LAUFEY W/SUKI WATERHOUSE
@ SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO
OCTOBER 19, 2025
As she approaches the end of the A Matter of Time Tour, international jazz-pop sensation Laufey performed at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena for the first of two sold out dates. With Suki Waterhouse as tour support, Laufey celebrated the recent release of her third album, A Matter of Time in spectacular fashion.
Laufey took the stage to the sold-out area as the velvet red curtains circling around her stage dropped, revealing her band and an archway of stairs at the back of the stage. Emerging from under the stairs, Laufey opened her set with “Clockwork,” “Lover Girl,” and “Dreamer.” Backed by a four-piece band and a string quartet, the power of Laufey’s voice was immediately arresting. With a stunning delivery, the first act of her set saw her band power through a series of songs with Laufey at centre stage, including standout performances of “Silver Lining” and “Too Little, Too Late.” Between the gentle backdrop, the unique use of dancers, and her voice, the stage production gave the energy of a small jazz club – every musical and visual element contributed towards this aesthetic. Doubling down on this notion, a second act saw Laufey lead her band to the circular, clock-shaped platform at the front of the curved catwalk as she performed a brief set of songs, made for a vocal jazz quartet. This stood as a remarkable highlight for the night as songs like “Valentine,” “Fragile,” and “Let You Break My Heart Again” were rearranged to fit a smooth jazz context. In addition to marking a special moment throughout the night, this should also serve as a testament to the timelessness of Laufey as a songwriter as her work sounded as though it was pulled straight from a book of American jazz standards. Truly, Scotiabank Arena has never felt so intimate.
SUKI WATERHOUSE
Throughout the rest of the show, Laufey would take to different areas across the stage, from the catwalk to the top of the arched staircase. At times, she would pick up a guitar, at others, she could be seen behind a grand piano, and for one all-too brief but very special moment, she performed a cello solo. Songs like “Carousel,” “Goddess,” and “From The Start” continued to showcase not only the musicianship on stage, but Laufey’s exceptional ability to conjure a range of emotions with each performance, demonstrating equal levels of authenticity to moments of beauty and devastation. Laufey brought her set to a close with a brutally raw performance of “Sabotage,” followed by a two-song encore. While he final song, “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self” is a staple on the tour, leading into this, night to night, Laufey and her band have been surprising audiences. In this case, Laufey performed, solo with just her electric guitar, her collaboration with Beabadoobee, “A Cautionary Tale,” marking the live debut for the song.
It is astounding that an Icelandic jazz-pop artist, with three records under her belt, could headline an arena tour in 2025; however, Laufey makes it seem effortless. As she ebbed and flowed between highly produced and choreographed set pieces to vulnerable moments of intimacy, her musicality, expression, and charm never wavered, making for a spectacle of a performance that blurred the lines between jazz and pop. Most importantly, the A Matter ocf Time Tour captures Laufey at the height of her powers as she establishes herself as an absolutely vital figure among the shifting sounds, aesthetics, and vibes of pop music.
Laufey Links
Suki Waterhouse Links
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