of Aminé shows across North America for an event being billed as the “Best Tour Ever.”

You can buy tickets for the shows this Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m. local time over at ClubBanana.com . Opening for the shows will be English rapper AJ Tracey, TikTok favorite Cochise, and Gen F veteran 454 . See all the dates below.

Read Next: Kaytraminé ’s tracklist is an elite summer block party

Aminé 2022 tour dates.

1/29 - Portland, OR - Theater of The Clouds 2/4 - San Francisco, CA - Masonic Auditorium 2/5 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium 2/6 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl 2/8 - San Diego, CA - SOMA 2/9 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues 2/12 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren 2/16 - San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theatre 2/17- Austin, TX - Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater 2/19 - Dallas, TX - South Side Ballroom 2/22 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution Live 2/23 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Live 2/24 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle 2/26 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte 2/27 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz 3/1 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore 3/2 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore 3/4 - Boston, MA - House of Blues 3/5 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre 3/6 - Toronto, ONT - History 3/7 - Montreal, QUE - Mtelus 3/11 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 3/12 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues 3/13 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore 3/15 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection 3/17 - Chicago, IL - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 3/18 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave 3/19 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore 3/21 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium 3/23 - Boise, ID - Revolution Concert House 3/24 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory 3/25 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox 3/28 - Vancouver, BC - PNE Forum

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10 stages that shook the Tour de France

Procycling picks out the 10 most exciting mountain stages of the post-Merckx era at the Tour de France

With the 2020 Tour de France seemingly ready to run during the new coronavirus-affected dates of August 29 to September 20, we've looked back through the archives to find some of the most exciting stages of the race from the last half century.

Plenty of the biggest names in tour history are here, from Merckx to Hinault and Lemond, as well as a few more recent entries. Scroll down to check out ten stages that shook the Tour de France.

Procycling magazine : the best writing and photography from inside the world's toughest sport. Pick up your copy now in all good newsagents and supermarkets, or get a  Procycling subscription .

This article featured in Procycling magazine issue 232, 2017

1975, stage 15, Nice - Pra Loup

Distance: 217.5km

Climbs: Le Col St Martin, Col de la Couillole, Col des Champs, Col d’Allos, Pra-Loup

It wasn’t yet the post-Eddy Merckx era when the peloton rolled out of sea-level Nice and embarked on a steadily rising parcours which would top out at 2,250 metres at the Col d’Allos and finish at the ski station of Pra-Loup, two weeks into the 1975 Tour. In fact, the stage looked just like so many others since 1969, during which time Merckx had been unbeatable at the Tour: the Belgian, in yellow, and, by the way, attacking off the front. Merckx was never one to sit on a lead.  

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However, anybody who’d been reading the runes might have sensed that Merckx was attacking out of insecurity, not confidence. He’d built a lead of 2:20 into the Pyrenees, but Bernard Thévenet, his closest rival, had spent the Pyrenees and Massif Central pruning that lead back. 49 seconds here, 34 seconds there. By the Pra-Loup stage, the Frenchman’s deficit was only 58 seconds. 

Merckx attacked over and down the Allos, gaining two minutes by the foot of Pra-Loup. He would surely increase that lead by the top. But instead, the unthinkable happened: he cracked, and Thévenet caught and passed him with enough time to take back the full 58 seconds that separated the two, and another 58 seconds on top of that.

Merckx was fifth on the day. No disaster, but the façade of invincibility was gone forever. Thévenet attacked again the next day, over the Col d’Izoard, and Merckx simply couldn’t follow. The post-Merckx era had begun.

1984, stage 17, Grenoble - Alpe d’Huez

Distance: 151km

Climbs: Côte de St Pierre-de-Chartreuse, Col du Coq, Côte de Laffrey, Alpe d’Huez

The second half of the 151-kilometre Alpe d’Huez stage of the 1984 Tour resembled a toe-to-toe heavyweight fight, two fighters trading blows, one with a little more finesse, the other with increasing desperation.

Laurent Fignon, the defending champion, had spent the first two weeks of the Tour provocatively taking small chunks of time out of Bernard Hinault, the returning four-time winner. Fignon had won in 1983 in Hinault’s absence, and the older rider had a point to prove: that without the debilitating knee injury which kept him from the race the previous year, there was no way he’d have allowed Fignon to win the yellow jersey. But Fignon’s lead over Hinault was already two minutes by the time the 1984 Tour reached the Alps.

The Alpe d’Huez stage avoided the huge climbs to the north and east of the Alpe – the Croix de Fer and Galibier – and instead looped into the narrow, steep, shorter climbs of the Chartreuse, to the west. Hinault attacked on the Laffrey, pulling Fignon and a small group clear. Fignon counterattacked over the top, forcing Hinault to chase. When he caught Fignon, in the valley road to the Alpe, he counterattacked himself, right into a scouring headwind.

Much was made of Fignon’s reaction to Hinault’s attack. He told the press at the finish line, where he’d put almost three minutes into Hinault after catching and dropping the exhausted Breton on the Alpe, that it had made him laugh. The following year, Fignon pulled out with a knee injury while Hinault won the yellow jersey. Hinault might have permitted himself at least a smile at that.

1986, stage 13, Pau - Superbagnères

Distance: 186km

Climbs: Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, Col de Peyresourde, Superbagnères

Bernard Hinault never saw a fight he didn’t like the look of joining. And if nobody else was fighting, he’d start one anyway.

With one mountain stage down in the 1986 Tour, Hinault had his boot on the throat of the race. He’d promised to help his team-mate Greg LeMond win the yellow jersey, but his actions on the first Pyrenean stage, to Pau, were those of a rider intent on winning himself. He’d attacked with a strong companion, Pedro Delgado. Nobody behind wanted to lead LeMond up to the front, so Hinault and Delgado gained over four and a half minutes.

Hinault and LeMond’s team, La Vie Claire, was by far the strongest in the race – possibly one of the strongest teams ever to start a Tour. There was no need for Hinault to do anything after Pau except cruise round to Paris and win a record sixth Tour. But the next day he attacked, again a long way from the finish, on the descent of the Col du Tourmalet.

He gained another two minutes by the top of the Aspin, but this time, the pursuit from his rivals was committed and he was caught in Luchon, with Superbagnères still to come. Hinault cracked, and LeMond forged ahead to take back every second of the deficit he’d conceded the day before, moving from 5:25 down to within 40 seconds of his teammate. Hinault had effectively delivered a knockout blow – to himself.

1987, stage 19, Valréas – Villard-de-Lans

Distance: 185km

Climbs: Col de Tourniol, Col de la Bataille, Col de la Chau, Côte de Chalimont

Before the 1987 Tour ever became Stephen Roche versus Pedro Delgado, it was everybody versus Jean-François Bernard.

Bernard had been riding a blinder. He did a decent long time trial, got into an escape on the first Pyrenean stage and gained almost four minutes on the other GC riders, then rode strongly in the Massif Central. Next came the performance of his career: a hammering of his rivals in the Mont Ventoux time trial that put him two and a half minutes clear in the yellow jersey.

For the French public and media, a new national hero had been anointed, barely six months into the post-Bernard Hinault era. The succession had been seamless – Bernard was dead; long live Bernard. However, there’s a telling line in the eventual 1987 winner Stephen Roche’s autobiography The Agony and the Ecstasy on the younger of the two Frenchmen: “I knew I was going to have a bloody hard job to get Bernard out of the yellow jersey. It was not impossible. He was not Hinault.” Try telling that to the French public.

Bernard might or might not have gone on to win the yellow jersey if he hadn’t punctured at an extremely inopportune moment the day after Ventoux, a grippy middle-mountain stage through the Vercors. His team had sent three riders up the road, leaving him dangerously isolated, and he flatted just as Roche, along with a few others – pretty much everybody else in the final top 10 – attacked through the feed zone.

