Rex Orange County, Red Hat Amphitheater, May 16, 2022, Birthday gift!

My first concert! My older sister had moved to the U.S. to live with my mom’s side of the family to continue her education at NC State University. I was still living in Lebanon when my sister told me she had purchased the tickets for me, knowing that he was another artist I had obsessed over. The concert was 5 days before my birthday and remains one of the most sincere gifts I’ve ever received. I spent a full month listening to the setlist to make the concert even more special. All around, it was a good vibe, with college students in colorful outfits. My mom accompanied me and said the concert sounded like a soundtrack from a “Toy Story” movie. It was an incredible concert, and his recent music has garnered even more attention, so I can sense another tour on the way. 10/10

Jxden, The Ritz, April 1, 2023, $30

I’ve always had a firm belief that Hype House and Sway House boys should stick to TikToks. A belief that was immediately disproven following Alex Warren and Addison Rae’s successful Billboard top 100 climb and Grammy nominations. Although Jaden never found the same luck, his concert was a heartfelt performance where his raw vocals spoke louder than the lyrics themselves. I enjoyed the concert and environment, but only went for the sake of my best friends at the time. Everyone was there for one song, but his rendition of Yellow by Coldplay was unforgettable to me.  4/10 

Lana Del Rey, Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, September 20, 2023, $206

A concert that I wish was endless. Her hit songs were cut short to promote her new album at the time. I went there without studying or even reviewing the setlist. I was highly confident in my ability to know all her songs, given that she had been in my top 5 artists every year, only to be left dumbfounded when she spent the majority of her already short concert time simply promoting her new album. The opener’s music genre, modern country music, felt too far from the music genres Lana has claimed, alternative pop. Overall, I rate this concert much lower than I would like to for an artist so near and dear to my heart. 6/10

Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, February 29, 2024, Lenovo Center, $150

Possibly the second-longest concert I’ve attended! Each performance was better than the next, except Enrique Iglesias definitely believed he was still in his heartthrob era. Pitbull delivered an incredible performance where each song was a blast from the past. I loved the crowd’s energy and the overall vibe of the audience. Attending with my best friends was the best decision I could have made, and I will definitely invest in Pit tickets next time. 8/10 

Niall Horan, Del Water Gap (opener), Coastal Credit Union Music Park, June 7, 2024, $60

Incredible performance, human, audience, vocals, setlist, etc. My first concert alongside my older sister was a deeply touching full-circle moment for us both. I’m convinced Niall Horan cannot create bad music. His concert was so good that I almost forgave him for his affair with Ed Sheeran’s girlfriend. Growing up watching him with my sister and hearing her tangents about One Direction, I was bound to cry repeatedly in the general presence of an important figure in my life. 10/10

Bryson Tiller, Red Hat Amphitheater, June 9, 2024, $161

The most disappointing concert I’ve attended. For a rap/r&b concert, the performance was highly underwhelming, which felt like a silent understanding between me and the audience, whose vibes were low for such a chaotic setlist. His shyness surely overtook him and reminded me that we are all human. 3/10

Partynextdoor, The Ritz, July 26, 2024, $126

The audience was disrespectful to the opener, which kept me up and made me think about how all of my favorite artists were once openers, too. Being so close to the stage at a small venue, I felt every beat in my bones. Knowing every lyric to every song came easy after loving his music for so long. 9/10

Jungle, Red Hat Amphitheater, October 16, 2024, Gift from sister, $60

This was the only concert where I felt ashamed to need to record. The most groovy audience at a concert, and definitely one where enjoyment does not correlate with knowing the set list. Which was exactly my case, I left being their number 1 fan, dazed and happy to be alive. Soon after this tour, they collaborated with the infamous Outer Banks series on a world tour! 10/10

Chase Atlantic, Red Hat Amphitheater, October 26, 2024, $150

Hearing their music live made me feel like a younger version of myself, with black eyeshadow, nails, and hair, when the only form of color in my outfits was the contrasting pink bangs. From hearing these songs blasted in every Gen Z person’s bedroom in 2020 to hearing them live, the experience was definitely memorable—incredible visuals for every song and an intriguing new approach to their music. They repeated their hit songs, “Swim” and “Friends,” which was extremely selfless of the band, as it showed an understanding of the songs’ impact on their fans. 8/10 

