Lorde at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Photo Credit: Valerie Lee
Years in the making, it was finally time for international superstar Lorde to return to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for her long-awaited Solar Power Tour. Last in Melbourne to perform back in November 2017, the New Zealand pop star and onion ring enthusiast brought her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence to our city for two massive shows, after taking the album on a world tour across 2022-2023. Having caught the tour in Barcelona and Glastonbury, our team were incredibly excited to see Lorde bring the tour to our hometown.
Making our way to the bowl, there was a line as far as the eye could see, waiting for doors to open. Before long, the crowds had flooded through and settled in for what was about to be the most chilled night. After Aunty Di Kerr delivered the Welcome to Country, it was time for MUNA to make their Melbourne debut. Taking the world by storm with their catchy pop hooks and energetic live performance, the American indie-pop trio consisting of Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin belted out 30-minutes of bangers, covering themes of mental health, queer identity, breakups and relationships. From first track What I Want, the crowd were up and dancing, both at the front of the Bowl all the way back to the end of the lawn. The band played a range of songs from their three albums, About U, Saves The World and their latest self-titled album MUNA – highly recommended for fans of CHVRCHES and HAIM.
Their set had everything from high-energy hits like Number One Fan and Stayaway through to Taken – a country song about being really fucking messy. Lead vocalist Katie Gavin called out the crowd saying, ‘It’s really great to see everyone getting up out of their seats for the support band’ before launching into Home by Now and Anything but Me – both highlighted as break-up songs as well as about following your truth. Dedicating I Know a Place to queer and trans people, growing up hoping for a place to express themselves, the set concluded with the band’s most popular song Silk Chiffon – a collaboration with indie darling Phoebe Bridgers. In terms of support slots, MUNA nailed the brief and had everyone warmed up and ready to dance the night away.
Decked out in a tailored suit, Lorde took to the stage, opening with Leader of a New Regime, while performing in shadow to the audience. The song finishes, the lights raise, and we see that Lorde’s set up includes a massive sundial in the centre of the stage, as well as a pastel-suited band, Lorde’s entrance was met with deafening screams from the crowds. This only grew louder as she wasted no time getting stuck into Homemade Dynamite, from her second album Melodrama. Continuing to take us back to her roots, Lorde’s single Buzzcut Season from her debut album Pure Heroine goes absolutely crazy; and accompanied by her iconic dancing, as well as the Moomba fireworks going off behind the bowl, this only made this performance even more special.
Taking a break from the opening of her set, Lorde addresses Naarm for the first time, with a ‘hello and wominjeka to the Solar Power tour!’ With it thankfully being labour day weekend, we’re told to continue with our long weekend vibes, and to enjoy the show. Switching up the vibe, we’re asked ‘are you ready to cry?’, before Stoned at the Nail Salon starts the audience into a gentle sway. The chill vibes carry on for tracks Fallen Fruit and The Path – despite there being a costume change, signalling the beginning of the set’s second act. The stage comes to life during California, where we see the massive sundial on stage rotate, while Lorde dodges and weaves around it, before we’re once again treated to an older song. Telling the audience that she’s been ‘dancing to this [song] for 10 years’, Lorde begins singing the nostalgia-inducing Ribs, which the audience screams along every word to. It’s a standout moment in the show, and the track’s breakdown has the crowds in a frenzy as we all dance along.
Reeling from the massive serotonin boost we’ve just had, Lorde brings the audience back down to earth to discuss body language, and the importance of us all being together and releasing feelings. We’re invited to feel anything and everything in the breakdown of the next song, which just so happens to be Hard Feelings. Diss track Dominoes is a fun moment in the set, with Lorde pausing mid-song to tell us ‘true story’ – which is met with a rumble of laughter from the audience. Keeping it real with us, Lorde opens up about her prior stage fright that stopped her from exploring the amazing countries she’d visited on tour. It’s an incredibly raw moment for the musician, but she thanks us all for our time and for being with her on a Friday night. This leads us into Liability, which brings some of us to tears as we sing along. Despite not visiting Melbourne for five years, we’re all happy to hear she made up for lost time, and got to see our beautiful city.
Fun track Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All) from Solar Power serves as a love letter to her younger self, and brings the second act of the set to a close; just before we’re all due to step back in time for the hits that made the artist. After another quick costume change, the opening synth of Tennis Court rings out, and the air is filled with cheering, as Lorde runs across the stage – her energy seemingly endless. The party keeps on going with the high-powered Sober and Supercut, which are absolutely faultless, before we’re asked ‘do you wanna go somewhere with me?’ Perfect Places is the answer to this question, and is easily one of our favourite songs live.
Lorde takes a quick break to explain the story behind Solar Power; getting ‘charged’ in the sun, and feeling refreshed and like your best self. The title track goes off without a hitch, and it’s the build-up to the chorus that hypes everyone up – a feeling that is only intensified for the next song, Green Light. The bowl is a sea of movement at this point, and the stage is awash with flashing lights. Bringing us all back to a chill state, Solar Power‘s closing track Oceanic Feeling brings the set to a strong close, before their much-anticipated encore. Kicking off her encore with her debut single that started it all, both locally and internationally, Royals symbolises how far the young artist has come. At this point in the set, it’s almost hard to hear Lorde singing over the audience, which only continues for her closing track, Team. Encouraging us all to ‘go fucking crazy’, she runs a victory lap along the front barricade during the song, before finishing with a final ‘thank you and good night!’
Few have experienced the critical acclaim that Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine had – with her distinct vocal style launching her straight to the top. While these older songs continue to shine through in the live sets, her newer tracks from Solar Power only showcase the artist’s versatility, and her ability to go with the flow and put out yet another fun record. It’s an album full of self-love and healing, and you can’t help but feel happy when listening to it. After an awesome performance, it’s easy to say if you weren’t a massive Lorde fan then, you would certainly be a true believer now.