Nowadays, it seems that there’s not much Laufey can’t do.
Last week, the Icelandic Chinese singer was taking home a Grammy, and this week, she was kicking off the European leg of her Bewitched Tour.
What better way to start a tour than a double show day in Dublin? Yes. Two shows, one day.
I tend to pride myself in knowing most Dublin venues, and particularly what to expect when going to a gig, but walking onto Middle Abbey Street and seeing a queue as far as the eye could see definitely took me by surprise. Of all the gigs I’ve been fortunate to attend in this venue, this one definitely took top spot for having the longest queue.
The doors for this show opened at 2:30, and by 2:45 the venue was packed, which was good because the support was just about to come on.
At 3pm, Adam Melchor, the support for this whole tour, apart from the London dates, took to the stage with just his guitar, and a bright orange jumper.
Despite not necessarily being an artist I had heard much of previously, Adam’s music and songwriting captivated the audience.
The New Jersey / LA singer went through a catalogue of songs about childhood, breakups, trauma, a Billie Eilish cover, and even that time his parents’ car got robbed.
“I should probably get a therapist,” he laughed, while introducing songs about growing up as a child of divorce.
Adam’s set finished up and the crowd were eagerly waiting on the arrival of Laufey.
Thankfully, they weren’t waiting too long, because at 4pm, the lights came down. Showtime.
Laufey opened up the show with “Fragile”, the opening track to her 2022 debut album ‘Everything I Know About Love’.
“Every time I step on a stage, I get so excited like I get to do this for a living,” Laufey said, before thanking the fans for funding her caffeine addiction.
The setlist flowed seamlessly through her catalogue with songs like “Valentine”, appropriate for the week that’s in it, “Second Best”, “Dreamer”, and “Beautiful Stranger” all being played on the guitar before switching things up and incorporating some cello and piano into the set.
Fans stared in adoration with eyes almost popping out of their heads while the classically trained star spoke about life, music, love, and heartbreak. There weren’t many phones out at all during the show – a rarity it seems nowadays in concerts.
Introducing her band, Laufey said that she had one new member on this tour, before bringing her twin sister and violinist Junia to the stage for the final few songs.
After joking about how the two-show day was because of how loud Irish fans were on social media, Laufey said that she always likes opening her tours in Dublin, as it’s always a guaranteed good crowd.
“There’s no better city to start my tour in,” she said, cueing up “From the start”.
The surprise encore song on the night was “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self” – arguably Laufey’s most heartfelt, but also self-empowering, songs.
Leaving the venue, sniffles could be heard, eyes were being wiped, and emotions were high. The queue for the later performance had already well and truly formed and was making its way down the street.
Going into a Laufey concert, you might think you know what to expect – peace, serenity, calmness. But it’s that, and so much more.
Whether it’s Laufey’s anecdotes between songs, the band onstage, the heavy hitting drums of “Lovesick” bringing the performance to a whole new height, or simply just the feelgood energy in the room, everyone should try get to a Laufey concert if they’re fortunate enough to find tickets.
All information about Laufey, as well as upcoming dates, can be found on www.laufeymusic.com
