Over the past three weeks VIVID LIVE has offered so many incredible and unique live performances that have left audiences in awe. Wrapping up the 2023 season at the Sydney Opera House, Ella Mai delivered one of the most compelling shows of the festival with her soulful and fierce taste of RNB. 

With a platform in the middle of the stage and her band on either side, the staging was pretty open to allow a 360 styled view, with seating also behind the stage due to the sheer demand of ticket sales. Following a big band intro, she walked out onto the stage for opening song “Not Another Love Song” which immediately got the singalongs in full swing. “I said, Sydney Australia, how are we feeling tonight?” the British singer-songwriter asks minutes into the show to a rapturous response. Gesturing the crowd to get on their feet, they quickly obeyed and spent the whole 70 minute set dancing away. 

“Sydney, do we have any day one Ella Mai fans in here?” she asked before performing “10,000 Hours”, “Shot Clock” and the song that changed her life, “Boo’d Up”. Obviously the fans were down for the old material, but they were also very receptive to the new material, and one of the early set highlights came from recent fan favourite “Leave You Alone”. Following a band interlude half way through the set, she returned and delivered the stripped back ballad “Power Of A Woman” before getting into the hits with “Naked”, “Trip”, “How”, “This Is” and closing with “DFMU”. 

Throughout the show I found myself in awe of how tight her and the band were musically. Everything felt so authentic and natural, but also very polished and tight at the same time. It was a masterclass in musicianship from everyone on stage, and especially Ella Mai with how she commanded the audience and brought all of the elements together. Even if you weren’t across all of the songs beforehand you still found yourself fully captivated from the show they seamlessly delivered. 

Photo credit: Jordan Munns