In September 2025, Tilburg in the Netherlands was once again transformed into Ayreon City, as six spectacular shows took over the 013 venue— or what is fast becoming known as “Home” by Ayreonauts around the world.
All 15,000 tickets were snapped up within minutes, with fans traveling from an astonishing 71 countries to witness the latest Ayreon live experience: the 30th Anniversary – An Amazing Flight Through Time. This will now be released on 22 May via Music Theories Recordings/Artone.
For one unforgettable week, Tilburg lived and breathed Ayreon. The city center became a playground of Ayreon beer and themed dinners, streets flying Ayreon flags, Ayreon Camping, Ayreon Karaoke, and legions of fans filling the city sporting Ayreon T-shirts from every era. Among the week’s highlights was the return of a now-cherished fan tradition: the Ayreon cinema quiz. Back for its third edition, Lucassen and van den Broek once again reinvented themselves as gloriously cheesy quizmasters, turning the quiz into a show in its own right.
On stage, the setlist spanned three decades of Ayreon history — from beloved fan favorites to songs never performed live before, with highlights from Arjen Lucassen’s many side projects woven seamlessly into the experience.
The performance included songs from; Into the Electric Castle (Amazing Flight, Valley of the Queens, Castle Hall), The Final Experiment (Dreamtime, Sail Away to Avalon), The Theory of Everything (The Theory of Everything, Lighthouse), Universal Migrator (House on Mars, Dragon on the Sea, Carried by the Wind, First Man on Earth, Dawn of a Million Souls, Into the Black Hole), The Source (Everybody Dies), plus gems from Star One (Set Your Controls, Year of ‘41) and so many more.
The first song released from the spectacle is ‘Loser’ – originally from the 2004 album The Human Equation, for which the video you can watch below. Pre-order the album here.
“I’m extremely proud to share the first full live video from the upcoming Ayreon 30th Anniversary release!” says Lucassen, “I chose ‘Loser’ because it’s not just a personal favorite of mine, but a massive highlight for the fans. The moment Jeroen Goossens plays those iconic opening notes on the didgeridoo, the energy in the room explodes. This performance truly captures the magic of the night: Mike Mills delivers an incredibly charismatic lead, Joost van den Broek tears through a wild Hammond solo, and Ed Warby provides his signature virtuoso drumming. My absolute favorite part, however, is when Mike lets the crowd take over the first verse—hearing the audience roar “Loser!” back at the stage is pure goosebumps.”
Talking about the show Arjen Lucassen says, “Bringing Ayreon‘s 30th anniversary to life with ‘An Amazing Flight Through Time’ was a dream come true. From the six sold-out 013 shows, uniting 15,000 fans from 71 countries, to turning Tilburg into ‘Ayreon City,’ it was an epic, immersive journey across three decades of music, including ‘deep cuts’ and tracks from side projects I never thought we’d play live. The grand production, the massive cast, the hard-hitting visuals: it was a truly unforgettable experience I’m incredibly proud of.”
The event marked 30 years since the release of Ayreon’s debut album, The Final Experiment (1995). This massive, state-of-the-art production involved over 100 cast and crew members, featuring a one-of-a-kind stage design, stunning visuals, and spectacular special effects that elevated the show beyond a concert into a true theatrical happening.
Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen, alongside lead producer and keyboardist Joost van den Broek, assembled a remarkable cast of many fan-favorite Ayreon vocalists that includes; Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Anneke van Giersbergen, Dino Jelusick (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Whitesnake), Maggy Luyten, Heather Findlay, Marcela Bovio, Irene Jansen, Wudstik, Damian Wilson (Arena), Robert Soeterboek, Mike Mills (Toehider), as well as Lucassen himself.
The album also features the musical majesty of Joost van den Broek ( Keyboards), Ed Warby (Drums), Johan van Stratum (Bass), Timo Somers (Guitar), Ferry Duijsens (Electric and Acoustic Guitar), Ben Mathot (Violin), Jeroen Goossens (Flute), and Jurriaan Westerveld (Cello).
Ayreon’s 30th-anniversary celebration in Tilburg was a unique moment—etched forever into the hearts and minds of those who experienced it live. With this upcoming release, the wider world will finally have the chance to step into the Ayreon Universe and experience the magic from the comfort of one’s own home.
