I like a music concert. In fact I’ve been to a few in the last 18 months.

Keith & Kristen Getty. Jeremy Camp. Harry Connick Jnr. We are Messengers. For King & Country. ACO Collective. And just this past week, Lauren Daigle, who was on her Kaleidoscope Tour in Australia.

Those are mostly Christian artists. In fact, other than the chamber orchestra (cleverly hidden in an acronym) they’re Christian artists. I think hearing Harry perform I pray on Christmas live made my December last year.

I’ve discovered a few things about myself going along to these concerts.

Firstly, I don’t mind a brass band. Both Harry and Lauren brought their Louisianna vibes, and I was more than OK with it. Might be why I teach so much Langston Hughes poetry, who can say?

It’s the kind of music I’d love to play if I actually had the time to play in the first place.

I spent my high school years listening to that music. Not sure exactly why. Other than the obvious, if you’ve heard the music of the Harlem Renaissance any time recently.

Secondly, I’ve discovered how spatially challenged I am when buying tickets online. I don’t navigate those venue chair map things well.

The number of times I’ve turned up with the worst seat ever (FK&C) or in the back row of a section when I thought I was in the front row (Gettys and FK&C) or just been way further up the back than I realised even though there was barely a seat when I purchased my tickets (all of them, especially FK&C)

FK&C I was in the absolute back row, spot on in the centre. Evidently I’m OK with the side-to-side navigation, it’s the front and back thing I’m still yet to conquer.

At least I managed Row G the other night. Front section after those on the floor. Much better. No fear for potential vertigo like I had back in May.

Anyhow, back to Lauren Daigle.

As well as the great Louisiana vibes from her eight-piece band, the set design was right. The colours and the layers were simple yet effective. And the band dressed in workman outfits (well, that was our take) along with Lauren in a similar style just with a bit more colour, gave the concert a very authentic feel.

Perhaps a strange side point, but I kept looking at Lauren and the minimal amount of makeup she was wearing. Under those spotlights, she probably had more on that we’d realise, but it was natural. Very natural. The most noticeable thing was the little bits of glitter on the side of her face.

I think that was a good choice.

Being real and being real with God is not easy in the first place. Even more so when you’re up on a stage. The make up along with the choice to end the night with a collection of well-known worship songs, not her own, rounded off the authenticity of the night suitably.

I haven’t got much footage from the night (I delegated the selfie taking to my friend and I’m yet to get it) but I did film the bridge section of one of my favourite tracks, Still Rolling Stones:

For those thinking “Why did she stop the video just when it was starting the good bit?”, you’ve just answered your own question. I’m not standing and holding my phone still when it’s time to be a-dancing.

I like a music concert. I’ve also discovered that I like a music concert where the performer isn’t focused on themselves.

What music concert do you go to where someone reads or quotes out from the bible partway through? What music concert do you go to where the performer is actually praying for the people who come to their concert and that they will find joy, peace, wholeness and freedom?

I know the Christian music scene isn’t big in Australia. I talk to my work colleagues about the concerts I go to, and no one has heard of the names, even the Grammy award winners in the mix.

But when the concert is less about the performer and more about the God we worship, there’s a very different feeling in the room. It’s a taste of heaven, not a taste of hype.

Not that hype is a bad thing. It’s just not eternal.

If you’ve never been along to a concert put on by Christian musicians, why not give it a try? Depending on where you are in the world you might have lots of opportunities or not so many to go along. Even if there’s not too many, it’s worth a try to line yourself up for one soon.

These are quality artists giving you a quality performance, and much more.

Not to say that I’m not lining myself up for other concerts too. I’ve already got my tickets for some ACO events in 2025. And looking forward to them too.

Yours trying to navigate the venue map,

Alison