Concert Review: Avery Anna at District 142

Written by Kayla Barnak

Dear Reader,

Picture anything you want to let go of. Anything you want to no longer hold onto. If you could write it down, what would it be? 

Rising country-pop singer Avery Anna played a sold out show in Wyandotte, Michigan on Friday, November 14th, as part of her ‘Let Go Letters’ Tour. As soon as 7 p.m. hit, the doors opened and the venue filled with girls in denim tops and white skirts, some having butterflies, accessorizing their outfits. Everyone anxiously found a spot to stand where they could see the stage best, eagerly waiting for the show to start. 

Before Avery hit the stage, two amazing opening acts shared their talents with the crowd. Dylan Davidson hooked the audience right away with his powerful vocals and the deep, rich lyrics of his songs. His song “Baptized,” which he co-wrote with the headliner, was a fan-favorite of his set, as so many devices swayed back and forth with its lights turned on, the crowd feeling every emotion being sung. 

Jenna Raine was next to grace the stage with her astounding voice and range of songs. She sang “see you later (ten years)”, which she deemed as the song that “changed her life.” The crowd knew every word and added to the emotional tone of the song. She wrapped up her set with an upbeat song titled "Talk of the Town.” The crowd then anxiously waited for the moment they’d all been waiting for, to finally see Avery Anna take the stage.

9:45 p.m. hit, the lights dimmed, and the screams filled District 142. A video for a track on her Let Go Letters album played, consisting of her reading a letter she wrote for the listeners of the record. Titled “Love, Avery,” her words reached the hearts of every person in the crowd who resonated with the need to let go of something or someone. The band joined the stage as the beat of “Mr. Predictable” started playing, and the track’s opening line started blaring through the speakers by none other than the star of the night. The sea of girls sang their hearts out and let out every ounce of emotion they had inside of them. Moving into “Breakup Over Breakfast,” the title track off of Anna’s debut album, the crowd sang “We’ll break up over breakfast / it’s cool, calm, and collected,” with immense passion.. 

Anna moved over to the piano, for it was time for her to perform an intimate song with just her, the piano, and the crowd. An emotional speech about the track “butterfly project” hinted to the crowd what she was about to play. As the first notes of the song came to life, a fan project was displayed. Pieces of paper slowly lifted from the packed crowd with the text “Try To See The Butterflies.” Anna noticed quickly and stopped to thank the crowd and the person who put it on. It was an emotional moment not only for her, but for everyone watching her reaction to the project. She moved into her song “depression,” a part of her Let Go Letters album. She invited her first opener, Dylan Davidson, back to the stage to sing it alongside her. An emotional ballad on the subject of mental health was captivated by their voices, blended intricately together. 

“GRAVE” was then sung, and the chorus was belted out by not only her, but the fans as well. “I wish I had the words to say,” all sung in unison, made every person feel less alone. She then brought Jenna Raine out for a duet of a beloved song named “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. A song that transported the crowd of young adults and teens back to their younger selves, screaming the song in their bedrooms. The duet allowed the crowd to be free and sing their hearts out like they were at a sleepover with a group of friends. This cover song set up the next few minutes while Anna sang a bunch of covers as she scouts out her “Debbie Downer of the Night,” a segment where a lucky fan is picked from the crowd and gets to go on stage with her. The fan was chosen and was given a tote bag filled with goodies, as well as being crowned with a special hat by Anna herself. 

The night came to a close as the audience prepared to hear one of her biggest songs, “Indigo.” A song that filled the ‘for-you pages’ of so many and topped the radio and streaming charts was being sung live. “I used to shine bright like gold / Now I’m all indigo,” the start of the chorus that many in the crowd easily recognized. It was a moment of healing during the encore. It was a magical, beautiful, healing night for many to come together and let their emotions out. 

Avery Anna is a must-see performer, and her live songs make you feel emotion more so than listening through the speaker of a phone. Her show was a place to let go of that something or someone that is weighing you down and be surrounded by others who feel the same thing. If you have the opportunity to see this tour, go see it. It’s a night filled with three amazing acts, where you’ll be entertained the second you walk through the doors. A big group therapy session where we are reminded of what Avery said in her letter to the crowd, “Nothing Heals If Nothing Hurts.” 

Love, Kayla