UK Tour Comes to an End

by on

First Aid Kit ended their UK/Ireland Rebel Hearts tour in Leeds last night. From what’s been reported, and what I’ve seen myself, it’s been a huge success.

For over ten years these two sisters have been establishing a place for themselves in the worlds of folk, country and ‘indie’ pop music. Within these circles, they’ve built an ever-growing following, but they’ve largely been ignored by the public at large. Although it’s still too early to tell for certain, this tour appears to mark a shift towards something much bigger. The venues are larger than ever. The tickets all sold out. The audiences more enthusiastic. The shows more spectacular, with elaborate lighting effects. Since the music appeals to all age groups, people are bringing children, parents or even grandparents along. Even the criminals have caught on – you’ll find ticket touts outside venues and other shady characters selling fake merchandise. YouTube is being flooded with ‘dodgy’ videos claiming to be ‘exclusive live streams’ of concerts! Even Klara and Johanna themselves seem to be taken aback by what they describe as ‘this mad UK tour’. At the Brixton show, I attended, they spoke at some length about their bewilderment at what was happening and how it all appeared surreal to them.

Success, of course, is a two-edged sword. It’s great that First Aid Kit are finally gaining the recognition they deserve. However, the days of small intimate gigs where they can stand around and chat with their fans may well be over. With fame come all sorts of pressures and expectations. They will need level heads to navigate all this. On the other hand, increasing fame gives a certain amount of power. Record companies and promoters are still going to want you no matter what you do. If they are going to survive as artists, they will need to use this new found power to set their own agenda, and not let their creativity be stifled by the ‘money men’.