After opening for artists like Walking On Cars, Duncan Laurence, and James Blunt in the Netherlands multiple times, the trio from Devon, Tors, returned to the Dutch stage. This time, however, it was for their very first headline tour. Their ‘Miracle Tour’ stopped at Melkweg’s Oude Zaal in Amsterdam on September 11. Brothers Matt and Theo Weedon, along with Jack Bowden, delivered a night full of charm and indie anthems that made for an unforgettable evening.
What makes Tors stand out, aside from their songwriting, is their easygoing humour and likeable personalities. The playful banter between the Weedon brothers had the crowd laughing, while Matt’s good-natured teasing of the audience kept the energy light and fun throughout the night.
The night kicked off with Benedict Cork, who treated the audience to a beautiful acoustic set. He opened with ‘Sanctuary,’ the first track from his debut album, Notes On a Hopeless Romance. He kept the crowd captivated with songs like ‘Soulmates,’ ‘Dream Of You,’ and ‘Reasons I Loved You (I Can’t Think Of One).’ He then surprised everyone with an acoustic cover of Chappell Roan’s ‘Good Luck Babe!’. Cork ended his set with his most-streamed song, ‘Have a Good Life (See You Never),’ leaving the crowd warmed up and ready for the rest of the night. It’s easy to see why he’s called the ‘Acoustic King.’
After a short break, the main act started. Theo, who had injured his knee the day before the tour, was carried onto the stage by Jack. Soon after, the first notes of their song ‘Still Life’ filled the room. From the start, Tors captured the audience, who sang and danced along. Known for their strong harmonies and catchy choruses, the band followed up with ‘Tell You,’ the second song from their Miracle EP, and then performed their 2022 hit ‘Garden On The Kitchen Floor.’ The crowd of 650 people sang the relatable lyrics about appreciating life and focusing on the positives instead of the negatives.
Next, it was time for a song that felt perfect for a performance in the Netherlands. ‘Amsterdam,’ as Matt explained, is “about one of Jack’s relationships,” adding that Jack is “still very heartbroken” about it. He urged the crowd to sing along “as loud as you can, to help mend Jack’s broken heart.” Although the song only mentions the city once, the audience enthusiastically belted out, “Did you get to Amsterdam?” as loud as they could. While Jack’s heart may still be a bit broken, the Amsterdam crowd certainly tried their best.
Following this, the band performed the closing track of the Miracle EP, ‘Heavy Hearts,’ before introducing the stripped-back part of their set. Matt playfully introduced Jack as “our drummer by trade, but now a banjo player” as they began ‘Lonely.’ Splitting the audience into three groups, each band member led their team in singing the “Yeah, yeah-eh, yeah, yeah” chorus. After a practice round, Matt joked that it was “a really good effort,” and the song began.
The show continued with one of their latest singles, ‘If It Takes All Night,’ which once again showcased their harmonies and the charm of adding a banjo to a song. Before starting, Matt shared that although they loved travelling and seeing the world, they “always miss our families,” earning some sweet ‘awws’ from the audience. Next up was ‘Does He Make You Happy?’ from their 2023 Anything Can Happen EP. Then, the band wowed the crowd with an acapella version of ‘Only For You,’ creating a special moment with perfect harmonies and soft crowd participation.
Tors wouldn’t be Tors if they didn’t introduce something new, so they played an unreleased song, ‘If I Could Turn Back A Day,’ giving the audience a sneak peek of what might become another fan-favourite.
As the night drew to a close, they performed the title track from their EP and tour, ‘Miracle,’ which the band described as reflecting their journey, battling to keep going despite the challenges. What seemed to be the final song was ‘Empty Hands,’ the oldest track in their setlist. When Tors first played in the Netherlands, this song hadn’t yet been released on Spotify and often closed their shows. For this performance, the crowd was once again split into teams, with Theo leading “the lads,” and Matt leading “the girls.” Jack also had a team member from the front row, and after some fun competition, Jack’s team won, and the fan received free merchandise.
The band played ‘Empty Hands’ with the crowd singing along loudly to the chorus before leaving the stage. But they soon returned for an encore. They introduced ‘Anything Can Happen,’ a song about their experiences with depression and the importance of celebrating small victories on the road to recovery, no matter how small they seem. After a few teary eyes in the audience, the night ended on a high note with their latest single, ‘Never Give Up.’ This song, dedicated to the brothers’ father, encourages listeners to keep fighting for their passions and was the perfect uplifting end to an amazing night.
Overall, Tors’ first headline show in Amsterdam was a night full of special moments. Their powerful songs, beautiful harmonies, and fun interaction with the audience made it a memorable experience. The crowd left feeling uplifted and connected to the band, thanks to the mix of emotion, humour, and great music. If this tour is anything to go by, Tors have an exciting future ahead of them.
Written by: Ilse Muis
Photographed by: Lani Anna
Edited by: Nèri Cliteur