Don Toliver, October 31, 2024, Charlotte Spectrum Center, $230

Halloween night in the heart of Charlotte was pure chaos and energy—shirtless, sweaty guys everywhere in the pit, a wild 1:20 girl-to-guy ratio, incredible visuals and light shows, and even a full caged motorcycle performance. Kali Uchis stood in the crowd with her baby on her hip, and the setlist was stacked with Gen Z favorites and critically acclaimed hits. The rest is history. 100/10

SiR, The Ritz, Leven Kali, May 29, 2025, gift from sister, approximately $50

Another immediate 10/10. His concert had been canceled two years prior, so my sister and I were ecstatic when his new concert date was announced. Even his two-year hiatus, after his mother’s untimely passing and tour cancellation, couldn’t have prepared me for how euphoric this concert would be. Just raw vocals, a small band, an interactive audience, and Leven Kali, an incredible opener who is surely fame-bound. Another concert I wish I could relive. 

Tyler, the Creator and Lil Yachty, Paris Texas opener, Lenovo Center, July 12, 2025, $260

Possibly the best night of my life. I have looked up to Tyler since I was eight. Playing his music as loud as possible in my living room before the rise of dawn. My only regret is not purchasing pit tickets, but I’ll undoubtedly have other chances. Every song was a tear-jerker, not just because of the lyrics, but because of each song’s impact on my life’s trajectory. 100/10

Russ, Big Sean, PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, July 22, 2025, $40-50

Russ remains an underrated and genuine artist. It felt weird seeing a huge and widely known artist open for someone less recognized in the industry, but I have massive respect for both artists. The reason for the affordable ticket price despite our close seats was largely due to Russ’s firm belief in authenticity. His story and drive are incredibly moving and resonate with millions of other aspiring young artists. 8/10

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Northwest Stadium, Maryland, August 2, 2025, $206

Flawless. Quintessential. Perfect. Amazing. Stunning. Euphoric. Breathtaking. Phenomenal show. Hearing “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd, aka the most listened to song of all time, was mind-blowing. Firework shows and appreciation for fan-favorite songs made me love Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) more than I ever could. 1000/10

Hans Zimmer Live, Lenovo Center, September 12, 2025, $25

The moment I took my seat amongst the crowd, the waterworks began. Hans Zimmer is the creator of the “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Kung-Fu Panda,” “Interstellar,” “Dune,” “The Lion King,” “The Dark Knight,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “The Little Prince,” “Inception,” “Man of Steel,” the newest “Superman” adaptation, and many more soundtracks! It’s incredibly inspiring to watch all the musicians perform with smiles stretching across their faces. Their pure happiness while performing was palpable—each artist with their own background and story. I can promise that no two musicians were from the same country. During the live orchestra show, Zimmer urges the audience to remember that music unites people from different backgrounds because it transcends language. 100/10

The Lumineers, Chance Pena, Walnut Creek Amphitheater, September 16, 2025, Invited by a friend

This was a wholesome concert with a fantastic fanbase and audience. I attended this concert blindly, without any prior knowledge of their setlist, yet I still recognized many songs and was able to sing along! I left with multiple songs added to my playlists. Very heartfelt performance from each of the band members. 8/10

Billie Eilish, Lenovo Center, October 16, 2025, $232

This is a concert I’ll tell my kids about. When her most recent album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, was released on May 17, 2024, I listened to it strictly for the next month or so, obsessed with its upbeat and complex transition into a soft, harmonious flow. The 9-time Grammy Award winner stunned me with her passionate performance. I attended this concert solo and approached a group of welcoming girls. After that, we expanded our group and became an impromptu friend group of 10 girls, ranging from 17 to 27 years old. Our shared love for Billie Eilish united us, regardless of the age difference. 100/10