Laufey Enchants Philadelphia with a Fairytale Spectacle on Her A Matter of Time Tour - Xfinity Mobile Arena
Photo Credits: Nicole Mago
On October 24th, 2025, Laufey brought a sense of magic and wonder to Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 26-year-old Icelandic singer-songwriter’s A Matter of Time Tour was more than just a regular concert. It was a full-scale theatrical experience, combining sweeping orchestral arrangements, cinematic visuals, and emotional storytelling into one enchanting night.
The Opener: Suki Waterhouse
The show opened with English singer Suki Waterhouse, who set a dreamy, nostalgic tone for the night. I missed her first few songs due to arriving late, but from what I did catch—“Model, Actress, Whatever,” “My Fun,” “Moves,” “To Love,” “On This Love,” and “Good Looking”— she captivated the crowd with her soft yet commanding stage presence. Her set felt like stepping into the hazy glow of a late-night film. Waterhouse’s sound, a mix of indie pop and cinematic melancholy, translated beautifully live. Having followed her since Memoir of a Sparklemuffin (2024) and loving her role in Daisy Jones & the Six, it was exciting to see how comfortably she’s stepped into her identity as both a musician and performer.
The Headliner: Laufey
Once Laufey’s name lit up on the massive screens, the energy in the arena shifted completely. The lights dimmed, the string quartet began to play, and the digital backdrop began playing a black-and-white title sequence, one similar to The Wizard of Oz. The stage came alive, and a grand castle structure stretched across the main stage, complete with staircases on either side that met at a small middle platform and a delicate swing hanging from above. The visual was breathtaking, like a fairytale world sprung to life. A massive circular light hung over the stage like a chandelier, spinning slowly at some points and later descending dramatically toward the finale. To the audience’s left sat a string quartet, and to the right, a percussionist, keyboardist, and upright bassist. A narrow runway extended out to a smaller, rounded stage that resembled a clock (I will be calling it “the clock stage” from now on), which is a direct nod to the imagery of her A Matter of Time album cover.
Photo of Laufey’s A Matter of Time Tour Stage. Credit: Emma Vigiolto
Laufey opened with “Clockwork,” wearing a stunning white-and-gold gown with a gold flower crown, evoking the grace of a storybook princess. From the first note, her rich, velvety voice filled the space, effortlessly blending jazz and classical influences with pop sensibilities.
I first discovered Laufey during my senior year of high school in late 2021, before her debut album. Her Typical of Me EP was my soundtrack for a few months, with “Street by Street” and “Magnolia” quickly becoming personal favorites. As a vocal music student at a performing arts high school, I instantly connected to her jazz-inspired phrasing and timeless vocal style. Though I drifted into discovering other artists after graduation, Laufey remained a winter staple in my playlists as her music always seemed to match the quiet, cozy feeling of the season. Seeing her live felt like rediscovering an old friend.
The concert unfolded in five acts, each symbolizing a different stage of love and self-growth. The first act was the fairytale beginning: that spark of romance and excitement, tinged with insecurity. Laufey stayed on the main castle stage for this act, performing songs like “Lover Girl,” “Dreamer,” “Falling Behind,” and “Too Little, Too Late.” During “Dreamer,” she gracefully climbed the stairs and sat on the swing, her dress glowing under the shimmering lights. The entire act’s visuals and orchestration felt cinematic, like a Disney movie.
Act Two transformed the arena into an intimate jazz bar. Laufey reappeared in a shorter, flapper-style version of her first gown, which was still white and gold, but fringed and playful. The jazz band featured a percussionist, bassist, and keyboardist, and was on the clock stage with Laufey, making it feel similar to a jazz bar stage. “Seems Like Old Times,” a Carmen Lombardo cover and bonus track on Laufey’s A Matter of Time, opened the act with a nod to the past, followed by jazz versions of “Valentine,” “Fragile,” and “While You Were Sleeping.” Laufey’s performance was charming and candid.
After “While You Were Sleeping,” Laufey introduced one of the night’s most exciting traditions: her "Best Dressed Guest” segment. At every stop of the A Matter of Time Tour, Laufey crowns an audience member who embodies the spirit of her music through their outfit. Because of it, the arena was filled with fans dressed in whimsical, vintage, and fairytale-inspired looks, some channeling Laufey’s signature soft femininity, others taking cues from her album aesthetics. I didn’t participate (mostly because I bought my ticket just five hours before the show), but it was genuinely inspiring to see how much effort people put into their costumes. It’s rare to see a concert encourage this level of creativity, and I think more artists should follow Laufey’s lead because it fosters self-expression and builds a sense of community even more within the fandom.
For Philadelphia’s show, a young girl was selected as the “Best Dressed Guest,” and in true Philly fashion, she was crowned not by Laufey’s usual mascot, Mei Mei the Bunny, but by the city’s own Philly Phanatic. The surprise mascot cameo drew huge cheers from the crowd. The winner’s outfit perfectly embodied the duality of Laufey’s music: one side was white and floral, symbolizing softness and love, while the other was a dark blue tutu-like design inspired by the A Matter of Time album cover. Laufey admired the look, telling her, “I saw your outfit, and it immediately reminded me exactly what I wanted A Matter of Time to be about and embrace.” The girl responded, “There are two sides of Laufey as we all know—the falling in love side, and then the emotional, A Matter of Time side. And I wanted to showcase that in my outfit.” Laufey smiled and said, “My goal with this whole album was to show that you can be both soft and dark and take up space while still being completely whole. And I felt like your outfit just embodied that so beautifully, so thank you so much for putting the thought in—you understood the assignment.” It was a heartwarming exchange that captured the mutual admiration between Laufey and her fans, highlighting the deep sense of artistry and belonging she cultivates in her community.