A 13-rider group, spearheaded by Roche and Delgado, ground out a minute’s lead in the face of spirited resistance from the Frenchman. But then Bernard cracked. The 4-13 he conceded to Roche by the finish was two minutes more than his eventual deficit in Paris. Bernard was not Hinault, and it had taken the Tour one day to find out.

1989, stage 18: Bourg-d’Oisans – Villard-de-Lans

Distance: 91.5km

Climbs: Côte de Laffrey, Côte de St-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, Villard-de-Lans Côte 2000

The recent fad of short, sharp mountain stages is not a new thing. While the postwar Tours, right up to the 2000s, were notable for the epic mountain stages which gave the race its iconography, sometimes the organisers put in a shorter one.

If the 18th stage of the 1989 Tour was anything to go by, they should have embraced the concept as a regular occurrence much sooner. In a race where the lead swung between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon, the 91.5km Villard-de-Lans stage was a defining one. LeMond won the long early time trial; Fignon gained at Superbagnères; LeMond took the lead back in the Orcières-Merlette TT and squeezed a little more time out of Fignon in Briançon; the Frenchman struck back on Alpe d’Huez. It seemed that whenever one was strong, the other weakened in turn.

Fignon’s lead after the Alpe was 26 seconds. Not enough against such a strong time triallist as LeMond, with a final day TT in Paris. So he attacked, alone, on the fast, short stage to Villard-de-Lans. LeMond, and the other contenders, were stunned into non-cooperation, before PDM riders Steven Rooks and Gert-Jan Theunisse, who didn’t have a good reason to work, decided to at least regulate Fignon’s lead.

The common wisdom was that Tours were won in the epic mountain stages, but here was Fignon, attacking alone, when everybody would have been comparatively fresh. By the finish, he’d gained 24s. Even against such a strong time triallist as LeMond, 50 seconds should have been enough, but the 1989 Tour was that kind of race.

1990, stage 13: Villard-de-Lans – St-Etienne

Distance: 149km

Climbs: Col de la Croix de Chaubouret

Getting a rider into a break, the wisdom goes, means that your team doesn’t have to chase. So when Z rider Ronan Pensec slipped into the first break of the 1990 Tour, along with Claudio Chiappucci, Frans Maassen and Steve Bauer, Pensec’s leader Greg LeMond could sit back and let his rivals work out how to reduce their eventual 10-minute deficit. Pensec, after all, had the best climbing pedigree of the four, and if that deficit wasn’t reduced, he would win.

It took two Alpine stages and an uphill time trial to work out that Chiappucci was actually the strongest of the four. When Pensec cracked in the TT and conceded 3:50, it left Chiappucci in yellow, with LeMond in fourth, 7:27 in arrears, and the Alps wasted.

In the Massif Central, on a shortish stage to St Etienne, Z finally got their tactical act together. They sent Pensec up the road in an early attack, forcing Chiappucci and his Carrera team to chase. The effort killed them, and once Pensec was caught, LeMond went on the attack, on the Col de la Croix de Chaubouret above St-Etienne. Chiappucci couldn’t follow, and he shipped five minutes.

It would be another week before LeMond finally took yellow, but while the 1990 Tour is remembered for Chiappucci’s stout defence of the lead in the Pyrenees, his race was lost in a single day in the Massif Central.

1991, stage 13: Jaca – Val Louron

Distance: 232km

Climbs: Col du Pourtalet, Col d’Aubisque, Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, Val Louron

To paraphrase the former prime minister Gordon Brown, there are two types of pro cyclist: those whose careers slide, and those who get out in time. For Merckx at Pra-Loup and Hinault at Superbagnères, read Greg LeMond at Val Louron.

LeMond was the hot favourite for the 1991 Tour, just as Merckx had been in 1975, and as Hinault had been on the morning of the Superbagnères stage in 1986. He had already led the race, gaining time with audacious attacks on an early flat stage, and in the long time trial. He’d ceded the yellow jersey to long-range escapee Luc Leblanc the day before Val Louron, but he still looked like the eventual winner.

However, it was only when Miguel Indurain did something that rarely happened before or after and attacked on a mountain stage that LeMond started to look shaky. Indurain tore away on the descent of the Tourmalet, hooked up with Claudio Chiappucci, and the pair simply rode away from the race over the final two climbs. LeMond blew, losing a lot of time, and, more fatally, the aura of invincibility he’d built up in winning the last two Tours.

The stage was carnage, with only three more riders within six minutes of the Chiappucci and Indurain tandem. The gaps were race defining and massive, and ushered in a new era whose tactics are still dominant now – a single hammer-blow, followed by catenaccio. The system was developed by Indurain, adopted by Armstrong and perfected by Team Sky.

1998, stage 15: Grenoble – Les Deux Alpes

Distance: 189km

Climbs: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Les Deux Alpes

What better symbolism for one of the most notorious stages in modern Tour history than the fact that it took place under black stormclouds, with exhausted and sodden cyclists dimly silhouetted in chiaroscuro by the dirty lamplight of the race vehicles behind?

Marco Pantani went into the hardest stage of the 1998 race three minutes behind defending champion Jan Ullrich. It had been a dreadful Tour. How could a race beleaguered by the Festina scandal not be? The charade went on, as teams were ejected from or left the race, or lost riders to police inquiries. Ullrich had sullenly ground out a seemingly race-winning lead, but it was hard to care.

Did Pantani’s demolition of Ullrich with his spectacular long-range attack through the storm on the Col du Galibier lift the Tour? Or did it just underline the structural problems that existed within the race? A stage which stood comparison with the greatest battles in the Tour’s history brought into stark relief the questions fans have been asking ever since – is any of this actually real?

2008, stage 17: Embrun – Alpe d’Huez

Distance: 210.5km

Climbs: Côte de Ste-Marguerite, Col du Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer, Alpe d’Huez

Carlos Sastre, the winner of the 2008 Tour, never captured the imagination of fans or other cyclists in the way that other Tour winners did. The rumour went that Lance Armstrong, lounging shirtlessly in retirement on his couch watching the Spaniard win the race, was thus emboldened to make his comeback the following year. (He duly beat Sastre at the 2009 Tour, but it’s uncertain whether it was worth it for the ensuing disgrace.)

Sastre won an open Tour. It was argued that the oft-cited cleaning up of the peloton which may have been starting to happen by then improved the racing. On the other hand, if Alberto Contador had been allowed to start following his Astana team’s own doping travails, it could have been very one-sided.

The race was supremely close throughout, an underrated classic. Going into the final mountain stage at the Alpe, Sastre’s CSC team-mate Fränk Schleck was in yellow, with two riders within 10 seconds, Sastre at 49 seconds and Denis Menchov, at 1:13.

CSC’s problem was that Schleck couldn’t time trial well enough to beat Cadel Evans, at that point eight seconds behind, in the final TT. Schleck’s problem was that the slight figure disappearing into the distance on Alpe d’Huez was his team-mate Sastre.

The Spaniard launched the race-defining attack at the base of the climb, and continued gaining time to the finish, where he had two minutes on his pursuers. Schleck, his hands tied, was forced to grumpily mark Evans up the cimb. Nowhere was the old cliché about cycling being a team sport for individuals any more better illustrated than in Sastre’s Tour-winning attack on the Alpe.

2011, stage 19: Modane – Alpe d’Huez

Distance: 109.5km

Climbs: Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Alpe d'Huez

The 2011 Tour was a slow-burner. Through the first two weeks not much happened in the GC, while Thomas Voeckler surfed a wave of goodwill by wearing yellow after gaining time in a break. The favourites rode cagily through the Pyrenees, with deadlock at Luz Ardiden and Plateau de Beille.

