Artist: Amy Shark
Venue: The Events Centre, Caloundra QLD
Date: August 11th 2022
Reviewer: Hayley Treadwell
Photographer: Andrew Treadwell Photography
As we arrived at the Events Centre in Caloundra, I could see Adidas tracksuits aplenty and parents with their children everywhere. Everyone was so excited to see Australia’s own Amy Shark, and I’m sure for many it was their first time experiencing live music. We were seated next to a Mum and her 7 year old daughter, at her first concert, and she was smiling from ear to ear all night as Amy gifted us with the 49th show of her ‘See U Somewhere’ tour around regional Australia. When first announced, the tour was only 42 shows, but due to such high demand Amy added a further 14 shows to the tour and one of those shows was in Caloundra! Amy Shark has had a variety of support acts through the tour, all appearing from their home states or territories. How wonderful for Aussie artists to support Aussie artists! For Caloundra and the final 6 shows in Queensland, Amy will be supported by Gold Coast‘s alternative pop singer Cult Romance, who warmed the crowd up with his funky tunes! The half hour set was upbeat and full of energy and the crowd seemed to love it.
As Cult Romance left the stage, you could feel the anticipation in the air as we waited for the one we were all here to see, and it wasn’t too long ’til the house lights went down and the crowd roared as Amy Shark took the stage, in her trademark Adidas jacket and melodic voice straight into ‘Everybody Rise’ ! I was instantly blown away by the performance! Amy Shark is incredible!!
She sang hit after hit and you could feel how much the crowd connected to the songs as they sang along with such passion! ‘Worst Day of My Life’ and ‘C’MON’ had the crowd getting loud, while you could feel the emotion as Amy sung ‘All the Lies About Me’ and ‘Lonely Still’.
Amy is captivating on stage, her presence is authentic and you can feel her heart in every note she plays on the guitar and in every word she sings. And between the songs, Amy talked to the audience and had some great and empowering advice for the youngsters in the crowd. I think its so important that people of influence talk about real things, like it’s ok to hurt, cry, have moments of weakness; to stand up for yourself and stand by your beliefs! For me, Amy shared all these things with us last night and showed us that life is often messy and that, that is ok.
Supported by her amazing 3 piece band, Amy Shark really put on a show in Caloundra, but for me the highlight was when she did a cover of Tina Turner’s ‘(Simply) The Best’ straight into the Killers ‘Mr. Brightside’. It was spectacular. Not everyone could pull these 2 songs off and Amy did it with complete ease!
As she announced the last songs, Amy did tell us she would be back for an encore of her best songs and then she jumped into ‘Mess Her Up’, the crowd was dancing and singing, eager for the finale ahead! Amy returned to the stage and play ‘Baby Steps, her first single ‘Adore’, the song she co-wrote with Ed Sheeran and recorded with Keith Urban, ‘Love Songs Ain’t for Us’
and then Amy Shark said goodbye to Caloundra with ‘I said Hi’.
As we left the events centre, I could see that everyone had a wonderful night, kids were still smiling from ear to ear and excited for the next time they get to see Amy Shark on stage!
I have always liked Amy’s music, but after seeing her live, I am a fan for life! Thanks for a great night Amy Shark and to the lovelies at On the Map PR for sending us along!
Until the next gig
Hayley x
Setlist
Everybody Rise / All Loved Up / Miss You / The Idiot / Sway My Way / Worst Day Of My Life / All the Lies About Me / Weekends / You’ll Never Meet Anyone Like Me Again / Lonely Still / Psycho / C’MON
(Simply) The Best / Mr. Brightside / That Girl / Mess Her Up / Baby Steps / Adore / Love Songs Ain’t For Us / I Said Hi