A Photo of Laufey and the “Best Dressed Guest” Winner from Philadelphia’s show. Credit: Nicole Mago
Act II then continued with one more song. Before starting “Let You Break My Heart Again” solo on the keyboard, Laufey confessed, “I was so scared that nobody my age wanted to listen cause I wasn’t sure if anybody cared about orchestral music, but you guys really proved me wrong.” The arena erupted in cheers, a reminder of how her modern approach to jazz has found a passionate Gen Z audience (and honestly all generations).
Act Three introduced a darker, more introspective tone. A smaller castle structure appeared at the front of the main stage, where Laufey stood on the middle platform. “Carousel” and “Forget-Me-Not” filled the room with melancholy beauty. During “Cuckoo Ballet - Interlude,” Laufey played cello on the clock stage while two dancers in pointe shoes performed an elegant ballet sequence along the runway. It was theatrical and mesmerizing, showcasing that Laufey’s artistry extends far beyond just her voice.
Before Act Four began, the screens lit up with a short comedy skit starring Laufey and her twin sister, Junia. Filmed mockumentary-style, it followed Laufey trying on a series of ridiculous costumes from a bee suit (“You like jazz?” she joked, quoting The Bee Movie) to Snow White, Hamilton, and even a clock, all while Junia reacted in disbelief. The audience was filled with laughter since it was an unexpected, self-aware break from the show’s intensity and made Laufey’s charm shine even brighter.
When she returned to the stage for Act Four, the tone had completely shifted. Wearing a sparkling purple three-piece outfit—a jacket, bedazzled bra, and fringed skirt—Laufey dove headfirst into the emotional core of the night. At one point, she stepped onto the hand of the clock stage and began spinning around slowly, symbolizing time slipping away. For me, “Goddess” was the true standout of the night. Her haunting, powerful, and raw voice filled the arena with a vulnerability that brought chills. You could feel the emotion in every note, and I found myself nearly tearing up. Laufey doesn’t push her vocals; she sings with effortless control that feels intimate even in a massive space, and she really showcased her vocal ability and range in this performance.
The final act, Act Five, consisted solely of “Sabotage.” The song marked the story’s conclusion: the self-awareness that follows heartbreak. It began softly, then spiraled into chaos as the strings grew distorted and the lights flashed violently. Even knowing the moment was coming, I still jumped when the distortion hit; a deliberate, almost cinematic “jump scare” moment that underscored the song’s emotional climax.
After a brief pause, Laufey returned for a two-song encore. The first was Philadelphia’s surprise song of the night, “Questions for the Universe,” from her debut album Everything I Know About Love (2021). Before starting, she told the audience, “People often ask me, ‘What are your favorite lyrics you’ve written?’ And this song has some of my favorite lyrics I’ve ever written. And it’s called ‘Questions for the Universe.’ I wrote this song about growing pains, and when you’re a little kid, your parents have all the answers to every single question. And, as you start to grow up, you realize that sometimes parents don’t have the answer to every single question. So, these were my questions for the universe.” Her delivery was tender and heartfelt as she sat at the keyboard on the clock stage all by herself. She closed the night with “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self,” a song that tied the emotional journey of the evening together. It was a fairytale ending, but one grounded in reality with reflection, growth, and self-acceptance.
Laufey’s setlist for Philadelphia, PA was as follows:
Act I
Clockwork
Lover Girl
Dreamer
Falling Behind
Silverlining
Bored
Too Little, Too Late
Bewitched (Interlude Version)
Act II
Seems Like Old Times
Valentine (Jazz Version)
Fragile (Jazz Version)
While You Were Sleeping (Jazz Version)
Let You Break My Heart Again
Act III
Carousel
Forget-Me-Not
Cuckoo Ballet - Interlude
Act IV
Mr. Eclectic
Castle in Hollywood
Promise
Goddess
Tough Luck
Snow White
From the Start
Act V
Sabotage
Encore
Questions for the Universe (Surprise Song)
Letter To My 13 Year Old Self
Throughout the night, Laufey proved she’s not only a gifted musician but also a captivating performer. She played guitar, piano, and cello with ease, danced gracefully across the stage, and interacted genuinely with the crowd, all while telling a story. At one point, she laughed, admitting she “almost lost her contact lens” mid-performance, which was a small but endearing moment that made her feel even more human amidst the grandeur.
Her four dancers, dressed in coachman-inspired blue leotards with gold fringe skirts, added fluidity and texture to the performance. They were magnetic without stealing focus, enhancing the storytelling through expressive choreography. During the “Cuckoo Ballet - Interlude,” two of them wore tutus and pointe shoes, performing a delicate, moving ballet sequence that left the audience breathless.
From start to finish, Laufey’s A Matter of Time Tour was a fully realized artistic vision. Every act, costume, and lighting cue served a narrative purpose, crafting an immersive fairytale that explored the highs and lows of love, time, and self-discovery. What could have been a standard concert became a journey that was theatrical yet intimate, and whimsical yet deeply emotional.
Walking out of the arena, I couldn’t help but think back to when I first heard her voice through my headphones years ago. I already knew Laufey was a remarkable musician, but seeing her live revealed something deeper: she’s a once-in-a-generation performer who understands how to make music feel timeless.