VEGAS MUSIC NEWS: Chesney & Anyma Elongate Sphere Residencies, U2 Gives

Country star Kenny Chesney has added June 18, 20, and 21 to the residency he announced on Monday at the Sphere, bringing his total dates to 15. The kickoff is May 22.

Tickets go on sale for all dates at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, January 31 at KennyChesney.com, where registration for presale tickets is underway now.

Chesney’s “Sun Goes Down Tour” serenaded nearly 51K fans per stadium performance last year, second only in country music to Morgan Wallen’s 54,500.

The Sphere has a seating capacity of 17,500 for concerts, indicating that ticket demand will far outstrip supply.

“I know the rush we feel onstage in those football stadiums — with very little production, just this amazing band, the songs and truly, the people who come to see us,” Chesney said in a statement. “To put all of that in a building capable of what Sphere delivers? Wraparound sound, a roof, the fact it’s only 17,600 people. There was no way we weren’t going to do it.”

‘The End’ to Begins Again

After eight sold-out nights as the Sphere’s debut electronic music residency, Anyma‘s “The End of Genesys” production, presented by Afterlife, will return for what is being billed as its fi⁠nal four shows: February 17 and 28, and March 1 and 2.

The groundbreaking production — created and produced by Matteo Millerim, who also stars — dazzled audiences from December 27 – January 11.

Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. PT, Thursday, January 30. Registration is underway now for priority ticket access here. A presale begins at 9 a.m. PT, Wednesday, January 29, and Vibee travel packages are available on Friday, June 24 here.

UNLV Thanks U2

In yet another tidbit of Sphere-related news, U2, the globular marvel’s test pilots, donated $300K to UNLV’s College of Fine Arts. The donation will help boost education and performance opportunities for music majors at Nevada’s largest university.

Nancy Uscher, dean of UNLV’s College of Fine Arts, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she had no idea who the donation was coming from because she was contacted by an unfamiliar company.

“We had this very wonderful dialog with the people representing them, and at some point, they were pretty sure that our goals were in alignment with the kind of work they like to do in supporting education,” Uscher said. “Then we were told who they were, and we were thrilled. I feel they have cared about Las Vegas for a long time.”