Billy Joel Rings in the New Year at UBS Arena

Billy Joel returned to UBS Arena on December 31, 2024, to celebrate New Year’s Eve with his fans. This marked the second consecutive year that Joel performed at the venue to close out the year, delighting concertgoers with his iconic hits and festive energy.

The evening kicked off with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, an electrifying tribute to the legendary rock band. Bonham and his band paid homage to Led Zeppelin’s iconic catalog, performing classics like “Good Times Bad Times” “When the Levee Breaks,” and “The Ocean.” They closed their set with powerhouse renditions of “Stairway to Heaven” and “Rock and Roll.”

Billy Joel took the stage shortly after, diving into his extensive repertoire of hits. The excitement reached a peak when Jason Bonham joined Joel and his band mid-set for a dynamic rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” with Bonham showcasing his skills on the drums. The collaboration stood out as a memorable moment, blending Joel’s style with Zeppelin’s iconic rock sound.

As midnight approached, Joel led the crowd in a countdown to 2025, culminating in a heartfelt performance of “Auld Lang Syne.” Without missing a beat, he launched back into his setlist, keeping the party going well past the stroke of midnight. The audience danced and sang along to classic tracks like “Only the Good Die Young,” “Piano Man,” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

Joel wrapped up the marathon show around 1 a.m. with an encore that featured “Big Shot” and “You May Be Right,” leaving the crowd exhilarated and eager for what’s to come in the new year.

Setlist: Movin Out, My Life, The Entertainer, Just the Way You Are, The Downeaster Alexa, Start Me Up, An Innocent Man, Don’t Ask Me Why, This is the Time, Whole Lotta Love, New York State of Mind, Zanzibar, Allentown, Vienna, A Room of Our Own, Souvenir, Only the Good Die Young, Layla (Interlude), Auld Lang Syne, River of Dreams, Nessun Dorma, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, Piano Man, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Uptown Girl, It’s Still Rock and Roll, Big Shot, You May Be Right