By Lorenzo dela Cruz | April 28, 2025

all images taken from the crowd

Beabadoobee (aka Beatrice Laus) returned to Austin on The Space In Between Tour, marking her second performance in the city after her Beatopia North American Tour in 2022. This time, she brought her dreamy blend of indie rock and pop to the scenic Moody Amphitheater in Waterloo Park. Despite earlier worries about on-and-off showers in the area, the weather turned in favor of the crowd—just in time for golden hour. The sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the venue that felt almost poetic, especially considering Bea's own track “Sunny Day.” The crowd was as eclectic as her music—ranging from Gen Z fans in lacey tops and maxi skirts to middle-aged tech professionals in polo shirts and sneakers. This diverse turnout is a clear sign of Beabadoobee’s growing mainstream appeal and genre-blending sound, which continues to connect across generations.

As the band members took to the stage, everyone in the audience rose to their feet, as if called to attention by a general in the army. Beginning with "California," the excitement in the crowd grew as the night began. Couples swayed in each other's arms, friends jumped up and down together, and fans yelled "I LOVE YOU!" from every corner of the venue. Bea was the center of attention. Her live vocals were such a treat to witness—strong and driving for songs like "Talk," but soft and delicate for songs like "Glue Song," "Coffee," and "the way things go."

Even as a relatively new listener to her music (only discovering her a month prior), I found myself instantly hooked. I was constantly turning to my sister, a longtime fan, asking for the name of each track—then quickly adding them to my Apple Music library. One quirky but endearing part of the show was the sheer number of guitar swaps. After nearly every song, Bea or one of her bandmates received a new instrument, sometimes even mid-performance. At one point, I joked with a friend that the band’s guitar collection might just out-value my entire net worth.

The stage design was minimal but effective. A large white tarp acted as a canvas for abstract, branch-like projections, while dramatic lighting cast towering shadows of Bea across the stage. During transitional moments, a droning white noise—layered with oceanic sounds like waves and faint seagulls—set a contemplative tone. This all culminated beautifully during “Beaches,” which Bea introduced as her favorite song. Midway through, the tarp dropped to reveal a glowing wall of greenery, transporting the crowd into a lush, dreamlike beachscape.

Beabadoobee didn’t speak much throughout the night, but when she did, the crowd responded with overwhelming affection. One of the evening’s most electric moments came during “She Plays Bass,” when she asked the audience to jump in unison during the bridge. The resulting energy made the ground shake—a real testament to how locked in the audience was. She also opened up briefly about the emotional toll of life on tour, mentioning how much she missed her cat and boyfriend, and her enjoyment of Austin’s music scene, even shouting out Charli XCX’s concert the night before.

For the encore, Bea returned to the stage alone to perform “the way things go.” Despite being solo, it felt as though everyone in the amphitheater was one as the crowd joined in singing, and in a funny twist, Bea forgot some of the lyrics—an endearing reminder that even the most polished performers are still human.

For many in the audience, particularly young Asian Americans like myself, seeing a Filipino artist like Beabadoobee on such a large stage was more than entertainment—it was representation. Her presence is both validating and inspiring, offering a vision of what’s possible for creatives who don’t often see themselves reflected in mainstream music.

Beabadoobee’s Austin performance was a magical blend of sound, emotion, and environment. From the weather to the lighting, everything fell perfectly into place. Whether you were a longtime fan or a recent convert like myself, this concert was an unforgettable experience of Bea’s discography.