Into the Alps, only a couple of corkscrew descents off small climbs started to create gaps.

The race is famous for Andy Schleck's attack on the stage to the Col du Galibier. Frustrated with his inability to gain time and with his rivals' conservatism, he went on a successful long-range attack, gaining over two minutes on eventual winner Cadel Evans.

But it was the next stage, to Alpe d'Huez, another short, sharp day in the mountains, that detonated the race. Alberto Contador, frustrated with his lack of form, attacked almost immediately, on the Col du Télégraphe. He drew out Schleck and Voeckler, while the race split to pieces behind them.

After almost three weeks of conservative racing, the favourites had attacked inside the first 15 kilometres. Schleck and Contador were chased down on the long descent of the Col du Lautaret, before an all-against-all bar brawl broke out on Alpe d'Huez between Contador, Samuel Sánchez and Pierre Rolland with Rolland taking the honours. Schleck and Evans fought each other to a standstill, while Voeckler battled all the way to fourth place overall. The race had saved the best until last.

How did we choose?

With great difficulty, is the answer. Even applying a cut-off of 1975 (the post-Merckx era), our shortlist was 38 stages long, and we left some crackers on the cutting-room floor even at this point. We limited the selection to no more than one per Tour, not an easy matter in years like 1987 and 1989, when the fortunes of the protagonists ebbed and flowed, day after day.

We also eliminated, in general, some of the great individual and dominant performances. As brilliant as some individual rides have been, we tried to focus on the days when the narrative was twisted, or turned, in some way. Unpredictability is the essence of exciting sport, and these 10 days all demonstrate that, in one way or another.

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Edward Pickering is Procycling magazine's editor. He graduated in French and Art History from Leeds University and spent three years teaching English in Japan before returning to do a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism at Harlow College, Essex. He did a two-week internship at Cycling Weekly in late 2001 and didn't leave until 11 years later, by which time he was Cycle Sport magazine's deputy editor. After two years as a freelance writer, he joined Procycling as editor in 2015. He is the author of The Race Against Time , The Yellow Jersey Club and Ronde , and he spends his spare time running, playing the piano and playing taiko drums. 

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By Rob Sheffield

Rob Sheffield

“Jersey, welcome to the Eras Tour!” Taylor Swift yelled on Friday night. “There is one thing that I daydream about with the childlike enthusiasm of a hundred birthday parties, and that is MetLife Stadium Night 1.” That gets the mood about right. She spent this weekend at her long-awaited MetLife Stadium shows in New Jersey destroying the hearts and lungs of 83,000 of the planet’s most godforsaken messes. All three shows were chaotic jubilation, full of songs we’ve waited years to sing. And Taylor missed this more than any of us. 

This weekend I spent three consecutive nights at these shows, singing and weeping and suffering and agonizing through an emotional epic Tay-pocalypse every night. But it feels brutal that it’s over so soon. Nobody wanted it to stop. Not even Taylor, who paused on Sunday night at her piano during “Champagne Problems” to rave, “If you think I’m just coasting along thinking this is normal, I can assure you this is not the case. This is extraordinary.”

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The communal vibe is always intense at a Swift show, but never more than at this one. I was in the Night 1 parking lot about 10 minutes before someone I’d never met gave me a BETTY’S CARDIGAN friendship bracelet that I’m still wearing right now. I brought extra packs of pocket tissues, which came in handy when the Fearless interlude inspired a few meltdowns in my row Sunday night. When Taylor began the Evermore section into “Tis the Damn Season,” the security guy came over and said, “You the guy with the tissues?” Another couple of fans were having tear-duct emergencies, sobbing to me, “I really love this album!” ONLY at a Taylor show. 

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Over the show, she celebrates every part of her career, except her 2006 country debut, which surprisingly doesn’t even make a token appearance, though she’s done some of the songs as acoustic one-offs. (There’s no other career where such a great debut could turn out to be Not Era Enough.) Some of the eras turned into full-blown dance parties, like 1989 , Reputation , and Midnights . Fearless was the one era where she flashed her early twangy side — she made such a statement by stepping out on the catwalk after the first verse for a triumphant power twirl. It was pandemonium when she introduced “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story” by asking, “Jersey, are you ready to go back to high school with me?” 

By the time she got to the Folklore era, it was already a few hours into the show, but her emotional brutality never let up — honestly, the worst thing that she ever did was what she did to us. She sang “The One” on the roof of a mossy cottage — the line that blows up into a real audience screamer is “You meet some woman on the internet and taaaaake her hooome .” She did just the peak of “Illicit Affairs,” the “don’t call me kid” chant — a song about sordid meetings in parking lots hit hard coming an hour after “Fearless,” a very different song about a couple in a parking lot, but maybe the same girl a few years down the line. So many of the songs felt extra cathartic live, since virtually all of us in the crowd learned to sing these songs in a moment of extreme solitude and isolation. She did “Betty,” “Cardigan,” “My Tears Ricochet,” and the unstoppable “August,” pouncing on that final “get in the car!” Also, it wouldn’t be Tay’s style to forget that MetLife Stadium is literally behind a mall .

She slips acoustic surprise songs into the set list every night, one on guitar and one alone with her piano. On Friday night, she did “Getaway Car” (with Jersey boy Jack Antonoff) and “Maroon.” On Saturday, it was a pair of New York love songs, “Holy Ground” and “False God.” But the peaks were Sunday night, when she did a stripped-down “Welcome to New York,” leaning hard on the line that people chose to overlook in 2014 — “You can want who you want/Boys and boys and girls and girls.” Then she did a devastating “Clean” on piano. Her enthusiasm spilled over with quips like “You guys always give 113 per cent” or “You will get a treat for that!” Early on Friday night, she declared, “You guys are historically a great crowd. Do you think that you want to continue that tradition?” When the fans roared, she replied, “I was hoping you would say that. In case you said no, I was going to just ditch this plan completely.”

“All Too Well (Ten Minute Version)” was the coup de grace, filling up the enormous space with the sound of just Taylor and her thousands of confidantes. It couldn’t help but evoke the moment when she sang it the first time she played MetLife Stadium — 10 summers ago, in July 2013. That night, it already seemed incredibly to think of how far she’d come so fast. But 10 ears later, hearing “All Too Well” in that same venue, it seemed to sum up everywhere she’s traveled in those past 10 years. Like the rest of the Eras Tour, it was a celebration of all the holy ground she and her audience has covered.

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At one point on Sunday night, during the Midnights finale, I heard voices and thought the security guard near me was arguing with a fan. It turned out they were just trading friendship bracelets. It’s THAT kind of show. That’s the world this woman and only this woman creates, on an epic scale, night after night. There’s no experience in music like being part of that world Taylor Swift creates for a few hours. And there’s no way not to feel joyful about taking it all with you when you leave. 

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Show Review: Aminé’s Best Tour Ever lives up to the hype in Phoenix

• February 15, 2022

He doesn’t visit the Valley often, but when Aminé comes to town, the place sells out. The Best Tour Ever packed The Van Buren in downtown Phoenix on Saturday and absolutely lived up to its name.

Opening the show was energetic and charismatic rapper Cochise with a quick but memorable set. The young emcee makes music without genre, drawing from many areas of inspiration for his free-spirited hip hop. He had the sold out room in the palm of his hand, bounding across the stage while the audience danced, jumped and lit the venue with only the lights from their phones. The crowd was warmed up and ready to turn up as Aminé took the stage.

The Best Tour Ever also had the best setup ever- as Aminé explained partway through the night, he chose landmarks from his hometown like the local chicken spot, Woodlawn Park and a towering model of his adorable pup to decorate the stage. The audience was transported to his Portland suburb as Aminé blasted through a nearly 30-song setlist of all the bangers from his various projects. 

