By Laura BennettMonday 20 Jan 2020Hope AfternoonsCultureReading Time: 2 minutes
With a reputation for deeply reflective lyrics and warm oak-y vocals, you might expect a Lauren Daigle show to be all ‘buttery and worshipful’ but the 2000-strong crowd at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre were in for much more than that.
From the opening number Rise Up, Lauren had energy to burn. Her signature boho locks weren’t going to get in the way as she leaned into the music — dancing, grooving, cueing the musicians around her and owning the stage — showing why she’s a two-time Grammy Award winner.
What followed was a perfect curation of Lauren’s identity as a church-born worship leader and super-talented artist on the rise in mainstream circles.
A team of nine surrounded her with epic soundscapes and layered harmonies showcasing Lauren’s Louisiana roots and making the music bust off the stage with soulful swagger. Prince’s former trombonist belted out the best of Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke (an absolute highlight), and her backup singers had perfectly timed moves you only wished you could master. The band “are more family than friends” Lauren said, and with her Aussie drummer-turned-producer making wise-cracks through her in-ears that left her giggling while chatting to the crowd, you knew it was true.
Lauren easily switched in to the more emotive tones of Rescue and How Can it Be, tapping in to the deep yearning of the human soul to be seen, loved and filled with purpose. It was at this point the atmosphere in the room changed, reminding you you were not just at a concert but a place where the presence of God was welcome. As the crowd declared the lyrics of You Say, Lauren shared, “When you write songs you hope they land not just on people’s ears, but in their spirit, heart and mind”; she’s grateful for her role in fans lives.
Combining the fun that makes music amazing and the authenticity that makes it legendary, Lauren Daigle deserves all the successes that have come her way, and we can only hope she has more that bring her back to Australia.