From his early days busking in Byron Bay to co-founding his own label, Ziggy Alberts has always built his career on connection rather than convention. That ethos was on full display in Phoenix. Even in a city far from his Australian roots, he created a space that felt less like a tour stop and more like a shared moment between friends.
Now over a decade into his career, Alberts has cultivated a rare kind of loyalty—one that grows not through hype but through consistency. His global fanbase has been earned show by show, lyric by lyric. And Thursday night’s performance reflected that quiet momentum: steady, soulful, and deeply human.
Each song felt like an invitation to slow down, to tune in, to remember what matters. Tracks from New Love hit especially deep, not just for their lyrical honesty but for how they were delivered—with intention, clarity, and care. The album’s duality—its blend of earthy folk and expansive, rock-influenced tones—came to life in a set that was both grounding and liberating.
Alberts’ independence isn’t just a backstory—it’s part of the experience. There’s an unfiltered quality to his performance, an openness that’s increasingly rare in today’s music landscape. That freedom allows him to take risks, like covering Avril Lavigne with raw sincerity, or singing from the middle of the room without missing a beat. It’s those unexpected, unscripted moments that linger.
Opening act Steph Strings mirrored this authenticity in her own way. Her blend of fingerstyle guitar, blues, and folk gave the evening a sense of grounded curiosity. With her sound rooted in nature and narrative, she set the stage not just musically but energetically. For an artist still at the start of her global rise, her presence was striking—an artist who plays from instinct and speaks from the heart.
Together, they crafted a night that reminded everyone why live music still matters. Not for the spectacle, but for the soul.