The room was pressed in and sweating, singing (nearly) all the words to “Yellow”, “Blackjack” and “Heebiejeebies” to name a few favorites on the list. Aminé took plenty of time to interact with the room, bringing a fan onstage to sign the Arizona patch on his tour jeans and encouraging people to sing as loud as possible all night long. From the front row to the mezzanine, fans bounced along till the closers- “Spice Girl” always gets a wild reaction from longtime supporters and Saturday went properly crazy.

Aminé’s touring absence was worth the wait and it’ll be a long time before Phoenix forgets such a crazy rager of a party. Musically, he hasn’t missed a beat in all of his work and his next endeavor will hopefully bring him back to Arizona and the arms of another sold out room.

Check out more pictures from the show!

Story and photos by Olivia Khiel

Olivia Khiel

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Average setlist for tour: Best Tour Ever

Note: only considered 18 of 43 setlists (ignored empty and strikingly short setlists)

• Mad Funny Freestyle Play Video
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• Pressure in My Palms Play Video
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How a Travel Agent Helped Turn My Family Vacation in Vietnam Into a Spectacular Trip

About two-thirds of the way through our three-week-long trip, I realized why I was having the best trip ever: I didn’t have to make any decisions.

Ariel Frager/Travel + Leisure

I didn’t mean to hire a Vietnamese travel agency to plan our three-week family adventure. In fact, when the agency asked if they could create an itinerary for our trip to Vietnam beyond a single tour, I scoffed.

"No way, I always make my own arrangements,” I thought.

But I found myself agreeing anyway, curious to see what they thought an American family would like to do while visiting Vietnam. I considered taking their ideas and booking everything on my own, but when I saw the itinerary for the bespoke tour featuring private drivers and tour guides, visits to locals-only spots, and an all-inclusive price shockingly low to my North American wallet, they were hired. 

When I was initially beginning to plan a family trip to Vietnam, I texted my friend Andrea Fleming. Fleming, who lives in Hanoi and is a school counselor at the international school there, immediately replied with a 10-minute-long voice memo, emphatically telling me in February that I had to book our June cruise in Ha Long Bay immediately because the ships would sell out. She recommended Blue Asia Tours, the agency that all the local international teachers use for their travels. When I sent her the proposed itinerary for our entire trip before committing to it, Andrea reassured me that the price was fair and that we would see more of the country in three weeks than she had after living there for three years. 

Ariel Frager/Travel + Leisure

Between the time I put down the deposit and our flights, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself since our trip was already planned. I am fully aware of my control issues, so willingly giving up my power to direct our trip took restraint I didn’t know I had. 

My email correspondence with Quang Hòa, the owner of Blue Asia Tours, refined our itinerary. We wanted to trek through the highlands of Sapa, so Quang, who insisted I call him Mr. Lucas, added a few days in the far north. After talking to a friend who had honeymooned in Vietnam, we traded our time at party-central Nha Trang beach for the more family-friendly Phu Quoc, a Vietnamese island in the Gulf of Thailand. I wanted to learn more about the Vietnam War, so we added tours of the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi tunnels in the south. Co-creating the trip with Blue Asia helped ease some of my anxiety. 

Immediately after the last day of school, our family of three — me, my husband, and our 11-year-old son — landed in steamy, humid Hanoi. Slightly travel-delirious after 24 hours in motion, we stumbled out of the airport to find a well-dressed driver holding a sign with my name. I felt like a rock star. The driver grabbed our bags and whisked us through the moped-clogged city traffic to our four-star accommodations in the Old Quarter. Immediately upon connecting to Wi-Fi, my WhatsApp pinged, and our liaison, Hồng Nguyễn from Blue Asia, welcomed us to Vietnam and asked to meet with us to review the itinerary later that afternoon.

After quick showers, we walked through the Old Quarter. We felt the buzzy energy of the 5.2 million-strong population zipping through the busy streets. Introducing our son to Asia was a major impetus for our trip. He is a well-traveled kid, and I figured the summer before sixth grade was a perfect time for him to experience a culture very different than our own.

While he was excited to be there, my mama-radar told me that food was imperative. Our tour hadn’t started yet, so we were on our own for lunch. It was so hot, and we were all tired and just couldn’t decide where to eat. The bickering started slowly as we read menus, and though we were beckoned by plenty of servers, we just couldn’t decide. Finally, we noticed a cơm gà hải nam' shop filled with local diners. We were familiar with the traditional chicken and rice dish, and our crankiness lessened with each bite. Our intrepid little family returned to the hotel just in time to meet Hồng, whose name in English translates to Rosie.

I shared with Rosie that when I first saw our packed-day itinerary, I was a bit worried we would be too busy to fully enjoy Vietnam. Rosie assured me we would have a great time and said I could text her anytime.

I didn’t know what to expect from our trip. I had traveled in Southeast Asia before, but the nuances of understanding Vietnam after the American War (as the Vietnamese call it) and now the post-pandemic era were yet to be resolved. As I settled into the rhythm of being on the road, I found myself relaxing in the process of being cared for. By not consulting my phone all the time about what we should do next, I was more fully present for each delicious moment. 

My son and I trekked through the rice fields in the northern highland region, my husband sidelined by a short-lived bout of food poisoning. Our H’mong guide Sung, a member of one of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam who the agency had hired to teach us about her culture while introducing us to her homeland in the Hoang Lien Son mountains, nimbly guided us through steep and muddy terrain amid torrential rainstorms. I stopped frequently on our seven-mile hike, my jaw dropping as I drank in the beauty and precision of the terraced rice fields.

When we finally arrived at our homestay in the mountain village, my husband was waiting for us. He said the smiles on our faces, despite being drenched, lit up the rain-soaked sky.

As we followed the well-worn traveler's path from the North to the South, we did both heavily touristy activities, like taking in a water puppet show in Hanoi and setting free candle wishes on Thu Bon River in Hoi An, and less trendy things like mud bathing in a pitch-black cave in Phong Nha National Park. Hangry-fueled intra-family squabbling ceased because so many meals were included in our tour; no decisions were required. Private drivers minded our luggage on travel days that included en-route tours, complete with English-speaking guides. One Sunday, as we traveled from the imperial city of Hue to Hoi An, our driver brought us to Dream Spring, a locally known swimming hole. We were grateful to share the crystal-clear waters and secret Sunday picnic spot with the local families.

About two-thirds of the way through our trip, as the three of us were feasting on yet another tasty lunch, I realized why I was having the best trip ever: I didn’t have to make any decisions. Rosie texted me what time we had to meet our driver in the lobby every morning, and away we went. I didn’t have to do anything. No phone calls, no emails, no checking the status of our reservations. All we had to do was show up in our hotel lobby on time. We just flowed through Vietnam, trusting Blue Asia and enjoying the moments rather than controlling them. It turns out that not having to make any decisions was the best travel decision I have ever made.

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Queen Elizabeth II's 29 best royal tour moments

Posted: June 27, 2024 | Last updated: June 27, 2024

The late Queen went on countless tours in her lifetime; we look back on some of the most significant ones

The late Queen Elizabeth II arguably broke the mould when it came to royal tours abroad. Though such visits are commonplace among the royal family nowadays, the late monarch was the first Queen to ever travel the world so extensively in an official capacity, thanks to the serious advancements in travel during her reign.

This means that Elizabeth travelled to more countries abroad in an official capacity than any other royal Queen (or King) before her – in fact, it’s reported that the Queen undertook more than 200 royal visits abroad during her 70-year reign, visiting almost all of the countries in the Commonwealth at least once, and many of them numerous times.

To celebrate her many royal visits, we take a look at Queen Elizabeth's best tour moments ever. These are some of the Queen’s best royal tour moments from across the decades.

