Author: Abby Graham
Photo Creds: Noelle Lee
I’ve been a massive Dua Lipa fan for years, so when I found out she was performing two nights at Climate Pledge Arena, there was no way I wasn’t going to go—dua-n’t miss the first night for anything. As soon as I walked in, I could taste the glitter in the air, as if everyone knew we were in for a chance to experience pop magic up close. What really stunned me, though, was just how diverse the audience was—there were children in glitter, frat boys with red snapbacks, moms in sequined jackets, and even grandparents in the pit. At one point, outside the arena, a group of women approached me and asked, “Who is playing tonight?” which pretty much encapsulated it—Dua Lipa’s star power pulled the attention of everyone, even those who didn’t even know what was happening. Her lead single was “Training Season,” and the second those first beats dropped, the whole arena went wild. I couldn’t help but be quiet—not just because I was yelling out every lyric, but because I couldn’t help but stare at how gorgeous she looks in real life. Seeing Dua Lipa on TV is one thing, but seeing her up there on stage, shining with the stage lights, was a completely different thing.
She was otherworldly-looking—tall, confident, and absolutely magnetic—and I was just there, singing my guts out and grinning like an idiot the entire time. Her set list was perfection—hit after hit without a single skip. She sprinkled in all of the hits that made everyone adore her, from “Levitating” and “New Rules” to “Houdini” and “Be the One.” Every segue was seamless, as though the entire evening was a single, glittering narrative spun by sheer pop magic. And when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any cooler, she wrapped up with Brandi Carlile (seen down below) yes, Seattle’s own Brandi Carlile—to sing together. The whole arena lost it.
Photo Creds: Madison Phipps
Their voices blended so exquisitely that it was an in-a-lifetime duet, the kind of time you know you will brag about the rest of your life. The whole production was out of this world. The set was this glistening, rainbow-colored dream—massive LED panels, flashing lights, and graphics that somehow made the whole room at once gigantic and intimate. Every transformation felt like it was from a music video, but live and in front of us. Her band was on point too—you could feel the drums in your chest and the bass shaking your floor. And don’t even get me started on the backup dancers. They were so in sync, every step crisp and full of energy, perfectly capturing Dua’s vibe.
It all just worked together like this huge, completely righteous pop machine powered by sheer brilliance and gloss. The audience was actually one of the best parts of the night. Nobody was just casually there to watch her—every single person was dancing, singing, or bouncing like it was their life or their death. There was this contagious joy in the atmosphere, the kind that made you feel as if you belonged to something grand and shiny and magical. I adored being able to glimpse all of their faces, grinning with excitement under stage lights—it made the whole arena feel so harmonious and alive. And the confetti. Oh my god. There was confetti everywhere. When I came home, I had a piece of it in my pants, and that made me laugh uncontrollably.
Seriously, I think you just sense when it was a great concert. My favorite set of the night was “Maria.” The whole atmosphere was caught up in this warm, dreamy, emotional feeling—it was like hearing a sunset. The lights changed to that pale golden-orange, reminiscent of the end of a perfect summer’s day, and Dua emerged onto the raised platform, shining in the golden light. In the background, one dancer performed this stunning contemporary dance, each movement and step flowing perfectly with her singing. It was delicate, expressive, and totally captivating.
I hadn’t known about the song before the concert, but by evening’s end, Maria was my new favorite—both the performance and the song were pure magic. I couldn’t stop grinning at the end of the night. Dua Lipa and everyone she worked with to create the concert are owed every bit of praise—it was all so nice, professional, and full of this bright, contagious energy that swept across the whole arena. You might say the entire crew behind the scenes put so much effort into making the night appear spontaneous and enchanting, from the lighting crew to the dancers to the band. And Dua herself just radiated joy—she made the audience feel special, like we were all in on something.
I left the arena feeling lighter, happier, and so grateful for her and the incredible crew who created that night. And as I left, I have to give a moment of mention to the snack that made attending this concert 10 times better: Climate Pledge Arena’s popcorn. I don’t know who they hired to bless this corn, but it’s the best popcorn ever—crunchy, buttery, salty, tasty, and perfectly gorgeous. I was only going to graze, but the second song was already half eaten by me. I actually had to force myself to put the popcorn down so I could listen to Dua’s performance. There is something so funny about singing and dancing along with one hand raised and the other shoving popcorn into one’s mouth. The popcorn just added ten times more awesomeness to Dua’s performance.
Photo Creds: Noelle Lee
Abby Graham | Digital Media Director