Artwork by Demi Gravekamp. Photo by Vee Deuling.
After a sunny Tuesday in Amsterdam, Paradiso Tolhuistuin opened its doors, promising an unforgettable evening. On March 19th, Griff returned to Amsterdam for her first headline show after supporting big names like Dua Lipa and Coldplay. Fans queued up since early afternoon, eager to get close to the action.
The night kicked off with Cxloe, a vibrant 29-year-old singer from Sydney, Australia. With the catchy beats of her 2019 hit ‘Devil You Don’t’ and backed by drummer Daryl Chin, she effortlessly grabbed the audience’s attention, getting everyone dancing. This was Cxloe’s first time performing in Europe, seen as a warm-up for her debut album coming out on May 17th. She transitioned into ‘Shiny New Thing’, taking the crowd on an emotional journey with heartfelt tracks like ‘Chloe Enough!’ and upbeat numbers like ‘SICK’ and her new single ‘Shapeshifter’, setting the stage for Griff. Before ending her set, Cxloe shared a personal story about a previous visit to Amsterdam, making this performance a special new memory for her.
As Cxloe left the stage, the audience was treated to a pre-show playlist featuring four Taylor Swift hits. From the exhilarating finale of ‘Getaway Car’ to the collective screams to the iconic bridge of ‘Cruel Summer’, fans sang along, reminisced about past loves during ‘Mean’, and went on an emotional journey with ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)’. It left everyone wondering which stop on the Eras Tour Griff will be attending.
As the last notes of ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)’ faded, the lights dimmed, and the band took the stage. Griff made her entrance, revealing her hand-crafted backdrops, and adding a unique touch by spray painting “Amsterdam 19/03” onto one of them. She greeted the audience and launched into ‘Black Hole’, followed by ‘Walk’.
Addressing the crowd, Griff expressed gratitude for the sold-out show and teased unreleased tracks to come, launching into ‘Head On Fire’ after her talk. Moving into the crowd for an intimate setting, she performed an acoustic set, including emotional tracks like ‘Earl Grey Tea’ and an unreleased, folk-inspired, track called ‘So Fast’.
Griff shared insights into her song ‘Good Stuff’, telling the audience: “… Just getting used to people coming in and out of my life, I just started to realise, whether it’s family, friends, or romantic, your brain holds onto only the best memory after a relationship ends. And it’s frustrating because you want to move on, but you can’t. That’s what this song is about.” This was followed by a beautiful piano ballad.
A small break in the performance allowed Griff to introduce her band, with a surprise rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ sung by the audience for her pianist Mike. Griff then shared more unreleased songs like ‘Heart In My Pocket’, ‘Pillow In My Arms’, and ‘Cycles’, building anticipation for her upcoming EP Vert2go Vol.2, which is out on April 5th.
As the show neared its end, Griff delivered a heartfelt performance of ‘Miss Me Too’, followed by signing vinyl for fans. Meanwhile, as the suspense built and the audience kept clapping and cheering for her, Griff returned to the stage singing ‘Vertigo’. Breaking from the norm where artists often opt for energetic songs, Griff decided to do the opposite, ending the show with ‘Astronaut’, another beautiful ballad. From the moment Griff stepped onto the stage, she radiated an infectious energy that continued to shine throughout the evening. With each song, she poured more passion and soul into her performance, leaving the audience feeling as though they were receiving an endless stream of heartfelt gifts.
Written by: Ilse Muis
Edited by: Nèri Cliteur
