In The Loop: Support Act Review

Tonight, we return to Suncorp Stadium for the first of three nights with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran on his acclaimed Loop Tour! And if you’re in the loop, you’ll already be well aware of why it’s important to get to a gig early. We were spoilt with some incredible opening acts, including Irish singer Aaron Rowe, local(-ish) act Mia Wray, and the divine Vance Joy. Under the warm, Summer sun, each of these acts took to the stage to welcome and hype up the crowd with their vibrant lyrics and sweet sounds.

This is what happened at Mia Wray and Vance Joy’s sets at Suncorp Stadium on February 20^th, 2026.

MIA WRAY

Stepping out in the golden hour of the early evening, Mia Wray opened her set with her moody debut single, Work For Me. While Wray’s music has transformed significantly since this 2020 release, it’s an epic showcase of her vocal talents and a great first impression for those who have never seen her before. Her next song, Stay Awake, paints a very different picture of Mia Wray as her music takes a more upbeat tone, with the chance for the crowd to really sing, dance and clap along to the beat. Her lyrics are grounded, showcasing a youthful vulnerability that resonates with the crowd as the music makes them want to shake it away.

The Sunshine Coast local was thrilled to be playing her first stadium shows on the tour, beaming on-stage at the opportunity to share her music with the massive crowd at her hometown shows in Queensland. Her voice was flawless during the set, softer in Not Enough and soaring in Monster Brain. It was clear that Wray was grateful to make this her moment and I hope she knows she deserved every cheer, smile and clap she received! After debuting an unreleased song and sharing some encouragement for the future generations of musicians in the crowd, she jumped into some light, dancy and heartfelt tracks, Tell Her and When We Were Young.

It’s been beautiful to see Mia’s journey as a support artist culminate in this, especially as her solo shows are getting bigger and selling out as well! With some April shows this year (and plenty of time to schedule more later!), I hope this taste of what she has to offer has inspired some new fans to join her for the ride! Wray ended her set with that darker and edgier sound in The Way She Moves, rocking out with her band and celebrating her successes and the journey she’s been on!

Fave song: Tell Her

VANCE JOY

Vance Joy’s set was nothing short of stunning, set against the pale blue and golden-pink hues of the picturesque Summer set as he took us through the nightfall with his golden catalogue of indie folk. He opened the show with Missing Piece from his latest album, In Our Own Sweet Time, and Mess Is Mine from his first album. This was a surreptitious reminder of the fact that he hasn’t released an album in four years. And with a four-year interval between each of his previous albums, and some new singles from last year, I’m hoping this support act slot is an opportunity for the band to warm-up before their own dates later this year (fingers crossed!).

Speaking of new, we were treated to Divine Feelings for the first time. The song went off with a bang, introducing a fun new flair to Joy’s music that I hope we’ll hear more of soon. In the meantime, we enjoyed some of his biggest hits, including the romantic Fire and the Flood. Joy’s fun folk music highlights a beautiful voice, thoughtful and memorable musical arrangements, and a plethora of sincere and heartfelt lyrics that dance upon the ears like the poetry of the Romantics. The tender song, I’m With You, followed along and progressed into the more melancholic notes of Georgia, which seems to hit so much harder live and in the moment.

Drawing to the close of his set, Joy had three songs left to get the crowd’s energy at its peak before Ed Sheeran’s arrival. We sensed the build in enthusiasm with the climbing energy of Lay It On Me in its first verse and its triumphant chorus. Before we arrived at the song it’s nigh impossible to see a Vance Joy show without, Joy snuck in his cover of KISS’s I Was Made For Lovin You, exciting the crowd and showing his appreciation for his bandmates to the audience. But it isn’t a Vance Joy set without the song that inspired a musical movement, Riptide. It’s one of my favourite Australian songs and I can’t get over it anytime I get to see it live, with its palpable energy, quirky charm, and air of mystery. It was the perfect final moment of this set, but hopefully just the start of more perfect moments with Vance Joy and his music in 2026!

Fave song: Divine Feelings