Ruel Kicks His Feet All the Way to Minneapolis
Ruel returned to the Twin Cities on Thursday night with a show that felt equal parts homecoming and victory lap. Currently traveling the country on his Kicking My Feet North American tour, the Australian singer made Minneapolis his last U.S. stop for a few weeks before heading to a run of music festivals in South America. It had been nearly three years since he last performed in the metro, at Uptown Theater shortly after it opened in June 2023, and Thursday’s crowd at his Minneapolis stop made it clear they had been waiting.
Opening the night was British singer‑songwriter Arthur Hill, who delivered his final performance as part of Ruel’s tour. Hill’s indie‑leaning ballads and soft vocals blended seamlessly with the tone of the night, building the perfect on‑ramp to Ruel’s set. One of the most charming moments of the evening came during Hill’s closing songs, when Ruel himself burst onto the stage wearing Arthur’s merch, dancing and hyping up the crowd. Fans erupted, the kind of surprise cameo that reminds audiences why live music feels special in the first place. Hill wrapped his set with Appetite, one of his best‑known tracks, leaving the crowd buzzing.
As soon as the lights dipped for the main act, the energy in the room shifted. A long, pulse‑pounding intro filled the venue, strobe lights flickering against the silhouette of a red door at center stage, an instantly recognizable tour prop. The atmosphere was almost cinematic; it even echoed the dramatic openings of Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour, with tension and anticipation building with each beat. When Ruel finally stepped through that door, the room erupted.
He wasted no time launching into newer material, including Only Ever and Not What’s Going On, before shifting gears into an older fan favorite, Dazed and Confused. The setlist felt thoughtfully curated, weaving together the nostalgia of his early work with the confidence and maturity of Kicking My Feet. Whether he was belting out high‑energy choruses or sinking into softer, introspective tracks, the pacing of the night never faltered.
One of the most striking things about Ruel as a performer is how much space he occupies, literally (he’s 6’6”). He rarely stayed still, constantly moving across the stage, connecting with fans from every angle. It made the show feel alive, dynamic, and deeply personal, whether you were pressed up against the barricade or watching from the back of the room.
This was my second time seeing Ruel, and the growth in his stage presence was undeniable. Something has shifted in the nearly three years since he last toured here. He seemed bolder, freer, and more in command of his craft. Every moment, from the big crescendos to the stripped‑back emotional stretches, felt intentional. And more than that, it felt memorable.
If Thursday night was any indication, Ruel has reached a new level as a performer. Minneapolis may have been his last U.S. stop for now, but he left the Twin Cities with a show worth replaying long after the lights came up.
