Lucy Gray – The Tuning Fork: October 30, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Among all the new generation of musicians in New Zealand, Lucy Gray (Lucy Alice Gray) is without a doubt one of the most captivating.
It is not only her dreamy and catchy indie-pop sound that draws attention, but also her ability to connect with and care for her audience. She gained more than 74k followers on Instagram in a remarkably short time, which is a rare achievement for a native New Zealand artist. After performing at Ones to Watch and several opening shows, Lucy finally stepped into the spotlight for her first headline show at the legendary Tuning Fork.
The moment you walk into the venue, you can feel the difference. The bar is covered in white cotton webs, and two massive black curtains block the view toward the stage, leaving only a narrow passage for people to walk through. Two ghost masks hang on each side, giving away the Halloween theme. A month before the show, Lucy announced the idea on her Instagram page, inviting fans to take part and promising a prize for the best costume. The crowd clearly took it seriously, dressed as witches, princesses, a bottle of hot sauce, and even a walking house.
To the left of the entrance is the merch table, where a woman wearing a masquerade mask greets you with a warm smile. That is Ann, Lucy’s mother. She had flown in from Christchurch the day before, not only to help sell the merch but also to stay up late with Lucy decorating the entire stage. After a short chat with her, you can feel that something special is about to begin.
Brody Leigh
Opening the night was Brody Leigh, once recognised as the Smokefree Rockquest winners, performing alongside her brother Ben on guitar. She brought a seven-song set that revealed both confidence and quiet vulnerability.
She began with Overdue, stripped back to an acoustic version. Without the studio polish or electronic effects, the song felt entirely reborn — fragile, raw, and intimate. Sitting on a clear plastic stool, she sang with a poise that was almost cinematic, offering her stories to the crowd in hushed honesty.
Then, taking the guitar herself, Leigh performed a new song, Wisdom Teeth, reflecting on friendship, youth, and the strange ache of growing up. Those kinds of feelings only belong to a certain age, and she captures them with a kind of bittersweet clarity that lingers.
She closed her set with the song Pilot, finishing her performance to a wave of applause. After the final note faded, she crouched on the stage and spent a long moment talking with the audience, sharing laughter and warmth before finally stepping away.
Lily Stiven
Next on stage was Lily Stiven, joined by Dean Rodrigues on bass and Sebastian Dudding on guitar. Already a rising star in New Zealand’s music scene, she had just completed her debut headline show earlier this month, and tonight she proved why she belongs in the spotlight.
She kicked off with the pop-R&B track What’s the Worst I Could Do, striding confidently onto the stage. The song, a modern love story wrapped in emotional complexity, immediately drew the audience in. Over the course of her set, she delivered six more songs: two earlier originals (Look Where I Am and Williams Tragedy), two covers (Messy and Nice to Each Other), and two unreleased tracks (Heal and Lost Love). She closed with her newest single, Not My Own, captures the chaos of losing control in a fast-paced world — the sense of being overwhelmed, unheard, and detached from your own choices and identity. Her songs often circle around love, contemplation, and self-reflection, giving her work a distinct emotional depth. Her voice soared over the melodies, commanding attention and earning enthusiastic applause.
I have to confess, my focus was repeatedly pulled toward Dean on bass. His technique was simply mesmerizing. Later, I discovered on Instagram that he was also the drummer for Dani Joise’s show. Here I must express my respect for the talented musicians who lend their skills to elevate and support rising artists on stage.
Lucy Gray
After a brief intermission, the stage went completely dark. Amid cheers from the crowd, Lucy ran onstage, dressed entirely in white — white shoes, a flowing white dress, white wings, and a white halo atop her head. Tonight, she was an angel. Behind her, guitarist Liam Beasley wore devil horns, and drummer Elliot Borland in demon wings, creating a visual contrast of angels and demons. With that, the three-piece performance officially began.
As the guitar rang out, Lucy launched into an unreleased track, Pull Out Mattress, greeting the crowd with excitement. She expressed her delight at seeing so many fans in costume. Next, she performed Soft Spoken and Running Through My Mind. Then Lucy picked up a guitar and played Not Fair, marking the first time I had seen her perform with an instrument. Known for her high-energy stage presence, she rarely delivers such intimate, quieter moments, which made this performance particularly striking.
The next song was Pretty, a catchy, nostalgic track. Lucy showcased her talent for crafting memorable melodies, and the crowd joined in for a full singalong.
Lucy then performed her first cover of the night, Chappell Roan’s Casual, an artist she cites as a major inspiration. The song, about the complexities of entangled relationships, features a catchy chorus, and Lucy’s rendition highlighted the clear influence Roan has had on her own writing.
After two older tracks, We Were the Scene and Coffee Breath, Lucy took a moment to compliment the audience on their costumes and playfully asked the front row about their characters. These moments of interaction added warmth and intimacy to the show.
Lucy then introduced her work on a new EP, presenting three songs: Angle, Choke Choke, and The Throne. These tracks diverged from her previous work, embracing a light indie-rock style with stronger emotional expression, more dynamic guitar elements, and driving energy.
