The cancellation of Laneway 2023 proved to be a letdown for many, including Girl in Red.
The Norwegian indie-pop star was on the bill that year, but record rainfall took away yet another music event from New Zealanders.
In Auckland on Tuesday night, however, Girl in Red – aka Marie Ulven Ringheim – made it clear that she’d be rapturously received at any potential return for a festival performance, demonstrating her ability to convert the unfamiliar to her religion of red.
Girl in Red treated Aotearoa to one night of pure fun and queer celebration at Spark Arena. The Oslo-born artist talked about her setlist as a ‘culinary menu’, which included two appetisers.
Before it was time for fans’ degustation, though, local Auckland indie-rock band Daily J opened the night.
The Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards nominees were extremely tight, unsurprising from a band predominantly made up of brothers.
Unfortunately for some native bands opening for international acts, local crowds, too often, aren’t all that interested in their support set, but that wasn’t the case here.
Daily J’s impeccable grooves had many clapping and bopping along throughout their set. At the end, they threw a couple of merch shirts into the crowd, a ritual more artists would do well to adopt. Their performance cemented them as a must-see band on the domestic front, especially at festival level.
Then it was time for Girl in Red.
She first whipped onto stage, energy surging through each hopping foot, as “DOING IT AGAIN BABY” erupted. Later, when she cried “the perfect one for you is me” from “You Stupid Bitch”, she never sung alone. Bigger hits followed, and it was clear that the artist was in her element.
It was noticeable just how clear Girl in Red’s lyrics were enunciated throughout her set, a skill of clarity that is so important for artists to hone, especially to connect with attendees less familiar with their songs. The story should never get lost in the music.
Girl in Red didn’t chat extensively between songs, but her natural humour sometimes shone through with dad jokes and brief “Howdy” versions of her songs.
She also showed her authenticity elsewhere. When a song was skipped from the ‘menu’, she confided that she’s “going through personal stuff as Marie.” (Fans surmised that the unplayed song was “A Night to Remember”.)
@jjr.06 Bad Idea – Girl in Red #girlinred #gir #concert #fuo #foryou #badidea #music #nz #sparkarena #aucklandnz
A friend’s face dropped, claiming that she “must be heartbroken.” My own heart similarly sank for the person behind the artist, knowing the strength it must have taken for her to continue playing while battling emotional hardship.
In her short time in Aotearoa so far, Girl in Red mentioned she had only been able to briefly explore our local “capitalism” at Commercial Bay. Citing a VICE article (presumably this one, detailing the “dire” state of events, venues, and cafes closing) she had read about our country recently, she proclaimed to the crowd early on, “Let’s f*cking save New Zealand!”
But this country didn’t seem like such a bad place to be if you were in the Spark Arena crowd on Tuesday night. Stylish patrons wearing ties atop white shirts and dark blazers caught the eye wherever you looked; many other donned crimson, an appropriate colour for a Girl in Red show; same-sex partners acted comfortably affectionate together, happy at seeing one of modern music’s most iconic queer artists. (The swarms that showed up to see Girl in Red highlighted why queer-friendly spaces are so important to younger generations.)
While many in attendance were girls in their teenage years, all ages and genders were there to be enraptured by Girl in Red’s sweet indie-pop songs.
In the finale, Girl in red requested the crowd part like two schools of fish to attempt a wall of death of sorts, before she jumped offstage to run to the end of the general admission floor and back. Us fish followed her without a second thought, many retrieving phones to capture her proximity.
And then the menu was finished and the set came to a close.
“I am so fulfilled,” I heard a girl say in passing to her friends as the night came to a close; I sensed that everyone else was feeling the same way. Suitably satiated, the crowd left the arena in the complete absence of a rush. Many held friends and partners close, as flashes of red ‘fish’ darted in and out of view.
If Girl in Red wants to return to “save” New Zealand again soon, she’ll be welcomed by thousands.
Girl in Red’s tour now heads to Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and Europe. Find tour information here.
