Concerts Reviews
A Cinematic Odyssey: Hans Zimmer Live at Rogers Arena in Vancouver – Live Review
“Vancouver is THE place!” exclaimed Hans Zimmer. And he was right. On Sunday night, Vancouver was the place to be as Zimmer brought his Hans Zimmer Live tour to Rogers Arena, delivering an unforgettable evening of cinematic music magic. With a nearly sold-out crowd eagerly awaiting the legendary composer, Zimmer and his ensemble of virtuoso musicians transported the audience through some of the most iconic soundtracks in film history. From the intense depths of Dune to the rousing swells of Pirates of the Caribbean and the emotional highs of The Lion King, this was not just a concert—it was a symphonic spectacle.
Opening the night with Dune’s “House Atreides,” the piercing, haunting voice of Loire Cotler filled the arena, immediately captivating the audience. As Cotler’s soaring vocals gave way to the pulsating rhythms of Zimmer‘s ensemble, the mood was set for an evening that would oscillate between serenity and chaos, intensity and beauty. The incredible lighting and visuals on the LED screen only heightened the experience, making each moment feel cinematic in its own right.
Zimmer’s ability to blend genres was on full display. The transition from the powerful and dissonant Wonder Woman theme—driven by Tina Guo’s fierce cello performance—to the delicate, heartbreaking notes of Interstellar kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Guo, a standout performer throughout the night, played with raw emotion summoning the energy of the entire arena.
Zimmer’s humor and charisma shone in his frequent interactions with the audience, whether recounting funny stories from his time in Hollywood or lavishing praise on his bandmates, like guitarist Guthrie Govan, whose blistering solo during Man of Steel drew thunderous applause.
Zimmer also made sure to give space for each of his talented musicians to shine. Pedro Eustache’s woodwinds and Lisa Gerrard’s voice added an ethereal quality to Gladiator‘s suite, while the Ukrainian Odessa Opera Orchestra’s lush strings enriched the emotional depth of the night. The ensemble, representing a mosaic of international talent, brought an authenticity and human touch. It was clear that this concert was as much about celebrating the talents of his collaborators as it was about Zimmer himself.
One of the night’s most touching moments came during The Lion King suite, led by the iconic vocals of Lebo M. Performing “Circle of Life” alongside his daughter Refi, the duo filled the arena with the warmth of their voices, as golden light cascaded down from the stage. It was a nostalgic moment for many, transporting the audience back to childhood memories of the beloved film.
Highlights of the second act included the tense, relentless suite from The Dark Knight, where Zimmer’s three-bassist arrangement rattled the arena in a way that was felt as much as it was heard. Zimmer joked about the extravagance of having three bassists afterward. The audience laughed, but it was moments like these that made the show so unforgettable—Zimmer’s blending of virtuosity, playfulness, and power.
As the concert neared its end, the crowd was treated to Interstellar’s “Cornfield Chase,” with its shimmering piano and expansive crescendos, and Inception’s “Time” where Zimmer’s introduced Nile Marr, guitarist and son of Johnny Marr.
Hans Zimmer’s performance in Vancouver was a demonstration of how a live concert can transcend expectations. For over two-and-half hours, Zimmer and his extraordinary band created a experience that left the audience spellbound. As the final notes faded and the audience roared in approval, it was clear why Zimmer is one of the greatest composers of our time.
Check out more photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
HANS ZIMMER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: LP Brings ‘All Is Not Lost’ Tour to Vancouver
On September 5, multi platinum singer-songwriter LP brought the All Is Not Lost Tour to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, delivering a performance that moved effortlessly between vulnerability, power, and pure rock-and-roll energy. The night also carried a special significance: the tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of Lost on You, the record that helped transform LP from a respected songwriter into a global phenomenon.
Known professionally as LP, Laura Pergolizzi has spent years carving out a space that is uniquely their own. Before becoming internationally recognized as a recording artist, LP established themselves as a songwriter for major artists including Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, and Celine Dion. Their own breakthrough came with “Lost on You,” which went to No. 1 in 18 countries and eventually surpassed one billion Spotify streams.
Inside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, LP’s music felt much more immediate. Their unmistakable voice moved from restrained and intimate to explosive within moments, giving songs such as “Muddy Waters,” “The One That You Love,” and “Lost on You” a sense of urgency that is difficult to recreate outside of a live setting.
