Paul McCartney live: PNC Arena, Raleigh – 27 May 2019

Q: Why did Paul McCartney drink water during the Raleigh show?

His voice faltered during 'Here Today'. He addressed the audience, noting fans often comment he never drinks water — calling it a rare broken rule.

Q: How many dates was the Freshen Up Tour?

39 dates from 17 September 2018 to 13 July 2019.

May 27, 2026

Paul McCartney live: PNC Arena, Raleigh – 27 May 2019

Monday 27 May 2019 | Live, Paul McCartney
PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Paul McCartney performed at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on 27 May 2019 — the 25th date of the 39-date Freshen Up Tour, which ran from September 2018 to July 2019. The concert was seen by 14,805 fans. McCartney had previously performed at the venue — then known as the RBC Center — on 7 October 2002 during the Driving World Tour.

PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, North Carolina — where Paul McCartney performed on 27 May 2019 during the Freshen Up Tour.

The Water Break

The Raleigh concert was notable for McCartney taking a rare drink of water during his set — something he almost never does in concert. His voice faltered while singing the John Lennon tribute 'Here Today'. He addressed the audience before taking the drink:

“One of the things that people say to me when they're seeing the show, 'You didn't take a drink of water the whole time.' But tonight I'm going to… A rule is broken. That's what rules are for.”

— Paul McCartney, PNC Arena, Raleigh, 27 May 2019

The Band

Paul McCartney — vocals, bass, guitar, piano
Paul 'Wix' Wickens — vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica
Brian Ray — vocals, guitar, bass
Rusty Anderson — vocals, guitar
Abe Laboriel Jr — vocals, drums
Kenji Fenton — saxophone
Mike Davis — trumpet
Paul Burton — trombone

Concert Setlist

'A Hard Day's Night'
'Junior's Farm'
'All My Loving'
'Letting Go'
'Who Cares'
'Got To Get You Into My Life'
'Come On To Me'
'Let Me Roll It'
'I've Got A Feeling'
'Let 'Em In'
'My Valentine'
'Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five'
'Maybe I'm Amazed'
'I've Just Seen A Face'
'In Spite Of All The Danger'
'From Me To You'
'Dance Tonight'
'Love Me Do'
'Blackbird'
'Here Today'
'Queenie Eye'
'Lady Madonna'
'Eleanor Rigby'
'Fuh You'
'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!'
'Something'
'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da'
'Band On The Run'
'Back In The USSR'
'Let It Be'
'Live And Let Die'
'Hey Jude'
'Birthday'
'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'
'Helter Skelter'
'Golden Slumbers'
'Carry That Weight'
'The End'

Freshen Up Tour Dates

Canada — September–October 2018

17 Sep: Videotron Centre, Quebec City · 20 Sep: Bell Centre, Montreal · 28 Sep: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg · 30 Sep: Rogers Place, Edmonton

USA — October 2018

5 Oct: Austin City Limits Music Festival · 12 Oct: Austin City Limits Music Festival

Japan — October–November 2018

31 Oct–1 Nov: Tokyo Dome · 5 Nov: Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo · 8 Nov: Nagoya Dome

Europe — November–December 2018

28 Nov: Paris La Défense Arena · 30 Nov: Royal Arena, Copenhagen · 3 Dec: Tauron Arena, Kraków · 5–6 Dec: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna · 12 Dec: Echo Arena, Liverpool · 14 Dec: SSE Hydro, Glasgow · 16 Dec: O2 Arena, London

South America — March 2019

20 Mar: Estadio Nacional, Santiago · 23 Mar: Campo Argentino de Polo, Buenos Aires · 26–27 Mar: Allianz Parque, São Paulo · 30 Mar: Estádio Couto Pereira, Curitiba

North America — May–July 2019

23 May: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans · 27 May: PNC Arena, Raleigh · 30 May: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville · 1 Jun: Rupp Arena, Lexington · 3 Jun: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne · 6 Jun: Kohl Center, Madison · 8 Jun: Lambeau Field, Green Bay · 11 Jun: TaxSlayer Center, Moline · 14 Jun: Globe Life Park, Arlington · 22 Jun: Petco Park, San Diego · 26 Jun: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix · 28–29 Jun: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · 6 Jul: BC Place, Vancouver · 10 Jul: SAP Center, San Jose · 13 Jul: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Key Facts: 27 May 2019

Venue: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Tour: Freshen Up Tour
Tour date: 25 of 39
Attendance: 14,805
Songs performed: 38
Notable moment: McCartney took a rare drink of water after his voice faltered during 'Here Today'
Previous McCartney show at venue: 7 October 2002 (as RBC Center, Driving World Tour)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Paul McCartney drink water during the Raleigh show?

His voice faltered while singing 'Here Today', his tribute to John Lennon. He addressed the audience before taking the drink, noting that fans often comment that he never drinks water during shows — calling it a rare broken rule.