The space really allowed her to soar on emotional songs like “Gravity”, keeping the audience still and captivated. Sara put her traveling circus of instruments to good use, transitioning with ease from the piano (Uncharted / Love On The Rocks / Love Song / Single Ladies / Sittin’ At The Dock Of The Bay / Bright Lights and Cityscapes) to the acoustic guitar (Let The Rain) to the ukulele (I Just Want You) to the electric guitar (Come Round Soon) to the harmonium (Once Upon Another Time) and back again to her trusty piano (Brave / King Of Anything / Gravity / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road), showcasing her versatility while providing a variety of sounds. In a venue like Rio Theatre, Sara’s passionate and powerful vocal prowess emerged front and center. To build up anticipation for her forthcoming album release, The Blessed Unrest (to be released on July 16th), Sara performed a smattering of old favourites from her previous albums, Little Voice, Kaleidoscope Heart, and the Once Upon Another Time EP, introduced a couple of new and unreleased songs, and re-arranged covers by Otis Redding, Elton John, and Beyoncé. It’s the type of show fans dream of from their favourite artists! No opening acts, no band, no spectacles, just Sara and her one woman show. Two and a half years later, I had the pleasure of seeing her again in Vancouver for her Brave Enough Tour – a very special engagement that has her performing solo acoustic shows at small, intimate venues. I first saw Sara live during her Kaleidoscope Heart Tour in 2010 at the Commodore Ballroom. That’s typically not the greeting you’d expect from a performer, but when it comes to Sara, anything goes!

“This is so f*cking weird!” exclaimed Sara Bareilles as she walked onto the stage for her sold-out concert at the Rio Theatre on May 9th.

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