by Marc Fong
Just last week Fred Again.. announced three shows at the Frost Amphitheater in Stanford, hosted by Golden Voice Bay Area and Stanford Live. Unsurprisingly, the shows quickly sold out. Fred Again.., née Frederick John Philip Gibson, has had a meteoric rise since 2022. Listening to his music his popularity is understandable.
Fred again..’s music is a distinctive blend of emotive electronic dance music that combines elements of house, UK garage, and ambient sounds, characterized by dynamic use of samples from everyday conversations, voice memos, and social media clips. His tracks evoke a wide range of emotions with lush, layered production that builds from simple melodies or vocal snippets to powerful, euphoric climaxes, creating a narrative quality that reflects themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Innovative yet accessible, his music resonates deeply, making it both captivating and cathartic for listeners.
Though we missed out on Fred Again.. and Skrillex’s surprise show at SF’s Civic Center Plaza over the weekend—A 25k person, outdoor rave in front of SF City Hall with a special appearance by Anderson .Paak! Are you kidding me??—we were lucky enough to snag a ticket to the first of Fred Again..’s three day residency at the Frost Amphitheater. And we can safely say, his live show is as mesmerizing as his music would suggest.
From the moment Fred again.. took the stage, the atmosphere was electric. With the sunsetting as a backdrop, the artist kicked off the show by weaving dynamic beats with creative samples that captivated the audience, drawing them into a euphoric journey through sound. The amphitheater buzzed with anticipation, a testament to his ever-growing fan base and the worldwide frenzy he’s ignited.
About 30 minutes into the show, Fred again.. made a dramatic entrance from an elevated platform in the middle of the venue. Shortly after, he performed “Jungle” much to the crowd’s approval. To hear such a magnificent song performed by the maestro himself in such a beautiful setting was an experience that one cannot properly describe.
Fred Again.. mentioned that what he and his DJ, Tony Friend, were going to do at that point had never been done before. The duo launched into a fresh set with tunneling sub-bass beats and looped vocal samples of “side-by-side.” To see the musicians play with a sea of dancing fans in between them was not just an incredible sight, but an incredible experience.
It really is difficult to describe the magic of seeing Fred Again.. live. The incredible music, vibe and witnessing of a true artist do what he does best makes seeing Fred Again.. everything you want in a live show. Some advice: if Fred Again.. announces a show near you, make sure you get a ticket. He will not disappoint. Needless to say, one show will want you seeing him again and again and again…
For more Fred Again news, check out his site.
Photos courtesy of Atlantic Records.
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