Her first Commonwealth tour with Philip

One of the Queen's best royal tour moments was undoubtedly her biggest tour ever, which took place just a year after becoming monarch.

After her coronation in 1952, the Queen and Prince Philip embarked on a mammoth tour of all of the Commonwealth nations at that time, which took place across six months between November 1953 to May 1954. In that time, the monarch and her husband visited countless different places within the West Indies, Australasia, Asia and Africa, and covered an enormous 44,000 miles travelling.

Her tour to Kenya as a Princess - when she became Queen

The biggest moment of any of the Queen’s international tours occurred when she and Prince Philip were in the midst of a royal tour of Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The couple made the trip in place of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, who was considered to be too unwell to travel.

The royal couple were enjoying a brief respite from their duties when they stopped for a few days holiday at a quiet lodge (now known as the Treetops Hotel), around 100 miles from Nairobi.

However, it was here that the then-Princess Elizabeth learnt of father’s passing on 2nd February, meaning that she would be taking the throne at the age of just 25. Due to how remote the location was, the news of King George's passing took some time to reach Elizabeth and Philip, and it's reported that the young Princess was one of the last people within the hotel to find out about his death.

Her first royal tour to the US as monarch

In 1957, Elizabeth made her very first trip abroad to the United States as the monarch of the United Kingdom. Though she had been to America before, this was her very first trip as Queen.

During her four-day October visit, she and Prince Philip met the President at the time, Dwight D Eisenhower, at the White House, before making various visits to organisations within Washington DC. She and the Duke of Edinburgh also paid a visit to Williamsburg, Virginia, and New York City, where there was a large parade for the royals on the streets.

This wasn’t the President and Elizabeth’s first meeting, however. President Eisenhower had actually met Elizabeth as a young girl – back when she was Princess Elizabeth – during a meeting with her father King George.

The Queen’s trip to Russia in 1994

In 1994, Queen Elizabeth II made a historic visit to Russia, marking the very first time that a UK monarch had ever visited the country. Making the trip following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Queen was hosted by Russia’s President at the time, Boris Yeltsin, who governed the country from 1991 to 1999.

During a State dinner, both Elizabeth and the President acknowledged Russia’s troubled past, with Yeltsin explaining in his speech, "For Russia, this visit is the utmost recognition that our country is on the road to democracy."

The Queen concurred, making this statement in her own speech: "You and I have spent most of our lives believing that this evening could never happen. I hope that you are as delighted as I am to be proved wrong."

Queen Elizabeth remains the only UK monarch to have visited Russia during their reign. Charles did visit the country as the Prince of Wales, taking a trip to St. Petersburg in 1994, but has not returned since becoming King.

Her final return to Malta with Philip

In 2015, Elizabeth embarked on her final royal tour abroad, returning to Malta with Prince Philip – an island they had both spent lots of time in during their marriage. While this photo looks fairly unremarkable, it's one of our favourite pictures of the late monarchs because of its back story.

At the age of 89, the Queen and 91-year-old Philip spent three days on the island during their final visit, attending the 24th CHOGM meeting – where the Queen delivered a speech praising Malta – and meeting people they had known during their time living there.

The Queen and Prince Philip spent a couple of happy years living in Malta as young newlyweds; Philip was stationed there between 1949 and 1951 as a naval officer, and it’s said to be the place where Elizabeth spent some of the most ‘normal’ years of her life, living simply as husband and wife without the pressure of their royal duties back home in the UK. So it seems very fitting that their final trip abroad together was to the place where they spent so many happy years.

Her meeting with Ronald Reagan in 1983

The Queen had a very close friendship with former President of the United States Ronald Reagan, and further bolstered their relationship during a visit to his and his wife Nancy Reagan’s California ranch in 1983, after first hosting them at Windsor Castle in 1982.

It was a visit that mixed both personal and professional, as the Queen and Prince Philip stayed in their ranch in the mountains of Santa Barbara, enjoying a few horseback riding ventures around the estate during their few days there.

During her trip to California, the Queen also toured a Los Angeles film studio, attended an official dinner in San Francisco hosted by Ronald and Nancy Reagan (where she delivered a speech), toured the Bay area in the Royal Yacht Britannia toured Yosemite, and visited Stanford University.

Her historic visit to India in 1961

Queen Elizabeth’s 1961 visit to India was a highly significant one, as it was the very first visit from a UK monarch following the end of the rule of the British Empire in the country.

The country gained independence in 1947, but prior to this, Elizabeth’s parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother were considered Emperor and Empress of India – titles which ceased to be used following the end of the Empire in India.

As such, Queen Elizabeth’s visit to India in the early 60s was significant, as it was the first time a monarch had visited without being considered as 'head' of the country. During her trip, alongside Prince Philip, she paid a visit to the Taj Mahal and to New Delhi, and attended the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. She also met with Mother Theresa, whom she presented with an honorary Order of Merit.

Her meeting with Nelson Mandela

In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, made her first official visit to South Africa as monarch – though she had visited previously in 1947, before she became Queen. The Queen was unable to take any visits to the country before the 90s, due to the ongoing apartheid there.

However, in 1995, Queen Elizabeth and Philip were invited by President Nelson Mandela to visit once again. Though the pair had met in Zimbabwe five years prior, this trip was the first time that Mandela had officially hosted the monarch. The visit was just a year after Mandela had been elected as President, so it was certainly a significant moment to see the meeting of two highly revered public figures.

Her trip to the races in 1970 in Sydney

Queen Elizabeth II indulged in one of the greatest passions in her life during a trip to Sydney, Australia, when she visited the Randwick Racecourse in April 1970 alongside Princess Anne.

She first visited the racecourse during her 1954 visit to the country, during which they named a race after her, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

During her second visit in the 70s, the horse Panvale won with 100/1 odds, and the apprentice jockey riding him, Peter Cook, won his first race as a jockey. To celebrate, the Queen presented Peter with his winning trophy, and appeared delighted at his early success in a sport she loved so much.

Riding an elephant in 1961 in India

During her 1961 trip to India following the breakdown of the British Empire, Queen Elizabeth II showed off her adventurous streak, opting to ride on top of an elephant in Jaipur.

She rode the elegantly decorated elephant within the courtyard of the royal palace, alongside Sir Man Singh, the Maharajah (Prince) of Jaipur at the time. To ensure she was dressed appropriately, the Queen is seen in the picture were a regal gold outfit. What a picture!

Her tour with Princess Anne and Prince Charles in Australia

In 1970, the Queen, Prince Philip, the then-Prince Charles and Princess Anne undertook a hugely popular tour of Australia, which coincided with the centenary of Captain James Cook’s sailing of the Australian coat in 1770.

The royal foursome drew huge crowds during the weeks-long tour, and toured around both Brisbane and Queensland whilst there, visiting the James Cook University, Green Island, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Mount Isa and many more. While they carried out many engagements as a family, they also spent some time visiting organisations on their own; the Queen and Prince Philip, for example, visited the town of Longreach without their two eldest children.

A banquet on the floor in Tuvalu

In 1982, the Queen and her husband paid a visit to the island country of Tuvalu, in the South Pacific – the country formerly known as the Ellice Islands.

The couple spent two days in Tuvalu, during which they enjoyed a feast of traditional local dishes at a banquet which saw them seated on the floor and wearing floral headpieces; a rather unusual sight for the usually very formal Queen and her husband.

During their trip, the royal couple also ceremonially installed a piece of concrete at a future Parliament building. To mark the visit, a range of commemorative stamps were issued by the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau. Since that visit, both King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales have visited Tuvalu too.

Meeting crowds in New Zealand in 1977

The Queen was seen beaming from ear-to-ear on a walkabout during an official visit to New Zealand in 1977, which was made to mark her Silver jubilee and 25 years since her accession to the throne.

The Queen was accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh for this tour – and interestingly, the schedule they undertook actually mirrored that of the tour they took in 1953-1954, when Elizabeth first came to the throne, as an homage to her 25th year on the throne.

Everywhere the pair went they were greeted with adoring crowds lining the streets, ensuring it was a special moment for the royal couple.

Her significant tour of Sudan

During a time of significant political turmoil and unrest within the country, Queen Elizabeth took the time to pay an important visit to the Republic of the Sudan in February 1965.

It was a significant move due to the unrest there at the time, which many thought might make it dangerous for the UK monarch. However, it appears the Queen gladly spent a few days there and was greeted with a warm welcome, with crowds of onlookers lining the streets to say hello.

She spent part of her time on state duties whilst there, whilst also squeezing in the chance to explore some of her interests during the trip. For example, she spent her first day at the Khartoum racecourse, before then visiting the construction of the Roseires dam. She also visited the Gezira irrigation project in Medani, which had been set up by the British government some decades earlier.

Receiving local crafts in Mexico in 1975

The Queen made two trips to Mexico during her reign, and the first took place in 1975. She toured across Yucatán, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guanajuato and Veracruz in the space of a week, and took in a whole range of sights and activities during that time.

She and Philip arrived on the royal yacht and headed straight to Mexico City. Whilst there, they had a meeting with former President Luis Echeverría and his wife, María, before heading to Oaxaca city. While there, they spent some time in the local markets being shown creations from locals. It’s even reported that they purchased a few items themselves!

Visiting a newly-unified Germany in 1990

The Queen paid a significant visit to Germany in 1990, shortly after the unification of East and West Germany as a result of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, signalling the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union, which had occupied Germany for years. East and West Germany were officially unified on October 3, 1990, and the Queen visited towards the end of that month, at the tail-end of the political unrest.

While the Queen was largely welcomed in West Germany and had visited that area on previous tours, she met with a slightly more tense reaction when she visited Dresden in former East Germany, which had experienced more of a difficult relationship with the United Kingdom.

When she poked fun at Justin Trudeau

During her 2015 trip to Malta, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, delivering a speech to everyone gathered there. Before the meeting, the monarch and various heads of the other Commonwealth countries gathered for a State dinner, during which the then newly crowned Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, made a speech introducing Her Majesty.

During his speech, he noted that he was the 12th Canadian Prime Minister the Queen had seen during her reign – a comment which prompted a hilarious response from the lady herself. She opened her speech by saying, "Thank you, Mr Prime Minister of Canada, for making me feel so old!"

Dancing in Ottawa in 1951

It was rare to see Queen Elizabeth being anything less than formal, such was her important royal role as monarch.

However, in 1951, before she was Queen, she let her hair down during a royal tour of Canada with Prince Philip; her very first visit to the country.

During a private dance event at Ottawa’s Government House in between other official duties, the then-Princess Elizabeth was seen square dancing with her husband, wearing relaxed and informal American clothing.

The event was strictly invitation only, and largely included people from the Canadian government and their guests – but the pictures are certainly a brilliant memory of a more informal Elizabeth on a royal tour. Tony Griffin, an attendee at the event, recalls that the royal couple's dancing came quite naturally. He said that they "caught on very quickly, due in part to the pair's knowledge of Highland Dancing."

Kicking off a hockey game in Slovenia

In 2008, the Queen and Prince Philip paid a visit to Central Europe, embarking on a days-long tour of Slovakia and Slovenia in October of that year.

One of the best moments was during the couple’s last day of their visit to Slovakia when they attended an ice hockey game between Guildford Flames and the Aquacity Poprad.

Not only did the monarch look chic in a hat and a coat with a faux fur lining, but she also kicked off the game by ceremonially dropping the puck, alongside Slovakia’s Prime Minister.

Visiting Finland in 1976

Queen Elizabeth II looked happy and enthusiastic on a 1976 visit to Finland - her very first visit to the country.

She was joined by Prince Philip for this tour and as ever, it was a busy one. The couple toured the country’s capital of Helsinki and also spent time strolling around a Finnish forest. Elizabeth and her husband were officially hosted by the President at the time, Urho Kekkonen, and enjoyed an official dinner at the Presidential Palace one night, and an evening at his summer residence, too.

Waving from the royal yacht in Kuwait

Prince Philip and the Queen delighted crowds in Kuwait when they visited the country in February 1979.

Though the pair arrived via plane (a Concord no less), they also had the Royal Yacht Britannia on hand as they travelled on their three-week tour of the Gulf.

One of the most iconic images of this royal tour is the pair waving from the deck of the royal yacht at the start of the tour in Kuwait. The royal yacht was also where they hosted the Emir Of Kuwait at the time, Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, for a dinner reception. This moment was historic for another reason too; it was the very first time in history that a British monarch had visited the country.

On a boat in Funafuti, in Tuvalu

On the Queen and Elizabeth’s trip to Tuvalu in October of 1982 – their first royal trip to the island nation – the couple travelled there and back in the Royal Yacht Britannia, which they also used to move around the island.

But the yacht was unable to dock in the shallow water around Tuvalu, so the couple were required to be transported from the yacht to the shore and back, giving us one of the best Queen Elizabeth tour moments ever. The Queen and Philip were transported on a fleet of canoes that had been elaborately decorated by the locals, with the monarch in one and her husband in another. What a great moment!

Drinking from a coconut in Kiribati

Philip and Elizabeth made sure to get stuck into the local culture when they visited Kiribati in the South Pacific in 1982.

It was rare to ever see the Queen (or her husband) eat or drink anything while in view of the public on royal tours, so it was quite the moment to see the royal couple enjoy a sip from a coconut as part of their welcome ceremony in Tarawa, Kiribati. The couple enjoyed their drinks as they watched some traditional dancing from locals.

A visit to the Vatican to meet the Pope

The Queen visited a total of five different popes during various royal tours across her lifetime, but she arguably had a special connection with Pope John Paul II.

One of the most significant royal tour moments of the monarch’s life was when she visited the Vatican in Rome in October 2000. The Pope and the Queen, two of the biggest figureheads of the Catholic religion, shared a private conversation before exchanging gifts in Pope John Paul II's private office in the Vatican City. Before this, she had spent time at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II back in 1980, when she also delivered a speech in front of him and members of the clergy within the room.

Relaxed in Bahrain

A brilliant image of Queen Elizabeth on one of her countless royal tours is when she was captured looking relaxed whilst leaning across a chair to talk to the Emir of Bahrain at the time, Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whilst the pair were taking in a day of horse racing and camel racing. The picture was taken during Elizabeth and Philip’s tour of the Gulf between February and March of 1979.

The image shows the monarch looking informal and engrossed in her conversation; a somewhat unusual picture of the Queen, as she was often seen in more formal positions, be it sat upright at a state dinner, or stating up for an audience with a Prime Minister.

On tour with King George, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother

One of the biggest royal tours of Queen Elizabeth II’s life was her 1947 tour alongside her parents, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and her sister Princess Margaret. It was the first time that the immediate royal family had undertaken a royal tour together as adults, and the then-Princess Elizabeth even celebrated her 21st birthday during that tour, making it a very special trip indeed.

The foursome visited an enormous 400 cities during this tour covering over 10,000 miles mostly by train. It was also the first State visit abroad from the royal family since 1939, as a result of the lack of travelling that was possible during the Second World War.

It was also on this tour that Princess Elizabeth made her now iconic speech from the grounds of Government House in Cape Town, South Africa. To mark her 21st birthday, she delivered the now world-famous line: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service."

