For a small gig in a small venue, Hayley Kiyoko knows how to put on a show. Other than a few awkward dance breaks, the 27-year-old queer artist gave us life as she kicked off her Encore tour last night in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre.
With a theatre packed full of young Irish queers, Kiyoko came through with hits like Girls Like Girls, What I Need, and of course, Curious. With her two (insanely hot) dancers and band, Kiyoko made a somewhat intimate gig feel like an arena show with choreography and staging.
Towards the end of the gig, Kiyoko amplified the queerness of it all when she took a rainbow flag from fans and aggressively waved it around the stage. The gayness of it all!
Props must also be given to her opening act, Naaz, who fiercely pumped up the crowd before Lesbian Jesus blessed us with her presence. She is one to watch!
Kiyoko also addressed the crowd during her show, saying that Dublin has set the bar high for the rest of her tour, as it is one of the loudest crowds she has ever played for. And obviously, she was hit with the classic Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé from the Irish crowd. Did you even go to a gig in Ireland if the performer wasn’t left confused by this chant?
After the gig, Kiyoko took pictures with fans outside the theatre, writing on Twitter, “Thank you Dublin for an incredible first night out of 2. Encore tour is lit.”
Thank you Dublin for a incredible first night out of 2. Encore tour is lit pic.twitter.com/7E4FFiIFuW
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) January 29, 2019
Hayley Kiyoko is on fire at the minute. Not only has she sold out two nights at the Olympia, but she was also recently nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Music Artist among other queer superstars such as Troye Sivan, Janelle Monáe and Kim Petras.
Kiyoko is set to take to the Dublin stage again tonight for another sold-out show before continuing onto the UK and Europe for the rest of her Encore tour.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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