He walks out with a cane sometimes now. Or he sits on a leather stool for the first few songs. If you’re expecting the 1968 version of Sir Tom—the one with the unbuttoned shirt and the hip swivels that caused localized seismic events—you’re going to be surprised. But honestly? You might actually like this version better.
Tom Jones touring 2024 isn't some sad nostalgia act. It’s a masterclass. At 84, the man still has a voice that could knock down a brick wall, though the "Ages and Stages" tour is much more than just a loud baritone and a trip down memory lane.
The Setlist Strategy: Why the 2024 Tour is Different
Most people think a Tom Jones concert is just "Delilah" and "It’s Not Unusual" on repeat. It’s not. Not anymore. The 2024 trek, which hit everything from the UK’s Scarborough Open Air Theatre to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, is heavily weighted toward his newer, grittier material.
Specifically, he’s leaning on his 2021 album Surrounded by Time.
He opens the show with "I’m Growing Old." It’s a bold move. He sits there, under a single spotlight, and sings about his hair turning white and his skin getting thin. It’s haunting. The crowd at Mohegan Sun back in September went dead silent during that opener. You could hear a pin drop. Then, he pivots.
He jumps into "Not Dark Yet," a Bob Dylan cover that feels like it was written specifically for a man in his eighties facing the sunset of a career. But don't worry, the energy isn't all somber. Once he’s acknowledged the "Ages" part of the tour, he gets into the "Stages."
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The Hits (And the Underwear Situation)
Yes, he still plays the hits. But they’ve been rearranged. "Sex Bomb" isn't a pulsing disco track in 2024; it’s a slow, sexy, bluesy growl. "It’s Not Unusual" gets a bit of a bossa nova treatment.
And about the panties.
It still happens. Even though Sir Tom has asked fans to stop throwing their undergarments—mostly because it's a tripping hazard and he’s 84—fans at the Ravinia Festival in Illinois were still trying to toss lace over the security barriers. He usually just laughs it off now. He knows what the brand is.
A Vocal Freak of Nature
How is he still doing this? Seriously.
Most singers his age have lost their top end or their power. Jones has actually gained something else: "character." He admitted in an interview with Yours magazine that his voice is lower now. He has to "push it harder" to get the notes out, but the result is a resonance that's deeper and more soulful than the "Tiger" era.
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He isn't lip-syncing. There are no backing tracks doing the heavy lifting. It's just him and a five-piece band that is arguably one of the tightest units on the road right now.
Performance Stats and Stamina
| Tour Segment | Typical Set Length | Notable Cover |
|---|---|---|
| UK/Europe Summer | 21-23 Songs | "Tower of Song" (Leonard Cohen) |
| North American Fall | 110 Minutes | "One Hell of a Life" (Katell Keineg) |
| Encores | 3-4 Songs | "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) |
He doesn't take an intermission. He stays on stage for nearly two hours. Think about that. Most 84-year-olds are struggling with a trip to the grocery store, and this guy is belting out "Kiss" by Prince to 10,000 screaming fans in Highland Park.
The Health Routine: Inversion Therapy and Boxing
There was a minor scare in late 2024 and early 2025 regarding some cancelled dates due to upper respiratory infections. It's bound to happen. But Sir Tom’s "secret weapon" for staying on the road is actually kinda weird: inversion therapy.
He told The Sun that he hangs upside down like a bat.
He uses an inversion table to flip himself over, which he claims helps his spine and circulation. He also does boxing workouts and works with a personal trainer. He’s basically training like an athlete to ensure he can finish these tours. He isn't just "showing up"; he's preparing.
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What to Expect If You Go
If you’re looking for tickets or planning to catch the tail end of this run, here’s the reality of the experience.
First, the stories are just as good as the songs. Between tracks, he talks about Elvis. He talks about meeting Jerry Lee Lewis. He talks about the 60s in London. It feels like you’re sitting in a pub with a guy who has seen everything.
Second, the crowd is surprisingly young. You’ll see the "original" fans who have been there since 1965, sure. But there’s a huge contingent of younger people who found him through The Voice UK or through his covers of Leonard Cohen and Todd Snider.
Actionable Advice for Fans
- Don't arrive late: He doesn't always have an opener. In many of the 2024 US dates, he walked on stage exactly at the ticketed time.
- Listen to 'Surrounded by Time' first: If you only know "Delilah," you’re going to be lost for the first 40 minutes.
- Watch the screen: His production uses some really cool, trippy visuals for songs like "Talking Reality Television Blues." It’s a very modern-feeling show.
- Check the venue rules: Many of the "Ages and Stages" dates are at outdoor "Summer Sessions" style venues. Bring a jacket; he likes to keep the sets long even when the temperature drops.
The Tom Jones touring 2024 experience is essentially a victory lap. He’s already proven everything he needs to prove. Now, he’s just doing it because he can still hit the notes. It’s less about the fame now and more about the "Tower of Song," as Cohen put it.
If you want to see a living legend before he finally decides to hang up the microphone (which he says isn't happening anytime soon), this is the tour to see. It’s raw, it’s loud, and it’s surprisingly honest about what it means to grow old in the spotlight.
To stay updated on the latest schedule changes or to see if he's added any "Defy Explanation" dates for the upcoming season, your best bet is to check his official site or verified ticket partners directly, as he’s known for adding "one-off" shows when he feels the itch to perform.