LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Vance Joy in Portland, ME (09.03.25)
On a crisp early September evening in Portland, with jackets zipped and hands wrapped around hot cider cups, Vance Joy kicked off the U.S. leg of his 12-date tour at the open-air field of Thompson’s Point. The temperature might’ve hinted at the coming fall, but the mood in the crowd was anything but cold. Young couples, longtime fans, and even families huddled in blankets were all there for one thing: a good old time with Australia’s beloved troubadour.
Emerging in the shadows, Joy opened the night with a hushed solo performance, singing from afar as he walked toward his bandmates. It was a gentle, cinematic start, intimate and spellbinding. By the time they reached “Mess is Mine” as the third song, the full band had joined in, and the stage lights burst to life, illuminating a sea of swaying bodies and joyful faces.
There’s something incredibly endearing about the way Vance Joy commands a stage not with bravado, but with warmth. After nearly every song, he paused to thank the audience with genuine appreciation. Early in the set, he told the crowd this was his first night of the American tour, and the audience let out a cheer that seemed to energize him even more. He smiled, visibly moved, and offered a special thanks to his mother, an English teacher who, he shared, helped shape the lyrics of his early songs. It was one of several tender, connective moments throughout the night.
Midway through the set, Joy stepped off the main stage and appeared on a small platform nestled in the middle of the crowd. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, he treated fans to a three-song mini-set that included a debut of a brand-new track. There was a light-hearted, almost comical moment as he realized he was singing with his back to a good chunk of the audience. “I just realized you’ve all been staring at my butt this whole time,” he laughed, spinning around to fix the orientation. The crowd chuckled along, his self-effacing humor only making the experience more personal.
One of the night’s biggest surprises came when Joy launched into an unexpected cover of KISS’ “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” At first, there was a pause of collective confusion, but as the chorus hit, the crowd leaned in, and so did the volume. The men especially seemed to come alive, belting the lyrics as though Gene Simmons himself had made an appearance. It was a playful, rocking detour in an otherwise indie-folk evening, and it absolutely worked.
Joy also introduced a heartfelt song he’d written during the COVID pandemic about distance, love, and the wait being worth it. The emotional resonance was clear; fans stood in silence, soaking up every word. It was a reminder that while his melodies may be sunny and light, Joy’s lyrics often cut deeper, tapping into shared feelings of longing and hope.
He closed the night, of course, with the irresistible “Riptide.” As that unmistakable ukulele line rang out into the cool Maine air, the crowd erupted. People sang with abandon, arms wrapped around friends and strangers alike. It was the perfect closer to a night that was intimate, joyful, and, above all, human.
Vance Joy didn’t just play songs, he created memories. And for those at Thompson’s Point, the first night of his U.S. tour felt like something special, like we’d all been let in on a beautiful secret.
Photos – Vance Joy at Thompson’s Point in Portland, ME on September 3rd:
