GREEN GRASS OF HOME FOR SHONE . . . But how much did he eat from Indian mega concerts cake?

Shone became the first Zimbabwean artist to play before a combined audience of 223 000 fans at two shows, spread over two nights, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on January 25 and 26.

Robson Sharuko-H-Metro Editor

TRAILBLAZING hip-hop artist Shone, who was part of British rock band Coldplay’s record-breaking tour of India last month, is coming home for a Valentine show but the big question remains — how much of the BIG CASH CAKE did he eat?

Billboard says Coldplay has grossed more than US$1,14 billion on the Music of the Spheres World Tour.

Rough estimates have suggested that Coldplay’s Indian leg of the tour generated about US$1 billion in the concert economy.

These are not the usual music fans, many of whom would be drunk and can barely remember what happened at the show, because Ahmedabad is a dry city and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited.

For one to buy and consume alcohol in Ahmedabad, you have to get a special permit from the Indian Government.

And, with a population of about nine million people, Ahmedabad has only nine licenced shops which are allowed to sell alcohol under very strict conditions.

Alcohol was banned near or inside the vast Narendra Modi Stadium when Coldplay staged their concerts, where Shone was one of the supporting acts.

Shone is coming home for the NashTV Valentine Party Special at Pakare Paye Theatre in Norton on February 14. He will share the stage with the likes of NishaTs, Saintfloew, Ninethy6, Madedido and Khonangele.

It will be his first show since touring with Coldplay in the United Arab Emirates and India.

Billboard have reported that the Coldplay concerts in Ahmedabad now hold the record for the largest-ever stadium shows of the 21st century.

On the first night, on January 25, Coldplay played before 111,581 fans while 111,989 fans turned up for the second night, the following day.

Billboard said this beats the record set by George Strait who, in June last year, played to 110,905 fans at Kyle Field at Texas A&M in the United States.This remains the record for the largest stadium concert in the United States.

The Coldplay Music of the Spheres Tour started in March 2022.

A record-breaking 10.3 million tickets had been sold by December, which is also a record for a tour by a musical group.

About half of those tickets, 5,2 million, were sold in Europe where over 87 shows have been held.

The tour will also end in Europe this year.The grand finale will see Coldplay staging 10 sold out concerts at Wembley.The tour has been held in five continents before packed stadiums at each show.

There have been 1,8 million tickets sold in South America, 1,6 million tickets sold in North America, 884,000 in Asia and 848,000 in Australia.