Inspecting a guard of honour in Trinidad

On a royal tour of the Caribbean in 1996, the Queen inspected a guard of honour at the Teteron Barracks in Trinidad, a military base that formed part of Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force.

The image is strikingly similar to many taken in the UK. The Queen would often inspect UK military troops during important milestones, such as the annual Trooping the Colour celebrations.

The Queen’s visit to Trinidad & Tobago formed part of a larger, and very busy, Caribbean tour, in which she and the Duke of Edinburgh stopped in Saint Kitts & Nevis, the Bahamas, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, and many more.

Taking a photo in Sri Lanka

Though most of her life was spent in front of the camera, on the rare occasion, Queen Elizabeth II was seen taking photographs of her own during her royal tours. One such occasion was during an October 1981 trip to Sri Lanka.

During this trip, the Queen was photographed taking a snap on her Canon Sure Shot 110 camera, one of her many beloved cameras. It wasn’t clear what she was taking a photo of, but the aim of the trip – the second of three she made during her reign – was to visit the construction of Sri Lanka’s Victoria Dam, Sri Lanka’s largest hydroelectric project, which was constructed by a UK firm.

A serious fashion moment with Anne in Vienna

In 1969, the Queen, Prince Philip, and their only daughter, Princess Anne, undertook a visit to Austria. The family started their tour in Vienna, where they visited the Spanish Riding School, took in a Horse Show, and attended a glamorous Gala Reception held by the Austrian President at the time, Franz Jonas.

But arguably the highlight of the proceedings in Vienna was when Anne, the Queen and Philip hosted a Return Banquet for the Austrian President. For the special evening, both Anne and her mother coordinated brilliantly in some fantastically glamorous outfits and tiaras.

While Anne wore a seriously chic white gown and tiara, the Queen matched her daughter in a stunning green ensemble, and the glittering Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, making for an iconic fashion moment.

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A Linen Shirtdress for $29 and Jeans for $33 at Everlane’s Summer Sale

Fourth of July deals are already gearing up, and Everlane’s Summer Sale event is officially here with some of the deepest discounts we’ve ever seen from the label. From now through Monday, July 8, hundreds of warm-weather styles are up to 70 percent off. As one of the Strategist’s resident experts on clothing basics, I’ve compiled a list of the very best pieces, from wedding-guest-appropriate dresses to butt-flattering jeans and sleek leather sandals. As you shop, beware that several items below are final sale, so ‘add to cart’ carefully.

Starting off strong, I spotted this classic linen shirtdress that’s 70 percent off.

Our managing editor, Kelsie Schrader, calls this crewneck tank her “go-to office shirt” right now. She owns it in black, but you can snag it in this gray shade.

And if you prefer spaghetti straps, I found another tank made from the same lightweight Supima cotton.

Or here’s a dressier top with a charming tie-wrap closure.

When the weather finally starts to cool down, you’ll be glad you scored these jeans on sale for just $33.

Everlane’s Way-High jeans are, you guessed it, ultra-high-waisted. And because they’re made from 98 percent cotton and 2 percent elastane, they have just enough stretch.

As the name suggests, here’s an easy pair of shorts to pull on for on-the-go summer days.

If you’re looking for office-appropriate pants, I found a modern twist on regular chinos featuring wide legs, front pleats, and a removable D-ring belt.

I’m a sucker for a halter neckline, and with the added keyhole detail, I’m sold on this linen dress.

We wrote about Everlane’s first-ever collaboration with London Fashion Week fixture  Marques’ Almeida in a previous edition of Don’t Dillydally . Every piece in the collection, including this flow-y number, is made from archival fabrics.

Our fashion writer says lots of sandals are marked down right now, and these 100 percent leather slides are somehow under $100.

A little leather tote you can take on your holiday getaway.

Plenty of men’s styles are on sale, too, including this crewneck T-shirt that’s available in four other discounted colorways.

If he’s looking for more summer staples, I’d go for this breezy two-button popover. In 100 percent linen, no less.

This button-down polo is made with the brand’s cooling polyester fabric that’s designed to wick away moisture (a.k.a. no sweaty pits).

Pull-on nylon shorts that aren’t Baggies .

The big pants trend isn’t for everyone, and I still think there’s nothing wrong with a pair of easy, slim-fit jeans.

This good-looking work bag has an adjustable padded shoulder strap and can fit up to a 13-inch laptop.

The Strategist  is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about  here . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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• micro sales
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NBC Select Travel Awards 2024: The best duffels, backpacks and weekenders

At NBC Select, we spend hours researching and testing products so you can be more selective with your purchases. For our first-ever NBC Select Travel Awards, we spent months thoroughly testing numerous products covering a variety of travel categories.

We flew across the globe to Japan and Paris with suitcases , took train rides around New York City with weekenders and duffels in tow and packed bags full of packing cubes , toiletry bags and noise-canceling headphones to road trip across the East Coast. After all that testing, our editors sat down to choose products deserving of NBC Select’s stamp of approval.

Below are our award-winning duffels, weekenders and backpacks , plus information about how we evaluated each product.

SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best bags | Best duffel bags | Best backpacks | Best weekender bags

select We tested over 50 travel accessories for our first ever Travel Awards — these are our favorites

How we picked the best travel bags .

The backpack, the weekender and the duffel are all bags that need to serve multiple functions while on a trip. We fill them with whatever we can’t fit in our suitcases, throw our essentials inside them for overnight getaways and use them to carry our laptops and water bottles on planes, trains, and automobiles. They are versatile and multipurpose, making it useful to keep at least one at home when traveling. Here’s how we evaluated travel bags to find NBC Select’s 2024 Travel Award winners.

• Zippers, handles and straps : To ensure zippers glide smoothly and don’t get stuck at any point, we opened and closed each bag numerous times when it was empty and full. We also considered how strong the bags’ handles and straps were, including how they felt when we held or wore them on our bodies.
• Structure and organization : We assessed how each bag’s structure impacted our ability to pack it easily — for example, whether it stayed open while we added clothing or flopped over and whether it was too stiff to overstuff or just flexible enough. We counted how many outfits (and, if applicable, how many pairs of shoes) fit inside the bags, plus what type of organizational features they offer, including built-in dividers, pockets, and pouches.
• Comfortability : After filling our bags to the brim, we ensured they felt comfortable carrying for long and short periods. We carried them as the brand intended: on our backs or over our shoulders.
• Durability : We noted the material each bag is made from and how well it withstands being tossed around during travel. We also considered water resistance.

The best duffel bags

Best overall: calpak luka duffel.

Calpak Luka Duffel

With its spacious main compartment, exterior and interior pockets, exterior shoe compartment and trolley sleeve, this bag makes for the perfect travel and daily duffel. “I love that I can use this bag for trips as well as in my everyday life as a gym bag. I didn’t find that with the other duffels I tested, so I appreciated this,” says Zoe Malin , NBC Select associate updates editor. “The size of this bag and how lightweight it is makes it a perfect workout bag for me. I put my sneakers, a change of clothes, weights, a towel, toiletries and a water bottle inside it to go to yoga after work.”

The soft and puffy polyester bag is also durable, easy to clean and water-resistant. “I had to walk to the train in the rain with this bag and everything inside was totally dry,” says Malin. “I just wiped water off the bag in the bathroom of the train station with paper towels.”

Best large capacity: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel comes in four sizes — 40L, 55L, 70L and 100L — so you can choose the capacity that’s best for your travels. The duffel is made from 100% recycled fabrics, plus it has a durable and weather-resistant exterior.

On the inside, this spacious bag has interior pockets that are similar to a carry-on suitcase. It also closes and opens easily since the zippers glide easily, says Mili Godio , NBC Select updates editor. “The only thing I wish is that it had more pockets, especially for smaller items like my wallet and keys, but the ones it does have are super spacious.”

