This Tour May Contain New Music: Raye Concert Review

By Kyla Lemieux

My first experience watching Raye perform was at the 2025 Grammy Awards Ceremony, the same night she was nominated for Best New Artist. Upon watching her sing her major hit “Oscar Winning Tears.,” I was nothing short of captivated. Her vocals were already that of an absolute powerhouse, but her stage presence took everything to the next level. At the majority of award shows, I see a case of nonengagement from celebrity audience members, but during this three-minute performance, everything seemed to change. Everyone in the building had their eyes on the stage, even those who commonly seem as though they wish they were anywhere except at another award ceremony. When Raye left the stage that night, it left a lasting impression with me, and the notion that someday, I had to see her perform again.

In September of the same year, I was overjoyed to find out that the singer was embarking on a massive world tour, stopping at theatres around North America and arenas overseas. Though the tour had no dates in my own city, travelling was absolutely worth it. As I had spent the past few months getting to know Raye’s previously released music, the singer herself spent that same time climbing the charts with and getting nominated for just about every award out there. When I purchased my tickets to her concert in Seattle, I was excited by the thought of watching her perform in a 7,000 seat theatre.

The next six months proved to be a difficult wait, as the concert didn’t take place until April 3, 2026. In the meantime, I had an outfit to plan (which ended up being a home-bedazzled skirt), a new album to get to know, and a three-hour drive to Seattle to complete. When the day finally arrived, the excitement was palpable. After arriving at my hotel, I joyously got ready, making sure my outfit looked perfect for all the photos I’d inevitably be taking. Then I headed to the show.

The venue, known as WAMU Theater, is directly attached to Lumen Field, the large football stadium in Seattle, where I have previously attended concerts by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Getting into the venue was smooth sailing, and once we were inside, the excitement built even more. We went straight to our seats, which were practically perfect. We were seated on the aisle in the 15th row of the floor, but it somehow felt like we were even closer. Upon our arrival, the red curtains were drawn across the stage, and the rest of the audience was just beginning to trickle in.

Soon after we arrived, the first opening act took the stage. Amma, one of Raye’s younger sisters, was definitely one of my favourite opening acts I have seen. Though I only have become familiar with her music recently, I already knew all the words to a few of her songs. Amma’s stage presence was casual yet engaging, and her tendency to tell stories between songs made her set all the more personal. I noticed an open seat in the fifth row during her set, so I moved up. Since I was one of the only people on the floor standing and singing, Amma pointed me out a few times, even making a hand heart right at me while I happily sang along to my favourite of her songs, “Blame Game.” When her set concluded, I waited in the merch line before returning to my seat for the second opening act.

Absolutely, is another of Raye’s sisters. Despite the fact that I’m not as familiar with her music, I enjoyed her set very much, and I was happy to know most of the words to her biggest hit, “I Just Don’t Know You Yet.” By the time Absolutely’s set was finished, the venue was just about entirely full, and it was clear that we were attending a sold out show.

When the lights finally went down, the theatre erupted into applause. Raye’s entrance to the stage felt more like that of a Broadway show than of a concert, giving us a glimpse into her famously dramatic stage presence. The second Raye began to sing the first track of the night, “I Will Overcome.,” I was reminded of just how captivating her live vocals are. She quickly went into her biggest hit to date, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!,” which instantly had the entire crowd on their feet.

The positive energy of the audience and show was emotionally immersive in a way you only truly experience when you attend live music. Concerts bring a type of joy that it is impossible to feel anywhere else, and the show Raye put on was no exception. Though the show was filled with what the singer considers to be “ups and downs,” the energy itself never dipped, and neither did the care the band and crew put into their performance. The set consisted of a perfect mixture of upbeat tracks, slower numbers, different genres, and songs relating to different topics. Raye made sure that every audience member felt engaged and included, and between songs she’d often make comments about how she knew that many people in the crowd related to certain songs.

Though the overall feel of the show was joy and elation, Raye also touched on some more serious topics. Before performing her song “Ice Cream Man.,” she made a short speech about how she feels for the people who relate to the track. As I looked around during that song, I saw many people who needed to hear it. One of the many things I adore about Raye is her ability to make each and every person feel seen, as if the songs she performs are one-on-one with those who are struggling.

Before long, the melancholy mood was lifted, and the upbeat songs were back. Something I found very unique about the show was that it was split into different sections, including a night club segment and a jazz club segment. Equipped with a 15-piece band, the previously mentioned section truly did feel like a 1950’s jazz club, with horns, piano, and every other instrument needed. Older songs were mixed in with the new, making it so that there was something for everyone.

The energy of the audience didn’t falter, with everyone dancing, jumping, and waving their arms in unison. I was happy for another audience member in my row whose light-up sign got noticed by Raye, who even took the fan’s record to sign. During one of my personal favourite tracks, “Click Clack Symphony.,” the audience was louder than ever, and the room seemed to fade into a blur.

By the final section of the evening, the nightclub section, despite the late hour, I felt nothing but adrenaline. A glowing sign with Raye’s name became projected on the screen behind the stage, but when the “Y” was replaced with a “V,” presenting the word “Rave,” the concert turned into a full-on party, complete with strobe lights and a bassline that I could feel in my chest.

During this section, Raye performed some of her older material, including “Prada,” which had everyone jumping once again. Though security had been rather strict throughout the show, they stopped caring at this point, as audience members all mingled together in the aisles. By the final three songs, I had made my way up closer to the stage, to around the third or fourth row. I had given up on every care in the world and was focused on nothing but the concert around me.

The last song of the concert, “Joy.,” was a duet between Raye and her sisters, and is one of my favourite songs at the moment. I was beyond glad that I moved up to the front, because hearing Raye, Amma, and Absolutely perform “Joy.” just a few feet away from me was something I needed to experience. When the song concluded, I didn’t let myself be upset, as I knew we still had the encore.

After a 30 second break, Raye returned to the stage to perform her hit song “Escapism.,” which had the entire crowd going completely insane. Throughout the entire song I was jumping and dancing as hard as possible, letting the music totally take over. During the final chorus of the song Raye noticed me dancing in the crowd and we held eye contact for a good 10 seconds. During that time I pointed to her and she pointed right back. Naturally, I began to freak out, which made her giggle before making her way across the stage. As the song finally began to conclude, I soaked up the final moments of the concert, smiling as Raye thanked the audience for coming to see her. As she departed from the stage, I tried not to be too sad, because the complete joy I had experienced during her performance left no room for any negative emotions.

It has now been a couple of days since I attended Raye’s This Tour May Contain New Music, and my reaction to it remains the same. I’ve already placed it in my top three concerts of all time, and I can’t wait for the day I get to see Raye again. The concert was far from just live music, it was an entire experience. I know I was far from the only person who left the building feeling inspired, holding onto Raye’s messages of joy, hope, and determination.

Throughout the night, Raye repeated something again and again, something that really stuck with me: “music is power.” Attending this concert was proof of just that. Music can make you feel seen, make you forget your worries, and provide you with a type of clarity that not much else can, and most of all, it can help you to see a certain beauty in the world that can be otherwise difficult to find.