I’ve always loved music. Rarely will you find me without headphones, listening to something. I’ve got a song for just about every mood, moment, and season of life. Music has been a source of comfort, a place to dream, a way to create, and sometimes a way to sort through feelings that are hard to put into words.
So naturally, concerts are one of the great joys in my life. There’s nothing quite like taking music out of your headphones and experiencing it live.
The excitement starts days before the concert: getting the tickets, making travel plans, and planning what to wear (maybe even having a little fun with a theme!). Then you arrive at the venue, see the stage and the lights, and watch the crowd start to fill in.
And then the lights go down.
There’s that moment when you realize, here we go.
Getting to hear songs and lyrics that mean something to you, surrounded by thousands of people who love them too, is pretty amazing. And over the years, there have been some concert memories that have really stuck.
Recently, there was a chance to see a popular group with some friends. And by “some friends,” that means me, my sister and two friends...along with about 50,000 new friends! Everyone was singing along at the top of their lungs, and there was even some trading of little freebies that had been made to remember the experience.
That’s one of the things that makes concerts so much fun. You can be surrounded by thousands of people you’ve never met, but for a few hours you’re all there for the same reason. Sometimes you even meet people you never would have crossed paths with otherwise and get to hear a little piece of their story.
One of the most memorable concerts was the first time seeing Casting Crowns. It meant a three-hour drive and meeting up with my dad at a school where the concert was being held out on the football field. The stage was small, the crowd was small, and everyone was there to have a good time.
Then they started playing Praise You in the Storm and it actually stormed!
Thankfully, it wasn’t enough to cancel the show. But seeing lightning and hearing thunder as they sang, “But as the thunder rolls, I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you’” was one of those moments that has stayed with me.
There have also been some pretty special opportunities to see music legends. Over the last few years, concerts with my mum have included The Guess Who and Peter Frampton, two classic rock artists she loved when she was younger. Both were incredible, and getting to share those concerts together made them even more meaningful.
A couple of years ago, my sister and I had a chance to take our dad to see the Beach Boys on tour. John Stamos—yes, Uncle Jesse—was playing with the remaining members, which made it even more fun. It was an outdoor concert, and the seats were right under the edge of the roof. That seemed like a pretty good spot, until it started to absolutely pour.
The rain came down so hard that eventually there was no choice but to leave. It was getting difficult just to keep the rain out of our eyes! The whole show couldn’t be enjoyed, but what we did see was incredible. And there was still plenty of fun and time together with our dad.
There’s even a Toronto memory from back when MuchMusic would host bands. Me and my friends had to call MuchMusic on the landline - yes the landline! - and got wristbands which meant getting to watch Evanescence at a live taping. We then went to their concert later that night. Definitely a memorable day.
Some of those concert memories have even made their way into a quilt. It’s made from just a small handful of concert T-shirts collected over the years, and there are quite a few more where those came from!
“But as the thunder rolls, I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you’”
There are some Christian artists represented in the quilt too. But when it was made, there weren’t many Christian artists bringing their tours to Canada. So seeing more artists and groups making their way here now is exciting.
More opportunities to hear the live music we love means more opportunities to discover new artists, share those experiences with other people and, of course, make a few more memories along the way.
That’s the thing about music and concerts. A song can come on years later and suddenly, you’re right back there. You remember the people you were with, the fun you were having, where you were in your life, and sometimes even how you felt. There are some great concerts coming up that UCB will be part of, and maybe one of them could become one of those memories for you.
On September 26, Tauren Wells, Martin Smith and Brooke Nicholls will be together for an evening of live music at Victorious Festival.
GET VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL TICKETS!
Then, from September 29 through October 3, Brooke Nicholls will be bringing her Whatever You Say Tour to several communities.
Maybe you’ll be seeing an artist you’ve loved for years. Maybe you’ll discover someone new. Maybe you’ll go with an old friend, a parent, a spouse, or someone who just really loves live music.
Whatever the concert is, enjoy the whole experience. Because one day, you’ll hear one of the songs and it’ll take you right back to that night.
~Sarah ❤
Uplift Your Day with the Free UCB App
Get encouraging music, devotionals, podcasts, and more—right at your fingertips. Try the 30-Day Listening Challenge and see the difference it makes.
Enjoy a Brighter Day with UCB Radio!
Listen Every Day
Join the Community
Share the Mission