Photo Credit to Cece Lipman
Zara Larsson performed at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom on February 28, 2026. This performance will be part of the Midnight Sun Tour. The album, “Midnight Sun,” came out late last year, which contained hits such as, “Blue Moon,” “Girls Girl,” “Eurosummer” and “Crush.”
Larsson’s music surged in popularity after she was featured on her feature on the song “Stateside,” with PinkPantheress, which reached #1 on Spotify and #3 on the UK’s Singles Chart. Her feature on the song brought attention to how she has redeveloped her artistry and how it pertains to her newest album.
“In thinking about this album, I thought, ‘What do I want to say? What do I want this to be?’ I really am proud of my Swedish pop heritage, so I wanted to write about a Swedish summer where the sun never goes down,” Larsson said at the iHeartRadio Album Release Party for her album.
“Midnight Sun” stands out from Larsson’s other discography because although her other albums and songs such as “Lush Life” and “Symphony,” were all well received, they did not have the aesthetic appeal that this album does. This album adapted thematic imagery fitting with the songs, like glittery dolphins, sunsets and hibiscus flowers. Along with producing a new sound and aesthetic, this tour sports a plethora of unique attributes regarding the costumes, choreography and makeup.
“I wanted the whole album to feel like it is a summer night and it never ends. And it doesn’t matter if it is December: the summer night will be there for you. It is waiting for you, it will come back for you, and you will come back for it.” Larsson said.
High Energy On Opening Night
Larsson went through with this theme on her opening night in Portland. With four sets and 26 songs to perform, Larsson outdid her previous shows. Keeping the energy high can be difficult for performers, especially in such a small venue, but Larsson’s eccentric vocals and choreography kept the audience engaged for the whole show. Even towards the end of the show, Larsson kept the crowd hyped with blow up dolphins and bubbles during the finale of “Symphony”.
Along with the hits, Larsson was successfully able to incorporate some lesser known songs from both “Midnight Sun” and some of her older albums. Some fan favorites from “Midnight Sun” were “Hot & Sexy”, “Pretty Ugly” and “Puss Puss”, meaning “kiss kiss” in Larsson’s native language of Swedish . She also showcased some older songs like “Can’t Tame Her” from her 2024 album “Venus”, “Love Me Land” from her 2021 album “Poster Girl” and “Sundown” from her 2017 album, “So Good”.
Larsson also incorporated some mashups and covers into the performance. She incorporated rapper Sexxy Red’s song “Looking For The Hoes”, which the crowd loved. She also performed a cover of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More”.
Although Larsson is known for her upbeat and danceable songs, her more mellow songs were equally as enjoyable. Older songs like “Never Forget You” and “Ruin My Life” exhibit deeper meanings, yet still maintain good musicality. Same goes for her mellow songs on “Midnight Sun” like “The Ambition” and “Saturn’s Return”.
A Cosmic Checkpoint: The Emotional Core of the Night
Photo Credit to Cece Lipman
One of the fan favorites of the performance was “Saturn’s Return”, because it is such a well done and relatable song. A Saturn’s return is a term in astrology where the planet of Saturn returns to its same occupation it was when one was born. It is usually described as a phase of maturity or a cosmic checkpoint.
“I used to be so certain about every single thing growing up, and I used to love that about myself, having the answer to everything. But the older I get, the less I know, the less certain I am. It feels so good. And it’s fine to sway a bit in the wind because I know who I am in my core deep down. But I have allowed myself to open up and view the world from other people’s perspectives, to be more understanding, to be more compassionate, to be more empathetic.” Larsson said.
Along with being performed phenomenally, the song captivated the audience to take a break on dancing and reflect on the true meaning beyond the song, and get a more vulnerable moment to remember the concert.
“Like I say in the last verse, I had so much pressure and a lot of big goals when I was really young—I was way more stressed then than I am now. I was disappointed when I didn’t get the things I thought I’d achieve. But then that’s followed by acceptance and a new burst of inspiration and rediscovery. For me, this song is about stepping into a new era in my life.” Larsson said.
