It’s a rare treat and an intimate affair: Paul McCartney has announced a one-night-only show at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Friday, September 26, 2025, ahead of the fall leg of his Got Back Tour. What makes this performance especially remarkable is that it will be totally phone-free.
🎙️ What to Expect
The show starts at 7:30 PM, with gates opening at 6:30 PM.
It’s an intimate venue: Santa Barbara Bowl holds about 4,500 people.
The floor will be general admission, standing room only—no seats on the floor.
🔒 Phone-Free Experience
This concert won’t allow phones or recording devices during the performance. Here’s how that’s being managed:
Upon entering, attendees will place their phones in Yondr pouches, which are locked and only reopened once the show ends.
There will be designated Phone Use Areas at the venue—fans can access their devices there, but must re-secure them in Yondr pouches before returning to the main event space.
Anyone caught using non-permitted devices during the performance will be escorted out.
🎫 Tickets & Access
This isn’t a regular ticket sale: access is through a Fair AXS lottery-registration system—fans needed to register in advance (registration closed September 16).
Only two tickets per person were allowed.
No tickets are to be sold at the venue box office.
Organizers warn against buying from resale sites, because fake tickets won’t be honored.
✍️ Significance
This will be Paul McCartney’s first performance in Santa Barbara, a special moment for both the artist and local fans.
Coming just three days before the fall leg of his Got Back Tour starts, this “warm-up” show under more intimate conditions gives fans something unique and more personal than the usual stadium dates.
🔍 Looking Ahead
Fans attending are likely to hear a mix of Beatles classics, solo hits from McCartney’s post-Beatles career, and possibly special songs or renditions given the special vibe of the evening. Given the restricted phone use, attendees may also experience a more immersive show—less distracted, more shared energy.
It’s a moment that emphasizes the music itself, the presence of performer and audience, rather than mediated through screens—a return to the raw, live concert ethos.
