RAYE’s “This Tour May Contain Hope” Did, In Fact, Contain Hope

I got to see RAYE on Wednesday night at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. As soon as she announced the North American dates for her This Tour May Contain Hope tour a few months ago, I knew I had to see it. In the days leading up to the show, though, we hadn’t heard anything, so naturally, I assumed it might be a no-go. That wouldn’t have been too shocking, considering how massive her following has become since the September release of “Where Is My Husband?”, and the fact that the State Theatre has a capacity of just 2,181 seats, when she could easily sell out a 10,000+ person venue.

Still, the cherry on top was that this environment felt wholeheartedly RAYE: full of class, style, and intimacy, not to mention impeccable acoustics. All of that made it even sweeter when, sitting at my desk at work, I found out just four hours before showtime that I was going to be there. That email instantly turned my boring Wednesday around.

Going into the night, I knew her sisters, Absolutely and Amma, were set to open the show, and that they had promised a performance of their own. And wow, did they deliver. This was not a case of undeserved nepotism, if you will. These two earned their place on this highly sought-after tour. Amma kicked things off with soulful pop and a dazzling, effortless presence, followed by Absolutely, who brought a more R&B-leaning, electronic pop sound. Together, they laid the most gorgeous foundation imaginable for their older sister to take the stage.

RAYE appeared right on time, emerging in a loud white fur coat and dark sunglasses while lip-syncing the album opener, “Intro: Girl Under the Grey Cloud.” The curtain remained closed as a cloud descended from the ceiling above her, creating an air of anticipation. Moments later, the curtain opened to reveal RAYE in a stunning red gown, flanked by a full symphony behind her. She opened with “I Will Overcome” and “Where Is My Husband,” immediately setting the emotional tone for the night.

She then transitioned into “Skin & Bones,” complete with playful, old-time-inspired choreography performed alongside her two backup singers. From there, the show only got better. The setlist drew heavily from This Music May Contain Hope, while also treating longtime fans to throwbacks like “Worth It” and “Prada.” Over the course of the evening, we were transported through multiple worlds, such as classic vaudeville, a rave, an intimate jazz club, and beyond.

Every element of the show was outstanding: the vocals, the band, the string section, and the stage production. But what truly stood out was how much joy and intention radiated from everyone on stage, especially RAYE herself. She took several moments to genuinely connect with the crowd, letting a couple choose which brass player would take a solo, and recognizing a fan who had attended one of her very first shows, or signing their vinyl mid-performance, for example.

She also didn’t shy away from addressing the heavier topics that inspire her music and resonate deeply with so many people. When she spoke during these moments, you could hear a pin drop in the room. Her vulnerability was powerful, honest, and grounding, proof of music's unique ability to bring people together, something she herself spoke about onstage.

RAYE closed the night by bringing her sisters out to sing “Joy”, the track they are featured on in her new album, and then used her encore to perform her breakout hit “Escapism,” but even after the final note, she wasn’t quite ready to leave. She stayed on stage, chatting with the crowd for several minutes, a rare, intimate moment that felt deeply sincere. Most artists dash off the second the encore ends (rightfully so), but RAYE seemed fluent in the “Minnesota goodbye,” laughing as she admitted, “I really don’t want to leave the stage right now!”

Having last seen her at a music festival almost two years ago, I was so excited to see where she would take this show. She has more music, more fans, and a bigger platform now, but the passion and undeniable talent that drew people in from the start are still very much intact.

If you ever get the chance to see RAYE live, don’t pass it up. And lucky for you, This Tour May Contain Hope runs through May, with even more opportunities to catch her later this summer when she opens for Bruno Mars on select dates of The Romantic Tour.