As August crept towards its end, Australian indie-folk artist Vance Joy was in Halifax to launch his North American tour and celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut album, Dream Your Life Away. Newfoundland folk duo Fortunate Ones came along for the Canadian leg of the journey.
Fresh off their mini tour of Japan, Fortunate Ones delivered a soothing, melodic set that captivated the crowd with its intimacy. The duo, comprised of Andrew James O’Brien on guitar and Catherine Allan on keys, are also together romantically, and their love for their craft as well as each other is palpable.
Partway through the set, O’Brien took a moment to speak praises to the firefighters that were on the frontlines of the wildfires causing havoc across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, one of whom is his brother. They also shared their rooted connection to our city – their debut album, The Bliss, was recorded just outside the city in Lake Echo and launched from a label founded by a fellow Maritime singer-songwriter Rose Cousins. The quiet power of this Juno-nominated pair made them a perfect choice to open this night and to accompany Joy on the beginning of this tour.
Before Joy stepped on stage, a recorded message echoed through the Scotiabank Centre, sharing his excitement about returning to Halifax and revealing that this show marked the beginning of his tour. To show his appreciation to the crowd, we were treated to the world premiere of his brand-new single, “Divine Feeling.”
Once Joy appeared on stage, he picked up an acoustic guitar and dove into “From Afar,” a song featured on the album being celebrated on this night. He was soon joined by two bandmates for an acoustic rendition of “Winds of Change,” before making his way to centre stage and officially kicking the night into gear.
Early in the evening, Joy introduced another new song, “Fascination in the Dark.” After coaching the audience through their part, the tune landed with ease and earned a fantastic crowd response. Soon afterwards, Joy slipped offstage and reappeared at the back of the arena on smaller secondary stage, setting up a trio of acoustic performances. He was joined by his keyboardist for a duet of Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy.” A highlight of the night came during “I’m With You,” as thousands of phone lights shimmered throughout the arena, and a marriage proposal unfolded in the crowd, drawing cheers from every corner of the room.
When he hopped back on the main stage, Joy jumped into his song “Georgia” and gave the crowd one of its most anticipated moments. Before heading into the closing stretch, he paused to acknowledge a handmade sign from a fan celebrating her 18th birthday and hoping for his autograph. It was a beautiful moment that solidified his genuine connection and appreciation for his fans. Throughout the set, Joy spoke openly about the long gap since his last time in Halifax, expressing genuine happiness to be back in Nova Scotia and honoured to be starting the tour here.
To end off the night, Joy jumped into a cover of “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” by KISS, then polished off the set with “Riptide.” No encore was necessary; the night was packed with fan favourites that spanned his entire discography.
The crowd gathered for Vance Joy was treated to a dazzling performance, one that buzzed with celebration and intimacy despite the size of the Scotiabank Centre. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take another decade for him to return, though this is a show many in attendance will be talking about for years to come.
Be sure to keep up with Vance Joy and Fortunate Ones! Cheers to evenko and Live Nation for bringing us another incredible show.
