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Photo – Hyghly Allene

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The anticipation was palpable as the crowd filled Accor Stadium for The Weeknd. Having last toured 7 years ago and postponing his tour twice, there was a lot of excitement and energy at the sold out show – one of two sold out Sydney shows I might add.

After a great series of opening acts from DJ Anna Lunoe, R&B artist Chxrry22, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Dean, the stage was set for the main event.

We cannot glaze over the production. The stage design was a spectacle, with a long, winding catwalk that extended into the crowd, stretching from the left side of the stadium to the right. It split the ground floor in half. It is the first I’ve seen such a stage, which made the space feel more intimate – you were somewhat close to The Weeknd no matter where you were seated or stood. Haunting red and blue lighting, combined with pyrotechnics, smoke effects, and fireworks throughout the show created a mesmerizing atmosphere. It was very theatrical with clear religious themes. 

The first visual on screen was a door opening. Emerging from a towering temple-like stage, he launched into “The Crowd,” a powerful new track, with hooded figures moving along the catwalk. Clad in a black robe, he commanded the stage with rich and emotive vocals. His voice didn’t waver or rely on backing vocals, not once, at any point in the show.

As the show progressed, The Weeknd moved effortlessly between the main stage and the catwalk, engaging with the audience and drawing them into his world.

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The setlist was a carefully curated journey through his discography. From classic hits like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Often” to newer tracks from ‘Dawn FM’ such as “Sacrifice” and “Take my Breath”. There was a series of songs for whichever point in his career that you joined. He made sure to add his own runs, twists, turns, and commentary that highlighted he was living in the moment. He would consistently reference Sydney and the crowd in between songs and while singing songs also. 

If you were looking to hear his studio tracks performed exactly how they were recorded, you would be disappointed. I love how he played around with his songs, however there were certain songs or parts which I would’ve loved to hear how they were recorded. He also worked to fit as many songs as he could in his show, which I appreciated, but left me wanting to hear full songs. The lines between start and end of songs were blurred, which is personally not my taste, but impressively seamless nonetheless.

He delivered various covers including Future’s Low Life and Metro Boomin’s Creepin’.

The Weeknd engaged with the audience, whether it be pointing to specific people in the crowd or sharing personal anecdotes and expressing his gratitude for their support. He was playful and entertaining, highlighting his charisma. He matched the crowd’s love and energy. It was also nice that the stadium screens showed both The Weeknd and glimpses of the crowd; it got fans excited to see themselves on the big screen and highlighted the fun that they were having.

Towards the end of the night, he declared that this was his favourite show of the tour so far and rewarded fans with a taste of an unreleased EDM song ‘Open Hearts’.

He concluded the night with “Moth to a Flame” and fireworks.

The Weeknd’s concert was a memorable experience. The stage design and production was unique and theatrical, and his talent and charisma was undeniable. Like his visuals and themes, it felt like he was preaching to a choir.

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AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN
2024 Australia Dates:

Sat Oct 5 – Melbourne, AUS – Marvel Stadium
Sun Oct 6 – Melbourne, AUS – Marvel Stadium
Tue Oct 22 – Sydney, AUS – Accor Stadium
Wed Oct 23 – Sydney, AUS – Accor Stadium

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Photo – Hyghly Allene

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About THE WEEKND:

Filtering R&B and pop through an ambitious widescreen lens, The Weeknd took over popular music and culture on his own terms. The multi-platinum and 7x Diamond certified star is one of the world’s most listened-to artists on Spotify, boasting 104.4 million monthly listeners and holding the record for the highest number of monthly listeners for over two years. In 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records named him “The Most Popular Artist in the World.” His 2020 album “After Hours” is the #1 most streamed R&B album of all time, followed by his 2016 album “Starboy” at #2. His record-breaking single “Blinding Lights” went RIAA-certified Diamond and was named the new No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song of all time, surpassing Chubby Checker’s 1960 hit “The Twist.”

Alongside impressive music stats, he’s Emmy and Oscar nominated and has graced the covers of TIME, Vanity Fair, W, Forbes, Variety, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ. His television performances include SNL, the 2020 Super Bowl, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, the MTV VMAs, the Grammys, and the AMAs. In 2022, he launched his first of three menacing mazes at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. His sold-out global 2022-2024 stadium tour has earned nearly half a billion dollars, with more dates to come.

As a global ambassador for the UN World Food Programme and named Humanitarian of the Year by BMAC, he has donated over $9 million to various charities from 2020 to now, including $2 million to help with the crisis in Ethiopia and $4.5 million to feed millions in Gaza through his XO Humanitarian Fund via the UN WFP.  His continuous record-breaking charts, sales, and streams, headlining the biggest festivals and selling out stadiums globally, including the 2020 Super Bowl, along with his mysterious public persona, solidify The Weeknd as one of the most compelling and significant artists of the 21st century.

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Follow THE WEEKND
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.

Press Release 20th August 2024 (below) HERE

THE WEEKND
brings record-breaking
AFTER HOURS ‘TIL DAWN
Global Stadium Tour
to Australia this October

Tickets Available Starting Wednesday, August 21 with Past Purchaser Presale

General Onsale Begins Monday, August 26 at TheWeeknd.com/Tour

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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 7: Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye performs on stage during the ‘After Hours Til Dawn Tour’ at MorumBIS on September 7, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images for Live Nation)

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AMNPLIFY – DB