I flew from Mumbai to Bangkok just for this show. Fred Again.. is an artist whose live sets have taken on a near-mythical reputation, with every performance feeling unpredictable, but in the best possible way. UOB Live was the venue, and even before I stepped inside, there was a steady buzz, the kind that told you something really exciting was about to unfold.
The organizers had everything in place—clear signs, quick security checks, and a smooth entry for the crowd. Even when word spread that Fred was running 40 minutes late, no one complained. The energy inside remained patient and warm, as if everyone knew the wait would be worth it.
I wasn’t alone. I had brought a friend along—a first-timer who had never set foot at a live concert before. She looked around with wide eyes, soaking in the crowd, the lights, the hum of the speakers, and the sheer size of the room. While seeing Fred perform was the main reason for this trip, it was just as much about watching her experience the thrill of live music for the very first time.
Fred’s entrance was understated, with no big spectacle to mark the moment. He started by layering loops over soft piano chords and scattered samples, slowly pulling the crowd into his rhythm. The build felt natural, like the night was shaping itself as it went. When “Bleu (better with time)” swept through the venue, I glanced around to see her—and nearly all 5,999 others—smiling, swaying, and tapping their feet as if they’d done this countless times before. From there, he dove into his catalog with tracks like “Jungle,” “leavemealone,” and “adore u,” each one igniting the room, along with stunning visuals, in its own way.
Midway through the set, Fred introduced his band, and that’s when the night shifted gears. What started as an electronic set turned into something far more alive and unpredictable. Live drums, sharp piano interludes, and unexpected rhythmic turns added new textures to songs I thought I knew inside out. I’d heard about him doing this at other shows—bringing in live elements to change the energy—but watching it unfold in real time gave the music a whole new dimension. He was reconstructing each track in the moment, trusting the crowd to come along for the ride.
One of the night’s standout moments hit during “Victory Lap Three,” his new track with Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax, Denzel Curry, and Hanumankind. The song was already massive, but live, it felt like a detonation. Hanumankind’s verses sliced through the heavy bass, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Then, just as the energy peaked, Fred did something completely unexpected—he left the main stage and bolted through the crowd to a second stage on the opposite end of the venue. My friend grabbed my arm, yelling, “Is he actually doing a lap while playing a song called ‘Victory Lap’?” It was chaotic and beautiful. When he dropped back into the track from the second stage, the energy went wild.
Fred’s strength is in how he shifts between euphoria and intimacy. One moment, the crowd is dancing and shouting; the next, he strips it all back to a single loop, letting the audience’s voices take over. My friend—who at the start of the night didn’t even know how to move to the music—was now singing along. Watching her get swept up in it was almost as powerful as the music itself.
As the night drew to an end, it struck me how rare it is for an artist to turn someone indifferent to live music into a genuine fan. My friend walked into UOB Live unsure of what to expect, but left looking like she’d just discovered a new world. “I think I get why people travel for this,” she said, still processing the night. I couldn’t help but smile—this was exactly why I had flown in from Mumbai.
I had always sensed this and had heard it from others, but now I know firsthand that Fred Again.. has a special ability to create a space where even someone new to live shows can feel included and moved. His lap through the crowd during “Victory Lap Three,” the band’s live improvisations, and those quiet, vulnerable moments came together to create something far beyond a typical concert.
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