karnivool make history with their first ever arena headline show

what a night to be part of!

karnivool's first ever arena headline show was finally here and Melbourne got to witness it.

the arena was packed with fans who had been waiting a long time for this moment. from the minute the band walked on stage, the crowd erupted with cheers and screams. as the lights went down and the first note rang through Margaret court arena, you just knew we were in for a massive night.

photos by andrew bromley

the setlist had the perfect mix of songs from their new album 'In verse' and older fan favourites. the energy never dropped. every song had people singing at the top of their lungs, headbanging, dancing and the mosh pits didn't stop.

ian kenny's stage presence was incredible. whether he was singing or there was an instrumental section, he was constantly moving around the stage, dancing and feeding off the crowd's energy. you could tell just how much this night meant to the band.

the atmosphere throughout the arena was amazing to watch. from where i was sitting, i had a clear view of both the floor and the seats around me. everywhere i looked, people of all ages were on their feet with their friends, headbanging, dancing and singing every word. it was such a cool thing to witness.

i honestly lost count of how many times i wanted to jump out of my seat and join in. i was having so much fun the whole night. hearing my favourite song, "aozara', live was unreal. i already loved the studio version, but hearing it performed live took it to another level.

one of my favourite parts of the show was definitely the visuals and lighting. they complemented every song perfectly and really helped bring out the emotion behind each performance. i especially loved the blue lighting during the harp section. it was such a beautiful moment and completely changed the atmosphere in the arena. i also loved seeing karnivool bring so many talented musicians on stage, from the harp player to the horns and bagpipe players. it added another layer to an already incredible performance.

the night ended on an absolute high.

just before the encore karnivool took us down memory lane and played "themata", "roquefort" and "new day". as soon as those opening notes hit, the whole arena lost it. everyone had their hands in the air, headbanging, singing every word back to the band and just soaking in the moment.

karnivool closed the show with their two songs from their newest album 'in verse'; opal and salva. what a way to finish!

watching thousands of people come together and completely let loose was something special. nights like this are exactly what the music community is about.

also, shoutout to the guy who did a backflip (lol!!!) yes, you definitely deserve a beer!!!!