# Sanctuary (tour)

Sanctuary Tour is a concert tour, predominantly acoustic, by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation in support of their fifth studio album, The Unforgiving, released by Roadrunner Records on 25 March 2011. This is their eight tour and the third passing over theaters.

## Background

On 16 December, Within Temptation announced that their 2012 acoustic Dutch theatre shows would form part of The Unforgiving Tour, featuring electric renditions of the album's songs. On the first of March 2012, the band announced that the acoustic performances will be called the Sanctuary Tour, and will have a concept. Den Adel stated in the band official website that "When selecting and listening to our songs we noticed how well they fit together and how much they have in common, both stylistically and lyrically. More and more, we also realized that by putting these songs in a certain order we were actually creating a story. As the visuals and movies we use during our shows have become a bigger and bigger part of our shows, this new story gave us the perfect opportunity to create new film material. This not only shows the story line visually, but supports the musical story as well."

### Synopsis

Scotland. The Highlands, 1895.
A young boy, sick, is lying in his bed. He has been there for days now, infected by an unknown virus causing a dangerous fever. As the fever gets stronger, his consciousness fades away, further and further from reality. He slips away into a dream world. He is a grown man now; a warrior or Holy man of some kind; strong and determined. Traveling the landscape, which is enchantingly familiar, yet surreal and unknown. Now and then, when the fever stabilizes for a short while, the real world shines through. Sometimes in forms and shapes that fit his dream world -his mother, the doctor, the local priest… they all try to help him but seem powerless to do so. Though tempting, he is not quite ready to stay in this sanctuary, not ready to say goodbye… and so he travels on and on… searching for a way out. A price has to be paid...

## Setlist

* "The Last Dance" (acoustic) (from The Unforgiving, 2011)
* "Bittersweet" (acoustic) (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "Overcome" (acoustic) (from Stand My Ground, 2004)
* "Restless" (from Enter, 1998)
* "Sounds of Freedom" (from Frozen, 2007)
* "Our Farewell" (acoustic) (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "The Swan Song" (acoustic) (b-side from The Silent Force, 2004)
* "Say My Name" (semi-acoustic) (from Angels, 2005)
* "Never-Ending Story" (acoustic) (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "The Promise" (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "Ice Queen (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "Caged" (from Mother Earth, 2001)
* "Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)" (from The Silent Force, 2004)
* "Lost" (from The Unforgiving, 2011)
* "Faster" (from The Unforgiving, 2011)
* "Stand My Ground" (from The Silent Force, 2004)
* "Mother Earth (from Mother Earth, 2001)
Encore
* "Sinéad" (from The Unforgiving, 2011)
* "Stairway to the Skies" (from The Unforgiving, 2011)
* Variations on the setlist.
– "Iron" (from The Unforgiving, 2011) was played on 25 March to 15 April. – "Where is the Edge" (from The Unforgiving, 2011) was played on 22 March.

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 2 March 2012 | Almere | Netherlands | Schouwburg Almere |
| 7 March 2012 | Utrecht | Netherlands | Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn |
| 11 March 2012 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | Muziekgebouw |
| 12 March 2012 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | Muziekgebouw |
| 14 March 2012 | Zwolle | Netherlands | Theater de Spiegel |
| 17 March 2012 | Tilburg | Netherlands | Theaters Tilburg |
| 20 March 2012 | Breda | Netherlands | Chassé Theater |
| 21 March 2012 | Heerlen | Netherlands | Theater Heerlen |
| 22 March 2012 | Heerlen | Netherlands | Theater Heerlen |
| 24 March 2012 | Groningen | Netherlands | De Oosterpoort |
| 25 March 2012 | Groningen | Netherlands | De Oosterpoort |
| 26 March 2012 | Roosendaal | Netherlands | Schouwburg de Kring |
| 29 March 2012 | Enschede | Netherlands | Stadsschouwburg |
| 31 March 2012 | Nijmegen | Netherlands | De Vereeniging |
| 5 April 2012 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Nieuwe Luxor Theater |
| 14 April 2012 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Koninklijk Theater Carré |
| 15 April 2012 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Koninklijk Theater Carré |
* 1^ Sold out

## Personnel
### Within Temptation

* Sharon den Adel – vocals
* Stefan Helleblad – rhythm guitar
* Ruud Jolie – lead guitar
* Martijn Spierenburg – keyboards
* Jeroen van Veen – bass guitar
* Mike Coolen – drums

### Guest musicians

* Jonas Pap – cello
* Isabella Scholten – vocals on "Our Farewell" (played on tape)
* Robert Westerholt – guitar at Tilburg show