Bringing a swirl of color, sound and emotion to the heart of Music City, Lauren Daigle’s “Kaleidoscope Tour” dropped anchor at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Saturday, Apr. 6, 2024. The Louisiana native delivered the flavor of her home state to the packed venue with a firestorm of vibrancy, hospitality and celebration.
Taking the stage around a quarter after 8 p.m., a cacophony of horns announced her arrival. Waving white handkerchiefs high in the air, Daigle and her band danced their way down the long catwalk as if they were part of a New Orleans second line parade. Adorned in her signature array of bracelets, whimsically patterned pants, flower-clad sneakers, and a cropped white jacket accented by bold geometric shapes and turquoise buttons, Daigle wore her hair down, allowing her long wavy locks to sway with the music.
Her extensive band mirrored her look in complimentary custom outfits. Yet, they did more than just copy the songstress’ casual aesthetic. They formed a cohesive unit that helped shape the live concert experience. It wasn’t just Daigle and a backing band performing on stage; it was a unified family of talented singers and musicians joining forces for an evening of purposeful pop.
Current single “These Are The Days” proved a fitting opener with the trademark brass of Daigle’s beloved swampland stealing the spotlight. Wasting no time hyping up the capacity arena, Daigle barreled ahead into additional upbeat selections from her 23-track self-titled LP, including the pensive “Waiting” and the funky “New.” Former hits “Look Up Child” and “Trust In You” followed, brimming with Cajun flair.
The nine-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner was six songs in before she transitioned to a brief string of ballads, one of which was new album standout “Valuable,” prefaced by heartfelt words from the vocalist about the song being a reminder that every person’s life holds intrinsic worth.
As if affirming her words, throughout the night, she engaged with the people right in front of her — reading signs hand-drawn by adoring fans, asking the camera crew to showcase a sweet girl in a cute outfit, talking directly to young audience members, and gushing about various lyricists who helped her craft her new songs, several of which were in attendance, including Natalie Hemby and Ellie Holcomb, who will open for Daigle on upcoming dates of “The Kaleidoscope Tour.”
Midway through, she faced her band members — Bluebird Cafe-style — as they encircled the end of the catwalk for an acoustic set. This is where Daigle has been known to change up her setlist from night to night. For the Nashville show, Daigle started the acoustic portion with a gem from her latest record, “Inherited,” a beautifully detailed song about her grandmother perfectly executed by the two-time GRAMMY® winner.
Introing “Everything,” a deep cut from 2018’s “Look Up Child,” she shared that it was always storming every time they tried to record the track in-studio. Thus, she says if fans listen closely, they can hear actual thunder on the recording, adding of the selection, “Sometimes God writes songs through you to teach you the lessons you need to learn.”
During the premium pre-show Q&A, someone asked Daigle what songs get her through grief, and she simply replied, “Worship music.” It was during the acoustic portion of the evening that she put her own stamp on several modern worship staples, including Elevation Worship’s “Do It Again” and Chris Tomlin’s version of “Good Good Father” — perhaps offering a time of solace for those enduring their own season of sorrow. Integrating moments of spontaneous praise, the songstress seamlessly transitioned into a refrain from her most recent No. 1, “Thank God I Do,” to cap the memorable stripped-down set.
Afterwards, she returned to the main stage for a soaring performance of “How Can It Be” before hurdling headfirst back into a series of heavy-hitters to close out the night’s setlist, which boasted more than 20 songs.
Instead of depending on the heft of her larger-than-life LED screen, for the majority of the concert, Daigle relied on movement, patterns and texture to characterize her set design, hallmarked by layers of white drapery that formed the perfect backdrop for thoughtful projections. In an age where video reigns supreme in live settings, Daigle’s intentional use of light and color was a breath of fresh air and an organic compliment to the natural vigor of her show without overpowering the songs themselves.
