Ho Hey, Hamburg: The Lumineers Enchant the Barclays Arena
On Wednesday, May 14, the American folk-rock band The Lumineers brought their “Automatic World Tour” to Hamburg, turning the Barclays Arena into a space of shared joy and celebration for 6,000 fans. More than a decade into their career, the band showed no signs of slowing down, delivering a performance that felt as heartfelt as ever.
Opening the night was singer-songwriter Michael Marcagi from Ohio, whose folk-pop songs brought a sense of intimacy to the arena. His lyrics, rooted in nostalgia and self-reflection, offered the perfect entry point into the evening. Tracks like “Flyover State” and “Follows You” from his EP Midwest Kid set the tone for the night.
With the crowd all warmed up and excited, the main act came on stage. Without hesitation, they launched into “WHERE WE ARE” immediately pulling everyone into their world. This was followed by songs like “Flowers in Your Hair”, “Submarines", or “Asshole”. From the moment the five-headed band played the first tunes on their instruments, the whole venue shifted. The band was playing their songs with a passion that radiated from the stage and swept across the crowd, and their enthusiasm was contagious. The band used every musical instrument you can think of — piano, guitars, violin, tambourine, maraca, timpani — you name it. Not only was it truly impressive, but it also added to the richness of the sound. It created a vibe of a jam session among friends. As they performed the song “Charlie Boy”, Michael Marcagi was reintroduced on stage and sang with the lead singer Wesley Schultz, and their voices blended together beautifully, making it a special moment. A highlight of the evening was when the first chords of “Ho Hey” started, and the entire arena filled with euphoria. People were jumping and singing every word with a joy that is indescribable. During “BRIGHTSIDE”, Wesley made his way through the crowd, bringing a sense of closeness that made the whole show feel more like a get-together with friends who were having fun and making music than a tour stop. After this personal moment, fan favourites like “Gloria”, “Sleep on the Floor”, and “Ophelia” followed. By then, everyone was infected by the joyful tunes and enthusiasm of the band. Even security guards and tag-along boyfriends were dancing and singing along to the music. Looking around the arena, the joy and love in the air were almost tangible. An energy I haven’t seen in a long time at a concert. Before the encore, the band performed “Big Parade", during which Schultz introduced each band member, giving them a chance to sing a verse of their own. After 120 minutes of pure fun music and emotions, the encore began with “Cleopatra” and closed with “Stubborn Love”, two songs that allowed the crowd to release every last ounce of emotion.
The Lumineers concert transcended a regular show and became a magical experience one will never forget. They proved that a performance doesn’t need big production to leave an impact. With only instruments and enthusiasm, good music and emotions can be projected and bring people closer together.
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WRITTEN BY
Meggi
I like to write about everything pop & fandom culture. Since it has been an integral part of my life for over 10 years I want to write about it for people to get an insight into something they might not understand. I‘d love to shed light onto the misogynistic view on fansgirls/boys. Sport fans and pop music fans are not as different.
