A network of biomes in the Cornish countryside set the stage for one of The Who’s most memorable recent shows. The band have released ‘Live at Eden Project,’ a landmark live recording capturing their July 2023 performance at Cornwall’s iconic Eden Project. It’s out now, with first single “Pinball Wizard” leading the way.
The concert found founding members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey backed by the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra, fusing classic rock intensity with orchestral grandeur. Set within one of the UK’s most sustainable and visually striking venues, the show stands as a testament to both the band’s musical evolution and their enduring cultural relevance. The Eden Project’s natural acoustics and enclosed structures created a warm, detailed sonic environment with an intimacy unmatched by traditional stadium settings.
That atmosphere runs all through the recording. The Who’s “special location” shows have long been cherished by fans, and Eden ranks among the most memorable, a once-in-a-lifetime convergence of music, environment, and artistic vision. The smaller capacity fostered a deeper connection between band and audience, a sense of being inside the performance rather than watching from afar.
The setlist is one of the strongest and most focused of The Who’s orchestral period. Alongside beloved anthems like “Baba O’Riley” and “Pinball Wizard,” it digs into rarely performed gems such as “Cry If You Want,” “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,” and “The Rock,” creating a career-spanning journey that balances hits, deep cuts, and orchestral showpieces with remarkable fluidity. Lead single “Pinball Wizard” offers a powerful first glimpse, capturing the heightened emotional nuance and orchestral depth that define the full release.
‘Live at Eden Project’ is available now as a 2 CD digipak, a limited 3 LP gatefold edition pressed on recycled vinyl with no plastic shrink wrap, a standard 3 LP gatefold, and across all major digital platforms. Vibrant, immersive, and uniquely alive, it stands as the definitive document of The Who’s orchestral era, a recording whose venue mirrors the band’s own commitment to evolution and innovation.
‘Live at Eden Project’ Tracklisting:
Overture
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
The Acid Queen
Pinball Wizard
We’re Not Gonna Take It
Who Are You
Eminence Front
The Kids Are Alright
You Better You Bet
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
Substitute
I Can’t Explain
My Generation
Cry If You Want
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Behind Blue Eyes
The Real Me
I’m One
5:15
The Rock
Love, Reign O’er Me
Baba O’Riley