The Fred Again… Experience

– Written by Will Barber –

On Thursday, October 3rd I saw British producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ, Fred Again… live at Scotiabank Arena. My friends and I had been anticipating this concert for months, and I have to say, it was absolutely worth the wait.  From the moment the concert started, It was clear we were in for something special. He emerged from the smoke, seated at a piano, and opened with “Kyle (I Found You), a love song that features a sample from poet Kyle Tran Myhre’s love in the time of the undeath. To me, this was a shocking start as most concerts usually start with a big and loud entrance. Instead, the soft start was a perfect choice, placing him in the center of the arena where everyone had a clear view, creating an intimate atmosphere that set the tone for the night.

After the soft and emotional entrance, Fred started getting into his biggest bangers. The most impressive aspect of the concert was seeing Fred’s masterclass in sampling live. Whether it was audio clips of his friends, slam poets, or artists such as Lil Yachty, Tate McRae, and 070 Shake. Unlike most concerts where I’ve been to where the performer presses play on the song and performs it, Fred practically remade every song live in front of the audience chopping up and flipping each sample. This performance method allowed him to get creative and even add extended vocals and melodies to each song. The transitions between each were flawless leaving me thinking whether I was still listening to the same song or if it had changed. At the middle point of the show, Fred played Jungle, Turn off the Lights, and Rumble, easily the biggest bangers in his whole discography. He did one big mashup of all 3 songs all while freestyling on the pad. It’s hard to believe someone can move their hands as fast as he does when he’s in his pocket on the drums. 

Fred closed the concert with my personal favourite track of his “Delilah (pull me out of this)”. Delilah was one of the first songs that got me into house music and having the opportunity to see this live is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was clear I was not alone in my connection to this song as the entire stadium was jumping and hollering the lyrics. He ran it back one more time after that and somehow it was even more hype the second time.

In today’s music scene, Fred Again is redefining what it means to be a producer and DJ. His concerts are not just about music but about connecting on a human level. A Fred Again… concert is an absolute must-see for anyone seeking an electronic music experience that goes beyond just bass drops. This was a powerful reminder of the joy and unity that music can bring. Next time you have the opportunity, BUY THAT TICKET.