The evening’s setlist reflected both sides of LP’s career. The first part moved through newer material and familiar favourites, including “Shelly,” “Tokyo Sunrise,” “Love Is All I Have,” and “Chasing & Waiting.” Later, the performance shifted toward the Lost on You celebration, bringing some of LP’s most recognizable songs into the spotlight.
It was the kind of moment that makes a concert feel bigger than the room. The song that introduced LP’s voice to millions became a shared experience between artist and audience, with the theatre singing along to every familiar line. After nearly a decade of the song living its own life around the world, hearing it performed in a packed Vancouver theatre gave it a renewed sense of intimacy.
From behind the camera, there was another layer to the experience. Photographing LP meant constantly watching for the moments between the obvious ones. The dramatic poses and powerful vocals naturally create striking frames, but some of the strongest images came from the quieter details, the concentration before a verse, a hand wrapped around the microphone, a fleeting expression beneath the stage lights.
LP is an artist who gives a photographer plenty to work with. Their movement across the stage feels instinctive rather than choreographed, and their performance style carries the same unpredictability as their voice. One moment can feel completely still; the next can explode into movement.
That contrast became one of the defining visual elements of the Vancouver show. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre also suited the performance. Rather than feeling distant or oversized, the venue allowed the audience to remain close to the emotional centre of the show. LP could command the room without having to overwhelm it.
There was also a sense of celebration throughout the night. Ten years after Lost on You, LP is still performing the songs that changed the trajectory of their career while continuing to introduce audiences to what’s next. The tour combines material from the upcoming album with a special presentation of Lost on You in its entirety, making the show feel like both a look backward and a step forward.
That balance is what made the Vancouver performance so compelling. LP isn’t simply revisiting an old record. They are showing how those songs have evolved with them and how they continue to resonate with an audience that has grown alongside their music.
By the final moments of the night, the feeling in the theatre was less like watching an artist celebrate an anniversary and more like witnessing a career still in motion.
For me, photographing LP in Vancouver was an opportunity to capture that evolution in real time: the voice, the movement, the vulnerability, and the electricity that has made LP such a distinctive live performer.
Ten years after Lost on You, the LP still has something to say and judging by the way Vancouver listened, people are still more than willing to hear it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
LP
All Photo Credit: Raphael Arthur
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Icons Deep Purple & Kansas Bring A Legendary Celebratory Night of Surprises To Abbotsford’s Rogers Forum
I don’t say this lightly, but both Deep Purple and Kansas absolutely put on a hell of a show. Since 1968, Deep Purple have basically been the godfathers of live rock performance. Don’t believe me? Go look up their Guinness World Record for “loudest concert,” which they snagged back in 1972. That same energy, that same wall of sound, made the trip across five decades and landed right here for the band’s headlining North American tour stop in Abbotsford. Original drummer Ian Paice is still holding it down, now joined by guitarist Simon McBride, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Don Airey, and vocalist Ian Gillan. Sure, only one original member remains, but somehow the whole group still nails the spirit of what made Deep Purple, well, Deep Purple.
They tore through 16 tracks that night. “Smoke on the Water” got the loudest reaction of the evening, no surprise there. “Diablo” and “Perfect Strangers” also landed big, and “Highway Star” kicked the whole thing off on an absolute high. And when I say the crowd was into it, I mean it. Fans who’ve followed this band for almost fifty years were pressed right up against the barrier trying to get as close as possible. That closeness paid off too, with an incredible light show and Simon McBride ripping through solo after solo. Honestly, McBride was the highlight more than once, stepping up so Gillan could catch his breath between songs. Given how much those vocals demand, that rest was more than earned.
Like I said, “Smoke on the Water” was the main event for Abbotsford. It’s one thing to describe it, but actually watching the buildup, seeing the bandmates grinning at each other because they knew exactly what was coming, that was priceless. Then those notes kicked in. You know the ones. Every Guitar Center employee’s nightmare. The whole arena became one voice, singing along to a guitar riff like it was a chorus. It was the moment of the night, the kind of thing every rock fan dreams about experiencing live. That wave of energy carried all the way through to the final song, “Hush.” If you were a millennial who spent way too much time on Guitar Hero 2, hearing this one live gave you full goosebumps. This was the band’s first big hit back in 1968, and in 2026 it still hits just as hard. The crowd treated it like more than an encore. It felt like everyone in that room knew they might not get another chance to see Deep Purple live, and they soaked in every second of it. When the house lights finally came up, Abbotsford just stood there in awe. Deep Purple‘s legendary status was on full display, and nobody in that crowd wanted the night to end.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
DEEP PURPLE
KANSAS
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno