Last night, the Gold Coast was treated to an electrifying homecoming performance from one of Australia's biggest musical exports, The Kid LAROI.
Kicking off his return to Australian stages after a two-year hiatus, the show at HOTA (11 November) was the first stop on this tour, and from the moment the lights dimmed it was clear this was going to be a night to remember.The evening began with a high-energy set from DJ TJ Mizell, who had the crowd hyped up with a mix of crowd-pleasing hits. From Travis Scott's 'Sicko Mode' to Kanye West's 'Carnival', the stage was set with songs like 'Lucid Dreams' and 'Fein' that had fans singing at full volume.
Mizell's set was a perfect primer, and by the time he wrapped up, the anticipation for LAROI's entrance was palpable.
The Kid LAROI - image © Gaby Barns
At precisely 7:03pm, the lights went out and the crowd erupted as the Australian rapper and singer made his entrance, opening with 'Sorry', the first track from his 2023 album 'The First Time'. From the get-go, it was clear that LAROI had grown both as a performer and as a vocal artist.
As he hit the final note, he casually walked over to the side of the stage and addressed the eager crowd: "Gold Coast, no one should be still in here!" With that, the energy skyrocketed and LAROI dove into 'What's The Move' before teasing the crowd with stories about his relationship with the Gold Coast.
He revealed that while he hadn't spent much time here growing up, he had fond memories of visiting Movie World. "I'm so happy to be home," he said, the crowd erupting as he kicked into 'Baby I'm Back'.
It wasn't just the crowd who were feeling nostalgic. LAROI shared that his last Australian visit in 2022 during the End Of The World tour, he hadn't experienced energy like that in a long time and was eager to see what the Gold Coast would bring. Asking the crowd to "open up the pit," he set the tone for the rest of the night.
The Kid LAROI - image © Gaby Barns
The night was peppered with throwback hits like 'Diva' and 'Deserve You', before LAROI cheekily asked the crowd: "Do you mind if I keep playing old songs?" The fans were all too happy to oblige as classics like 'I Don't Wanna Know' and the infectious 'Girls' (from 'The First Time' deluxe 2024 edition) had the crowd jumping and singing along in unison.
At one point, LAROI paused to comment on the intense heat in the venue quipping: "Is it just me or is it hot in here?" As the crowd cheered, he showed his appreciation, saying "I hope you're having fun".
Things turned emotional when LAROI dedicated his next song to someone who played a pivotal role in his rise to fame: Juice WRLD. "If it wasn't for this person, I wouldn't be on this stage," LAROI said, before leading the crowd in a chant of "Long Live Juice". The Gold Coast crowd responded in full force, chanting the late rapper's name, creating a poignant moment that left many with chills as LAROI performed 'Go' in Juice's honour.
Another particularly heart-warming moment came when a fan yelled out: "Let me play this song!" and LAROI, ever the showman, invited the fan onstage to play guitar for 'Bleed', The fan, Nash, was introduced to the crowd as LAROI's band – Jeff on guitar, Spencer on drums, and Seth on keys – joined in.
The Kid LAROI - image © Gaby Barns
The crowd lit up the venue with their flashlights, swaying in time to the music. Nash's appearance was a moment of pure joy, and when he finished, LAROI gave him a hug and shouted: "Give it up for Nash, everyone!"
After that soul-stirring moment, LAROI took another moment to express how blessed he felt the crowd was still with him, despite the intense heat. He dedicated 'Heaven' to the Gold Coast fans, a reminder of how far he's come since the early days. The sentiment deepened during 'Where Does Your Spirit Go?', a song about loss and love, with LAROI urging the crowd to cherish the people they care about while they still can.
The set list continued to roll out with crowd favourites like 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', and 'Always Do', before LAROI joked about how the usual encore would be impossible due to the impending storm.
However, that didn't stop the energy from reaching a fever pitch during 'Stay', his smash collaboration with Justin Bieber. The crowd screamed the lyrics back at him, and it was clear LAROI's star power has reached incredible global heights since he first left Australia.
The Kid LAROI - image © Gaby Barns
As the storm clouds loomed, LAROI closed out the night with 'Nights Like This', another fan favourite. "Gold Coast, thank you so much, I love you all. Get home safe, and I'll see you next time," he said as the show came to an end.
Reflecting on the night, it was impossible not to notice the immense growth LAROI has made not just in his musical output, but as a live performer. His voice has grown stronger, his stage presence more commanding, and his connection with the crowd has deepened. The inclusion of a live band, the thoughtful interaction with fans, and his seamless blend of newer material with older crowd favourites made this return show a triumph.
As The Kid LAROI heads to the rest of Australia, it's clear he's not just a rising star – he's a force in the world of live music. Gold Coast, you were the first to experience it.
More photos from the concert.
