setlist
formSET-list
The planned sequence of songs a performer or band will play during a concert or gig.
A setlist is the ordered list of songs or pieces that a musician or band plans to perform during a live show. Crafting a setlist is an art: the sequence must manage energy, create emotional arcs, balance familiar material with new songs, and build to a satisfying climax. Most concerts follow a pattern — an attention-grabbing opener, a mix of tempos and moods through the middle, and a powerful closing sequence. The encore — returning to the stage after the main set ends — is a convention that allows for one or two final songs, often the biggest hits. Jazz musicians may use a setlist of tune titles as a loose guide, with room for improvisation and spontaneous choices. In theatre and opera, the equivalent is the programme — the ordered list of works to be performed.
Bruce Springsteen is famous for his setlist flexibility — his concerts regularly exceed three hours, with songs added or swapped based on audience energy.