Did it ever happen to you to step into a room and feel, almost instantly, that you were entering a sacred space? Not because of marble columns or stained glass, but because of the music, the kind that makes you exhale a little slower, blink a little softer, and feel your heart unclench? That’s what happens every time I see RY X live.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to watch him perform in some of the most beautiful venues in the Netherlands — from the golden elegance of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the warm embrace of De Oosterpoort in Groningen. Last night, at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, the experience felt just as meaningful, just as reverent, yet with its own unique magic.
The night began with a delicate string intro, like the gentle opening of a curtain to a dream, before unfolding into Sweat – that slow, hypnotic build that seems to pull the air taut between the stage and the audience. Then came Salt, its ending stretching into a tense, almost breathless pause before dissolving into All I Have.
The show continued with Berlin, Ry’s ode to a love left behind and a place once called home:
Bedroom floor and silence in my blood
Sorry, love, I’m running home
I’m a child of sun and the stars I love
It’s one of those songs that always feels like it belongs to everyone in the room, each listener quietly threading their own memories into its fabric.
RY took a moment to speak to us, his voice both humble and warm:
“Touring Europe in the summer is something special. We came to Amsterdam to play two nights at Paradiso only four months ago, and to come back and feel the love here — it’s a true gift.”
From there, the set moved like waves: You, Bound, and Oceans (which drew the first big cheer and clapping from the crowd) before cresting into something unexpected.
Shortline transformed the venue into a rave of light and movement, the audience suddenly dancing, alive with rhythm. Then The Water: a surge of joy and pure, unfiltered energy, you could see it mirrored on RY’s face, his smile being a reflection of ours.
By Love Me (remix), the room was a ball of fire, just like Ry said. Howling carried that same electricity, with everyone on their feet, swaying and moving in unison, as if some invisible thread bound us together.
After the high, the encore brought tenderness. RY returned to the stage with the UK band Flyte, his opening act and touring companions, for a heartfelt rendition of All I Have, when he introduced them warmly:
“It’s such a joy to be on the road with these heartfelt, powerful, tender brothers… please give them some love.”
In this moment, the lights dimmed, the audience lit up their phones, and a thousand tiny stars appeared in the room while we could hear Only. It was a quiet, glowing goodbye, a collective moment of gratitude before the last note dissolved into silence.
Walking out into the Utrecht warm night, I felt that familiar mix of fullness and longing, the same feeling RY X’s music always leaves behind. It’s the kind of beauty you want to hold on to, even though you know it’s meant to slip gently through your fingers.
Tomorrow, RY X will play in Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral, then Oslo’s Langs Akerselva on August 15, before heading across the ocean to Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Seattle in September. But for one night in Utrecht, we had him. And it was unforgettable.
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