P!nk, Tones And I @ Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 27/2/2024

Amidst the sweltering heat of a summer’s night, Adelaide was set ablaze with the electrifying presence of the legendary, P!NK. Drawing a near-capacity crowd of 60,000, Adelaide Oval was treated to the vivacious and fluorescent display of P!NK’s record-breaking Summer Carnival Tour, with Adelaide being penultimate show in Australia.

Teaming up with homegrown talent Tones And I for the Oceania leg, the evening kicked off in style as the Aussie sensation warmed up the stage with her infectious energy. Supported by a three-piece band, backing singers and a team of dancers, she was perfectly suited for the occasion, opening her set with a rendition of Aphaville’s Forever Young. Stopping mid-song for several minutes to assist people at the front requiring first-aid, From there, she rolled through the hits with favourites including Cloudy Day and Never Seen the Rain and a cover of Rihanna’s Diamonds. Tones And I closed her set with her own record-breaker Dance Monkey, finishing with the uplifting Fly Away.

Around 8:30pm, anticipation reached a fever pitch as the carnival commenced in full force. With screens illuminating and lights dancing across the stage, P!NK made her grand entrance like only she can, descending from the heavens on bungee cords amidst a flurry of fireworks. Landing amongst her dancers, the show begun with her chart-topping anthem Get the Party Started. With the crowd on their feet and singing along, she then launched in to Raise Your Glass.

P!NK treated fans to a musical journey, with act one of the show immediately and seamlessly weaving through her catalogue of hits such as Try, Who Knew, Just Like a Pill and What About Us. This was sprinkled in with some crowd interaction and an introduction from Ms Moore herself. With the crowd eating out the palm of her hand, she then sung Turbulence from her latest album, Trustfall, pairing it with similar acrobatics that opened the show. Unfazed by all she had given the crowd already, P!NK required brief assistance reattaching her earring after her aerial work from her musician. Showing dynamics in her performance, this was shortly followed by a poignant cover of Bob Dylan’s You Feel My Love with P!NK playing her own piano accompaniment.

With the crowd and band in full swing and wanting to party with P!NK, the classics continued with an energetic mix of tracks such as Just Give Me a Reason, F**ckin Perfect, Just Like Fire, and a cover of Pat Benetar’s Heartbreaker. This was all paired with lighting, visuals and pyrotechnics adding another layer to the spectacle. For a short moment there were a few rain- drops falling on the audience. With P!NK hot and sweaty from just finishing one of her aerial routines she shared with the crowd, ‘fuck it’s raining, Jesus take the wheel’.

Slowing the tone and tempo for a moment, act three commenced with an acoustic version of Please Don’t Leave Me. This was shortly followed by a beautiful duet with her daughter Willow Sage joining her on stage, singing Cover Me in Sunshine with her mum. This led to an equally moving version of When I Get There, dedicated to her late father, Jim, who passed away in 2021.

Hit after hit vibrated throughout Adelaide Oval with a unified crowd screaming every word to anthems like I’m Here, Irrelevant, Blow Me (One Last Kiss). The main set drew to a close with her latest smash, Never Gonna Not Dance Again, heavily featuring her dancer ensemble.

P!NK left the stage, only to return for an encore performance of the undeniable hit, So What. Her last hoorah was paired with breathtaking acrobatics as she soared across the entire stadium with trapeze to a level most have never seen before. No stranger to a stunt, this was a perfect crescendo to beautiful celebration of one of Adelaide’s most cherished acts. As P!NK, her dancers, and band left the stage for the final time under a thick cloud of smoke and haze, it was impossible not to feel a sense of astonishment after witnessing a show of this magnitude.

P!NK continues to be one of the world’s leading entertainers showcasing why Australia loves her so much. Like all great performing artists, she continues to deliver new and powerful music, always maintaining relatability with her wide and diverse fanbase.

P!NK’s travelling circus heads to Perth for her final show this weekend, before heading across the Tasman for her New Zealand dates in March.

Live Review By David Kerr