The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) has announced that Grammy Award-winning artist The Weeknd will appear in concert on the Sunday evening following October’s 2016 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. He joins previously announced headliner, Taylor Swift, who is set to perform a collection of her biggest hits from the last decade on the Saturday prior to the race.
Alternative R&B revolutionary The Weeknd remains one of the most enigmatic artists of the 21st century. The multi-platinum selling trendsetter first rose to prominence with his three independent online releases in 2011 - House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence - which saw media tastemakers ranging from Complex, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone, to MTV, BET, and XXL immediately become supporters.
In 2015, The Weeknd made his move from underground internet sensation to full-blown pop star with the release of his critically-acclaimed album Beauty Behind The Madness. To follow up this success, he took the new records with him to 20 arenas across North America on The Madness 2016 Fall Tour, which was sold out before the first date and featured 22 concerts in 22 cities. Beauty Behind The Madness debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and is now certified two-times platinum.
His Austin concert will close out an incredible few days of sports and entertainment at COTA, where the world’s biggest and best motorsport series and musical talent will come together to deliver an awe-inspiring weekend of fast cars, big hits and no shortage of star power.
Taylor Swift’s Saturday performance will be her first since ending The 1989 World Tour - the most successful tour of last year. Announced earlier this year to international fanfare, the 10-time Grammy winner, singer, musician, and songwriter will perform her only concert so far in 2016 at the race weekend’s midpoint, shortly after qualifying has concluded on track.
