Concerts Reviews
The Quiet Power of Alessia Cara on Full Display in Vancouver – Live Review
We were on hand at Vancouver’s Centre for the Performing Arts this week to see Alessia Cara close out the Canadian leg of her Love and Hyperbole tour. Check out our review and photos below!
Alicia Moffet
Opening for Alessia Cara was fellow Canadian and The Next Star winner Alicia Moffet. What was The Next Star you ask? Unfortunately for everyone, that’s a question I can answer, as I spent the last 10 minutes going down a rabbit hole. Apparently, TNS was a Canadian talent show that ran for 7 seasons on YTV. Being a man of a certain age, I am not shocked that I’d never heard of it. To balance my ignorance, I will say that Alyssia Reid is the only other contestant I’ve ever heard of from this show, and she is incredible, so good on her and Alicia for escaping the curse that was this production.
Alicia Moffet. Did I know who Alicia was before I got to the show? Yes, actually! Did I have to search her name in my Apple Music library to be reminded what she sang? Also yes! But that’s less about her music and more of a “everything is shuffle now, I don’t look at my phone, what am I even listening to” problem. You get it.
If you are new to Alicia Moffet’s work, I strongly suggest you start with “Lullaby.” It plays as a smoother, cooler-than-you version of “ABCDEFU’ if that song was your thing a summer or two ago. Alicia can slow it down, and layer her voice, and really record something special.
“Open Up” is the second song you’ll want to find. You’d think it was Some Popular DJ ft/ Alicia Moffet, it has that sort of chorus and is very EDM-adjacent. Excellent, fun song. Add to playlist, mark as favourite.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Canadian of talent with several catchy hit songs, Alicia served as an excellent opener for Alessia, throwing herself around the stage and interacting with the audience. You really couldn’t ask for more, and I hope this supporting tour is just her way of preparing for a 3rd album release soon, because we are overdue
Alessia Cara
Alessia gets overlooked a lot, although I don’t understand how this could possibly be the case. She should be everywhere, all the time! She has had some hits – real, non-trivial hits. “Stay” is a banger and a track I’ve had on multiple playlists over the years. Did she sing it Monday night? Of course she did. Was it a slowed down, almost jazzified version? That was a thing that we didn’t expect to hear. I assume this only happened because Zedd is playing a European club somewhere to 75 ultra-wealthy socialites and so wasn’t available for an all-ages show in Vancouver. It is what it is.
Alessia’s show was intimate and engaging, filled with uplifting anecdotes and a theme of… Perseverance? Hope? In a world of artists creating art and letting others find their own interpretations, Alessia is comfortable telling her stories of heartbreak, and how she wrote a song, and why. She will tell you that if you are going through something similar that you need to be brave, because it’s going to be ok. This was her vibe the last time I saw her as well, and it’s endearing.
Alessia is a gem, well on her way to becoming a national treasure. “Scars to Your Beautiful” is beautifully produced, we’re going to get more of that from her. “Wild Things” has that “today’s youth” vibe, and “Rooting for You” is cute in the best way possible. She’s starting a new phase, that second decade that is so good to so many musicians that fly ever-so-slightly under the radar, like Carly Rae Jepsen or CHVRCHES. Just quietly putting out amazing music until something goes viral every now and then, because of course it does, because, again, excellent.
We had a great time at the show, and we hope you enjoy a few photos below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ALESSIA CARA
ALICIA MOFFET
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Benee Brings Her ‘Particule Tour’ to the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver
The Hollywood Theatre, Vancouver | March 4, 2026
BAYLI
Opening for BENEE was singer, songwriter, and rapper Bayli! Formerly part of “The Skins,” Bayli has been touring as a solo act since 2019, reaping acclaim for songs like “Passenger Princess” and “SUGARCOAT.” The first thing we thought when dipping our toe through her back catalog this week was how much she encapsulated Robyn’s recent line that “The purpose of [her] life is to stay horny.” That’s very much Bayli’s vibe; her songs are sexy, bordering on erotic. Her brand of EDM-pop is rooted in “explicit queerness” and while she has rejected any one label, her music is for and relatable to everyone. Also, again, very, very, horny.
If You Only Listen by One Song by Bayli:
“Sushi For Breakfast” (Stories from New York, 2020)
Here are a few photos of Bayli that we hope you enjoy!
BENEE
On Wednesday, March 4, BENEE returned to Vancouver to support her 2026 headlining Particles Tour which began earlier this month. A mind-blowing five years after the release of her debut album, BENEE is once again on the road and hitting 23 cities in North America. We were lucky enough to shoot her June 2022 show at The Vogue, and we’ve been patiently waiting for another chance to see her live ever since! We waited through COVID for that show to be rescheduled, we waited 5 years to see her again and, hand to heart, we’ll happily wait until she returns again!
Must Hear Songs by BENEE (In Our Respectful Opinion):
Wishful Thinking (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
Soaked (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
One of BENEE’s more endearing traits is her comfortability and overall contentment on the stage. Still rocking oversized boots and long sleeves, she seemed at home in front of the crowd, dancing through the shadows the minimal lighting provided. And smiling! Always smiling. Whether it was thanking her fans for taking the time to make an adorable sign or – and I’m not saying I understand how we got here – speaking about Canada and leading the entire venue through an impromptu round of “Oh Canada” she cleared enjoyed her time in Vancouver.
BENEE’s latest album continues to experiment with genres, mixing upbeat pop with lighter, more experimental melodies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her shows are never one-note as she moves back and forth between these sounds, creating a “what’s next” situation where it’s beyond difficult to get bored or into anything resembling a sleepy rhythm. Her show is visually dark, and moody, and there is smoke! But there is a lot coming at you, and a lot to love.
Benee Setlist:
Sad Boiii
Cinnamon
Vegas
Beach Boy
Wishful Thinking
Soaked
Doomsday
Demons
Prey4U
Animal
Heaven
Make You Sick (Snippet)
Glitter
Princess
Underwater
Afterthought (Joji cover)
Supalonely
Off The Rails
Play Video
Green Honda
Once again, we had an incredible night at The Hollywood Theatre and loved every moment of the show. Thank you, BENEE! Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A Sold-Out Night of Performance Art With Sudan Archives
Words by Kali Moreno
Photos by Kelli Rothwell
A sold-out night at The Pearl set the tone for a show that felt half concert, half art installation. Sudan Archives brought her genre-blurring world to Vancouver following the release of The BPM in 2025, with support from Cain Culto.
Cain Culto confidently navigated an energetic, multi-media set backed by Indigenous, Latin American, and Bluegrass influences – what he calls Kentucky Latin Art-Pop. As he gradually shed layers of clothing, he added homemade props to deliver his song’s messages of empowerment and resistance in both Spanish and English. His musical skills as a vocalist and violinist, paired with his artistic expression as a visual artist, created a riveting piece of performance art.
Dressed in a skin-tight, full body suit and wearing otherworldly grey contact lenses, Sudan Archives commanded a sold-out stage for her one-woman set at The Pearl. The deeply human themes of her songs, which sit in genre around house, techno, and R&B, were shared with the rowdy audience alongside recurring mechanical sounds and choreographed robotic movements. This examination of technology and humanity reminded that her artistry and expression transcend her talents as a singer, violinist, and beat-maker. Sudan Archives performed three encore songs, jumping off the stage to dance with the screaming crowd before leaving Vancouver with the parting words: “y’all are fucking lit.”
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
02-18 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
02-19 San Diego, CA – Music Box
02-20 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
More info on Sudan Archives’ website.
SUDAN ARCHIVES
CAIN CULTO
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell