Garth at Wynn was a concert residency by American country pop singer Garth Brooks at the Encore Theatre in Las Vegas. It began on December 11, 2009 and featured acoustic concerts with Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on periodic weekends until January 4, 2014. The first multi-concert live performances by Brooks since 1998, the 187-show residency predominantly featured a set list designed to show Brooks' music influences. This prompted the release of Brooks' 2013 album, Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.
Background
Following his retirement from the music industry in 2002, Garth Brooks rarely performed outside occasional events, such as a series in Kansas City and benefit concerts in Los Angeles. Despite his original intention to remain officially retired until 2014, Brooks, along with wife Trisha Yearwood, received an offer from Steve Wynn to perform a residency show at his Encore Theatre in Las Vegas. Living in Oklahoma, Brooks agreed to perform on periodic weekends, provided the inclusion of a personal airplane for quick transportation to and from the venue.[1] Over time, the concerts became more and more influence-based, consisting of a set list featuring Brooks covering his most influential songs of the past, with a brief appearance by Yearwood.[2]
Although nearly all concerts of the residency featured Brooks performing acoustically, the final four concerts included Brooks' entire band.[3] This served as a transition for Brooks, going from a one-man acoustic show to his world tour, which began in September 2014.
Concert films and broadcasts
Concerts performed on May 24, 2013 were filmed for later branding as a DVD, Garth Brooks: Live at the Wynn, included with the purchase of Brooks' album, Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.[4] Additionally, the final concert of the acoustic residency on November 29, 2013 was filmed and broadcast live on CBS.[5] Titled Garth Brooks: Live from Las Vegas, the special was broadcast as promotion for Brooks' album, and it was Brooks' first televised concert special since his 2008 Los Angeles show.[6] It attracted 9.33 million live viewers, number one in its timeslot.[7]
Critical reception
Melinda Newman of Variety praised the shows' simplicity, commenting, "Leave it to Garth Brooks to come to Las Vegas with a show that goes against everything Sin City represents: There are no big costume changes, dancing girls, elaborate sets or special effects: just a man and his guitar. And it's more than enough."[8] Joe Brown of Las Vegas Weekly commented on the closeness of the shows, stating, "each concert of Brooks' five-year engagement has the potential to feel like a one-of-a-kind occurrence, which makes the audience feel special."[9] Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal remarked, "Brooks was at his best on every level."[10]
Set list
This set list is representative of the performance on October 5, 2012. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the residency.[11]