The best backpacks

Best overall: calpak laptop backpack.

Calpak Laptop Backpack

This Calpak backpack is great for frequent travelers looking for a large, durable bag to hold essentials of all sizes, as well as a laptop. The backpack has exterior and interior pockets, a water bottle holder and a trolley sleeve so you can slide it onto your luggage. “Calpak’s backpack has completely changed how I travel,” says Bianca Alvarez , an NBC Select associate reporter who’s a super commuter . She travels from Virginia to New York City every week for work. “I tossed my old backpacks after using this one because it makes my travel days easier,” she says.

Alvarez says storage and space are a guarantee with this bag due to its plethora of organizational features. She especially loves its interior pockets. They’re located near the top of the bag rather than the bottom, which prevents her from having to rummage through everything packed inside to find what she’s looking for.  Alvarez says the bag’s main compartment can easily fit clothes, shoes and cosmetics bags, and there’s a separate compartment for her laptop and notebooks.

Best for commuting: Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack

Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack

Dagne Dover’s Dakota Backpack is ideal for commuters, like NBC Select staff who brought it back and forth to the office. “I’ve been using this backpack for two months as my work bag and it’s been a major upgrade from my last situation,” says Rebecca Rodriguez , NBC Select editorial projects manager. The backpack has padded straps, making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and it has compartments and pockets to store whatever you’re traveling with.

Whether you’re commuting in the rain or accidentally spilled your morning coffee , no worries — this backpack will keep your items protected. “The backpack got dirty a couple of times while I used it, but the neoprene material was super easy to clean with soap and warm water,” says Rodriguez.

Best outdoors: Orvis Trekkage LT Adventure

Orvis Trekkage LT Adventure

While the Orvis Trekkage backpack is specifically designed for outdoor adventures like hiking and camping, it has features that allow you to use it in everyday life, including a laptop pocket and a hidden security pocket for valuables. The bag is made from heavy-duty recycled, water-repellent fabric, and its main pocket is lockable making it easier to protect your items while outdoors camping or just traveling. There are also expandable side pockets and a built-in hydration reservoir.

“This bag is big without looking like it belongs on the 'Amazing Race,'” says Rosalie Sparaco, NBC senior social media editor. “It has a ton of space, although it could potentially use more internal pockets since it was easy to lose stuff.” She also says the backpack is comfortable to carry thanks to its padded back panel and curved ergonomic shoulder straps. If you need extra support, you can use the bag’s adjustable sternum strap and adjustable, removable waist strap. The backpack also fits under the seat of a plane.

The best weekenders

Best overall: dagne dover landon carryall.

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall

The magic behind Dagne Dover’s Landon Carryall lies in its structure, says Malin: “It has shape, so it stays open while I’m packing and never flops over, yet it’s flexible and soft, so I can overstuff it without any issues.”  The bag is also expandable. “You can unsnap the sides of the bag to make it bigger, which is such a great option,” says Malin. “I expand it for longer trips, but leave it snapped for overnight trips when I don’t need a ton of space.”

The organizational features this bag offers vary by size. It’s available in extra small, small, medium, large and extra large options — the bigger the bag, the more extensive its organization features are. Because of this, we recommend the medium, large and extra large options for traveling (the extra small and small Carryalls function more as everyday handbags, based on our testers’ experiences). They’re designed with a laptop carrier, an exterior phone pocket, interior side pockets, a key leash and an attached zip-top pouch. The larger bags also come with a shoe bag and a detachable adjustable crossbody strap.

Best for a long weekend: July Carry All Weekender Plus

July Carry All Weekender Plus

If you need a weekender bag that fits enough clothes and toiletries to last you a few days, this one from July is exactly what you’re looking for. “I’m very impressed by how incredibly spacious this bag is,” says Ari Night, NBC Select editorial assistant. “Not only does it fit multiple outfits, but it also has segmented pockets that keep everything organized inside.” The bag’s clamshell opening allows it to lie flat making it  easier for packing, and there’s a padded pocket in the center to put delicate items like a laptop or tablet . This weekender also has a hidden internal pocket with a magnetic opening for valuables like jewelry, an exterior zip pocket and a luggage sleeve. It also  comes with a detachable adjustable shoulder strap.

Why trust NBC Select?

Products underwent an eight-week trial before being selected as our favorite in their respective categories. We utilized our editors as shopping and trying experts. Each editor was given the same criteria during the testing period to ensure each item was held to the same standards and procedures. We looked at spaciousness, durability, comfort, zippers and much more. You can read more about our process here .

What our badge means

When a product carries the NBC Select badge, you can trust that our team of editors as shopping experts and professionals vetted the item thoroughly. First and foremost, we are journalists, so we will always do our research and reporting.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

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Travis Kelce Recently Ranked as Second-Best TE Ever

Jordan foote | jun 24, 2024.

• Kansas City Chiefs

The longer he plays, the further Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce cements himself as one of the greatest to ever do it.

How great, though? That's a discussion Kelce's name gets thrown in a lot, and it isn't relative to only his current peers. These days, the 34-year-old's spot on all-time lists is just as subject to debate. In fact, one outlet took a crack at deciphering that on Monday.

In a recent article for The 33rd Team , Marcus Mosher outlined his top 10 tight ends in NFL history. Kelce took home the second spot, trailing only New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski.

"By the time Travis Kelce retires, he’ll own just about every postseason-receiving record not just for tight ends, but for all players," Mosher wrote . "He's already played 22 playoff games, recording 1,903 yards and 19 touchdowns. His postseason numbers are nuts, but his regular-season numbers are just as silly. He has already posted seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons and is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Since 2014, he's averaged more than 1,130 yards per season, four of which were with Alex Smith and not Patrick Mahomes.

"Kelce was named to the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, and his start to the 2020s has been even more impressive. The only thing holding him back from being higher on this list is his blocking, but does it even matter if you are this dominant of a receiver?"

Is a No. 2 ranking for Travis Kelce too high or too low?

From a pure receiving standpoint, there may not be a better blend of athleticism, versatility and consistency than Kelce. As Mosher mentioned, he has seven years with at least 1,000 receiving yards (and would've had an eighth-straight one had he played in one more game last year). He's a top-five historical tight end in receptions, yards and touchdowns during the regular season. In the postseason, no one has hauled in more passes than him.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in the neighborhood of 250 pounds, Kelce helped usher in a new era of tight ends. Functioning as a de facto wide receiver, he's an elite route runner and was just as lethal post-catch during his prime. The blocking concern is overblown, in this writer's opinion, as it wasn't always emphasized in the Chiefs' offense and criticisms of Kelce's prowess there are oftentimes unfair. The eye test and advanced stats —  Pro Football Focus ' grades are favorable — back that up.

Gronkowski didn't have the longevity of Kelce, but his peak was a sight to behold. Take his sophomore campaign in 2011 for example, when he hauled in 90 passes for 1,327 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns. In 16 fewer regular-season games, Gronkowski has 18 more career touchdowns than Kelce. That, combined with four All-Pro nods and four Super Bowl rings, makes his case for being the G.O.A.T. a good one.

Ultimately, it might come down to preference at this point. Choosing between Gronkowski, Kelce or even someone like Tony Gonzalez (Mosher's No. 3 tight end) is a difficult task. If Kelce isn't the greatest ever, he's on a very short list of candidates for the crown.

He also has one major element working in his favor: he isn't done yet.

Read More: Chiefs to Release DL Isaiah Buggs Amid Off-Field Troubles

JORDAN FOOTE

Jordan Foote is the deputy editor of Arrowhead Report on SI.com, covering the Kansas City Chiefs. He also hosts the One Royal Way podcast on Kansas City Sports Network. Jordan is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. Follow him on X @footenoted. 

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