Opinion: What’s the point of the concert encore and why do we still entertain it?

Three key facts: Encores date back to the 18th century At Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium in 1979, Bob Marley and The Wailers played an encore for over an hour. Encores were originally meant to be the most spontaneous element of a concert. As a concert reviewer, there’s one part of gigs I can’t stand.

No, it’s not sloppy crowds, late performers or rain at virtually every Auckland gig past January. I can even get around the All Blacks merch on virtually every international artist hoping to make that oh so important connection with the local audience..