Aurora | Metson
Albert Hall, Manchester
April 1, 2022

Aurora returns to Manchester to promote her new album The God’s We Can Touch and gives the audience a truly breathtaking performance.

My first experience with Aurora was during the dreaded first lockdown. I found myself on leave browsing the endless landscapes that YouTube had to offer. She pops up, eyes wide and unusual. I was instantly intrigued upon seeing one of his live shows. It didn’t take long for me to become a little obsessed with Aurora. There was something about his energy and presence that seemed to instantly mesmerize. Fast forward 2 years of filling my mind with all the Aurora live performances and multiple attempts to sing the track It Happened Quiet and fail, I finally find myself seeing one of my flesh and blood idols for the first time.

The Albert Hall is a beautiful venue, with huge stained glass windows surrounding a large open room with a theater-like balcony. The first thing I noticed were the colorful characters in the audience. From brightly colored hair to ponchos and creative makeup, Aurora seems to attract an interesting and beautiful clientele. Not only that, there was a huge mix of ages, which is always nice to see wherever you are.

Metson, a young Norwegian pop artist entered the scene. It was immediately clear that they were the perfect choice for support and not just because of Metteson’s huge starfish hat. An eclectic and ethereal style mixed with hard-hitting electronic rhythms for an interesting sonic space. The harmonies throughout the performance were no less than perfect and Metteson displayed charisma, confidence and charm. I support these guys and I can see them supporting Chvrches or Robyn one day.

On the stage, there was a huge circle of light alluding to the sun or the moon. This created a simple yet powerful image for Aurora, remaining central and silhouetted during the first Heathens track. As suspected, it was hard to believe it was live, as everything sounded perfect and Aurora’s voice instantly captivated the audience as she glided through the room. It wasn’t long before we heard from the viral sensation that is Runaway, which Aurora had written at a young age from the All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend album. Moving between each of her albums, she made sure to cover all the bases, and tracks from her latest release, The God’s We Can Touch, also dropped.

Aurora had a theatrical yet calm presence throughout. She moved as if the music controlled her, she felt every note and every beat that shined through her fluidity, her personality shining as brightly as her voice. To make sure photographers don’t take pictures of her feet, because she forgot to cut her nails (or the hat as she called it, which is hilarious). She made sure to address the audience regularly, in a hilarious way and sometimes talked about the meaning of the songs. I could have listened to him talk for hours.

I stopped writing notes pretty quickly halfway through the performance; the reason being that I was far too captivated by her. I wondered if she was from this Earth. Is she an angel, a pixie or an elf? She remains humble in her authenticity, which is the main admiration I have of her, whoever she is. It is almost impossible to say how enchanting and fascinating the experience was.

I’m no stranger to shedding a tear at a gig and this gig was no exception. The track It Happened Quiet blew me away. The change in her voice goes from soft to powerful, building up to the final chorus, the darkness of the subject. There’s something truly magical about Aurora’s storytelling. That’s what this performance was like; a series of stories and tales uniquely told through the eyes of a profound and beautiful individual.

These tales paired with ethereal harmonies, dramatic twinkling lights, and the enthusiasm and organicness of Aurora made for a breathtaking experience. It was by far my favorite concert of the year.

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Metteson can be found on his website here:

Immerse yourself in all things Aurora: Facebook | Twitter | Aurora official website

Lyrics by Lucy Shevchuk. More works by Lucy can be found at her home author profile

All photos of Melanie Smith – Louder than war | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Wallet