While the sheer force of her voice was on full display on stunning selections like “Rescue” and “Salvation Mountain,” the biggest surprise of the evening turned out to be the large number of vibrant, colorful numbers showcased, including highlights like “Turbulent Skies” and “Still Rolling Stones.” With a ballad-heavy catalog, one might assume Daigle’s show would be heavy on serious, stoic moments. Instead, “The Kaleidoscope Tour” radiated unbridled joy. Daigle commanded the stage with a newfound confidence and freedom, having blossomed into a full-fledged entertainer with seeming ease. With a little over a decade of touring experience under her belt, she’s finally found an elusive balance that superbly blends her signature balladry with an authentic exuberance that matches her personality and her upbringing.
As she reminisced about playing with her aunt’s kaleidoscope collection when she was younger, she told the gathered onlookers that touring reminds her of a kaleidoscope. No two nights are ever the same because in every city, people are bringing with them a spectrum of stories, emotions, fears and dreams. As Daigle attests, when united under a banner of music, for a few hours all those differences form a one-of-a-kind snapshot — a kaleidoscope of humanity, and a beautiful portrait of hope that ultimately reflects the love of God.
In lieu of a traditional encore, Daigle’s band pulled out all their brass one last time before she surprised fans by popping up on a small b-stage in the back corner of the arena for her career-defining smash, “You Say.” The revered artist made her way back to the main stage by weaving though the crowd without missing a note of her juggernaut hit. Locking eyes with strangers, hugging excited little girls, and shaking hands with fans, Daigle simply became another facet of the kaleidoscope. And it was in that moment where it was obvious why her fanbase is so massive — she genuinely sees people. Her life-giving words — whether in story or in song — and her person-to-person connection are what make Daigle an artist who is likely to stand the test of time. Her heart for people was additionally reflected in the 730 children who were sponsored through ChildFund at the Nashville stop alone.
Further proving she requires little fanfare, she concluded the night with the smallest of flourishes: a band-wide bow and a stream of thank yous, waving and blowing kisses to the crowd as she danced her way offstage.
Prior to the show, Daigle warmed hearts with her endearing personality as she engaged with fans during an intimate VIP session where she took questions from the audience filled with little girls who regarded Daigle with the same kind of wonder and reverence normally reserved for Taylor Swift. After treating fans to a stripped-down piano-vocal performance of fan favorite “This Girl,” she answered questions ranging from “What’s your favorite color?” (yellow) to “Who is one artist you’ve seen multiple times in concert?” (John Mayer). Afterwards, during a special plaque presentation backstage, she was awarded two new RIAA certifications: one officially minting “Thank God I Do” as a Gold single, and a second framed accolade commemorating a double-Platinum milestone for her sophomore set, “Look Up Child.”
Before Daigle’s official entrance, Blessing Offor warmed up the crowd with a half-hour set punctuated by radio hits like “Brighter Days,” “Believe” and “Your Love,” as well as deep cuts from his debut LP, “My Tribe,” including the title track, which has been heard on Coca-Cola commercials around the globe. While the Nigerian-born newcomer helmed a keyboard, he was also flanked by a guitarist, bassist and drummer as he ended his run of shows with Daigle’s “Kaleidoscope Tour,” which has featured a variety of openers since it officially launched last fall.
Next weekend, the songstress and her bandmates will resume “The Kaleidoscope Tour” in Texas. The epic show will snake its way across the U.S. through June before Daigle takes her live set overseas for concerts in Europe, the U.K. and, later this year, Australia and New Zealand.
“The Kaleidoscope Tour” Setlist
Bridgestone Arena // Nashville, TN
April 6, 2024
“These Are The Days”
“Waiting”
“New”
“Look Up Child”
“Trust In You”
“He’s Never Gunna Change” / “Be Okay”
“Valuable”
“Hold On To Me”
“Kaleidoscope Jesus”
“Rescue”
“Salvation Mountain”
Acoustic Portion
“Inherited”
“Everything”
Worship Medley - “Do It Again” / “Good Good Father”
“Thank God I Do”
“How Can It Be”
“O’Lord”
“Turbulent Skies”
“Still Rolling Stones”
“You Say”
