Overview of the Dangerous Woman Tour Openers
The Dangerous Woman Tour (2017) featured several acts that opened for Ariana Grande across regions and dates. The main opening roster included social‑media stars and pop acts who evolved with the tour’s routing. This profile lists the principal openers, outlines where and when they appeared, and highlights how their sets aligned with Ariana’s show.
| Opener | Region / Dates | Set Structure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Monét | North America (most dates) | Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles | Hits medley + fan favorites |
| Little Mix | UK and selected European dates | London, Birmingham, Dublin | Group performances + features |
| Machel Montano | Trinidad and selected Caribbean stops | Port of Spain | Soca‑infused remix set |
| Jai Waetford | Australia and New Zealand | Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland | Ballad‑forward pop set |
Victoria Monét: The Core North American Opener
Victoria Monét was the predominant opener for the majority of North American shows on the Dangerous Woman Tour. A longtime collaborator of Ariana’s, she arrived with a catalog of radio‑ready pop and R&B hits. Her set typically opened with uptempo tracks, transitioned through fan favorites, and closed with anthemic moments that aligned with the main show’s energy. Her presence helped set a celebratory tone before Ariana’s entrance, particularly in arenas from Phoenix to Los Angeles.
Set Highlights and Timing
In 2017, Monét’s set ran roughly 20–25 minutes and emphasized strong vocal delivery and choreography. She leaned into tracks that highlighted her versatility as a singer and songwriter, creating a smooth bridge between crowd warm‑ups and the main act. For most U.S. and Canadian dates, her performance framed the pre‑show experience for thousands of attendees.
Little Mix: European and U.K. Opening Act
Across the United Kingdom and select European markets, British girl group Little Mix opened the show. Their appearance drew significant fan traffic and added a distinct pop‑harmony flavor to the early part of the tour. Little Mix’s set featured ensemble numbers and occasionally featured snippets of songs that played off the crowd’s energy, complementing the tour’s vibrant staging.
Dates and Regional Context
Little Mix’s run occurred primarily during the first few legs of the European itinerary. Their set list emphasized cohesiveness with arena‑sized pop production, and their presence underscored the tour’s broad international appeal. In London and Birmingham, their opener slot contributed to strong ticket velocity and social engagement.
Machel Montano: Caribbean Flavor
At select Caribbean shows, Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano opened the event. His set brought regional flair with soca rhythms and high‑energy choreography, tailored to island crowds. This localized opening strategy reflected the tour’s effort to resonate with cultural audiences beyond the mainstream pop framework.
Cultural Integration and Timing
Montano’s performance typically aligned with pre‑fireworks or early‑evening start times in markets like Trinidad and Tobago. The tour incorporated briefer set windows to accommodate regional preferences, allowing Montano to deliver a focused, celebratory set that energized the venue ahead of Ariana’s main performance.
Jai Waetford: Antipodean Pop Presence
In Australia and New Zealand, Jai Waetford served as the primary opener. His stylized pop set leaned toward melodic ballads and midtempo tracks, establishing an emotional tone for the night. Waetford’s visibility in the Oceania region helped connect with younger demographics and reinforced the tour’s local relevance.
Australian Tour Specifics
Waetford’s sets in Sydney and Melbourne were calibrated to the markets’ preferences for concise, vocal‑driven performances. This approach ensured the opener resonated without overrunning the start time, preserving momentum for Ariana’s entrance and the subsequent main‑act sequence.
Context: Why Multiple Openers
The Dangerous Woman Tour employed a rotating opener strategy to align with regional tastes, venue capacities, and local music ecosystems. By pairing globally known acts like Little Mix with region‑specific artists such as Machel Montano, the tour optimized audience excitement and ticket appeal. This method also allowed Ariana to vary pre‑show energy while maintaining a cohesive brand across continents.
Strategic Alignment with Tour Branding
Each opener was selected to complement the night’s aesthetic, from Monét’s R&B‑pop fusion in North America to Montano’s soca rhythms in the Caribbean. The result was a modular opening framework that supported diverse audiences while centering the main act’s pop‑forward identity.