She mentioned that she enjoys experimenting with her music, and it seems that her new EP is her exploration into indie rock, which is very exciting. She also said that her upcoming songs are influenced by electronic artists such as Oklou and Caroline Polachek. The new EP follows a narrative centered on a character, which she is eager to share. Fans can look forward to a more cohesive and an exciting shift in her sound
The next song was another cover, Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild, another artist who inspires her a lot. The audience sang along enthusiastically, with some even dancing in the crowd, creating a joyous, communal energy that carried through the rest of the night.
Afterward, Lucy had the staff turn the lights on. She told the audience she had been observing everyone throughout the show and then announced the winner of the best dressed contest. The winner not only impressed with a fantastic Mad Hatter costume but also sang along to every song with the loudest voice in the room. The prize included a black rose, a T-shirt, and a brand-new poster.
The next song was Paranoia of the Mind. Lucy explained that she wrote the track during one of her most conflicted periods, exploring inner struggles, self-doubt, trust, and loss. Notably, the song once ranked #5 on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles, making it her highest-charting song to date. Performed quietly and introspectively, the accompaniment was stripped back to an acoustic guitar with a repeating four-bar riff. By the end of the song, Lucy was visibly touched, holding back quiet tears as she gently made her way through the final verse — a raw, unforgettable moment.
Following her recently released single Saviourism, Lucy introduced her final song of the night, Polar Orbit. She saved the best for last. She regards it as the most meaningful song she’s ever written.“This song is the reason why I’m here. ”she said. “It’s what music means to me, and it’s what I want to do, no matter how relentless the music industry can be.” It’s the soundtrack of her relationship with music. The song explores her connection with music — the desire to be seen, the longing for success, and the fear of being left behind. Unlike her other songs focused on emotions, relationships and love, Polar Orbit is all about ambition. As Lucy sings in the track:
Take me to California
Know the grass isn’t greener
But it sure as hell is warmer
Than out here in polar orbit
Find something that I can’t change
I guess it’s what I’ve gotta
Take me to Nashville city limits
Peddling my wares till they let me in
Mama, I’m a big shot on my way
And maybe I’m in love with the real thing
If the lyrics ‘Take me to California’ isn’t clear enough, the word Hollywood showing behind her in the music video should tell you exactly where this 18-year-old artist’s ambitions lie. The grass may not be greener anywhere else than in New Zealand, but for a native Kiwi artist, the country sometimes feels too small to contain her dreams. Lucy is ready to chase the wider world, and Polar Orbit perfectly captures her drive, vision, and fearless pursuit of her music.
After the song ended, Lucy stepped off the stage to roaring applause. The crowd was not ready to let her go as chants of encore filled the room until she reappeared. This time she looked completely transformed: black dress, black wings, and a black halo. The angel had turned dark. The transformation was stunning, not only for its symbolism but also for how quickly she pulled it off. Together with the detailed stage setup, her two contrasting costumes, and her encouragement for fans to dress up, it became clear that Lucy’s understanding of performance goes far beyond music. Her vision is total, immersive, theatrical, and brilliantly self-aware, showing a maturity and intelligence far beyond her age.
She performed Trying So Hard, her latest release from a month ago, before closing the night with heartfelt gratitude. She spoke sincerely about what the show meant to her, thanking everyone who made it possible. But you might not want to leave in a rush. Lucy was not done giving. Moments later, she appeared at the merch table to meet every fan in person. You did not have to buy anything to talk to her, get a signature, or take a photo. She offered all of that herself, using both the fans’ phones and her own. She hugged everyone, treating each person like they truly mattered. That generosity and sense of connection are why she has built such a loyal, devoted fanbase.
Fans handed her handmade gifts: bracelets with her name, homemade albums, even a boy asking her to draw on his arm so he could turn it into a tattoo. Lucy and her mother, who had helped organize and decorate the show, greeted everyone warmly and gave away free posters to the best-dressed attendees. Among the crowd was a fan who had come all the way from Wellington just for this night — a free poster felt more than deserved.
After chatting with the very last fan, the security guard could finally lock the doors. Lucy finally had a moment to return onstage and start packing up the decorations herself. When she walked toward me holding a plastic skull, we finally got the chance to talk. We exchanged a few words, and I could see the fatigue beneath her grace. She had earned a rest, though it will not last long. At the end of this year, she will take the stage at Rhythm and Vines, one of New Zealand’s biggest music festivals. It will be her first festival appearance, where she will welcome the first sunrise of 2026 and, without doubt, astonish a whole lot more people.
It was, by all accounts, a near-perfect show. If there is one small wish, it is to one day see her with a full band with bass and keys, but that will come in time. For now, this 18-year-old artist has bigger things ahead.
As I finished writing this review, Lucy posted a thank-you post with live photos on Instagram, ending with the words “Next door at Spark next year.” The Tuning Fork sits beside Spark Arena, New Zealand’s most iconic indoor venue, the same place where Billie Eilish once took her first steps beyond the United States. And it feels like the first launchpad for Lucy Gray, too. I can see that day coming, and it isn’t far off.
She’s a big shot on her way.
Ming Lyu
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ming Lyu
Lucy Gray:
Lily Stiven:
Brody Leigh:
