Arlo Parks Makes Big Moments Intimate at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall

I saw Arlo Parks live for the first time in March 2021, at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago, when she opened for my beloved Clairo during her Sling Tour—and, funnily enough, she was wearing almost the exact same outfit she was wearing this time around, a red oversized t-shirt, black shorts, and black shoes. I remember that even back then she had the entire audience smitten with her gentle and warm presence, something that she seems to bring into every venue as soon as she steps on the stage.

Toronto’s crowd was immediately mesmerized by the 23-year-old as soon as the first note of her song “Bruiseless” from her 2023 album My Soft Machine hit the speakers, and erupted into cheers when Arlo came in dancing around the stage with a smile that was infectious. She sang through songs like “Weightless,” “Blades,” and an older one titled “Caroline” from Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021) without speaking much, but then addressed the crowd from a noticeably personal place before playing “I’m Sorry,” a track that according to her talks about how hard it can be to be vulnerable around other people. “Sky blue shirt and I’m so desperately hurt, but I know you’re there, and I can’t make myself open up” she sang before apologizing over and over again during the chorus, “it’s really just hard to trust anyone”.

One of the audience’s favorite moments of the night came immediately after, as she performed “Eugene,” her biggest song to date. The following song, “Dog Rose,” was even more special for these fans in particular though, since its original demo was recorded for the first time in a hotel room in Toronto. The venue was packed with friends and couples holding hands, creating an adorable ambience that naturally matched that of Arlo’s. For those who maybe were not in that situation (ahem, yours truly), she also dedicated “Black Dog” from her debut album to “anyone who’s having a hard day… or anyone who’s having a hard year”.

For the last two songs of her set, “Sophie” and “Devotion,” an extra guitar was brought to the stage for Arlo to play along with her bandmates. It was clear that this was the moment that she had been looking forward to the entire set, beaming through each moment, running and jumping around. Leaving the stage in the middle of the euphoria, people were not ready to go home just yet, and so she came back to perform “Softly,” a slightly more upbeat song that closed the night perfectly.

She thanked the crowd smiling, and then gave her touring musicians some time to shine on their own too as they wrapped up the show. It was a wholesome and intimate night, even for a venue that holds 1,500 people. Arlo Parks was able to make everyone feel close together, with her soft-spoken words and velvety vocals, giving fans a warm feeling of familiarity as they departed the venue.

Arlo’s headlining tour continues through April 2 before she plays a handful of shows opening for Mitski in September.