Final Show of Ari Lennox’s Vacancy Tour Was A Reminder Why Live Music Matters
Picture it: Charlotte, North Carolina. June 6, 2026. The final stop of the North American Vacancy Tour.
I walked into the Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater venue excited to see PHABO, looking forward to Ari Lennox, and knowing very little about Lekan. Who would have thought that a few hours later, I’d be leaving with a new artist in heavy rotation, a freshly made playlist, and a reminder of why live music continues to matter.
When Ari Lennox first announced the tour, I was excited because the album and song titled “Vacancy” have been on constant repeat in my household. Once finding out that her opening acts would be musicians PHABO and Lekan, that got me even more excited to be in attendance. I became a fan of PHABO back in October 2023 from the moment I heard “Jelly,” not to mention him being featured on Amaria’s song “Damaged”. As someone who had been patiently waiting for an opportunity to hear PHABO perform live, I knew this was a show I couldn’t miss.
The first song PHABO performed— “Fur Coat,” and my first thought was “I’m so excited to see PHABO!” There were many moments when I caught myself singing along; be it “Jelly”, “Safest Place,” or “Scorpio Moon,” and I enjoyed that as a fan witnessing an artist in his element. I was in awe. Wanna hear something impressive? He sounded even better live… while still sounding exactly like his records.
Something I also loved about PHABO’s set was how he transitioned from “Safest Place” to “LNF”. Being able to hear those two songs together, right beside each other made me float internally! While, yes, I expected to enjoy the performance, I didn’t expect to be as impressed by PHABO’s stage presence as much as I was. There were moments when parts of the crowd seemed unfamiliar with his catalog, yet he remained confident and fully immersed in his music. You can’t help but respect him as an artist and entertainer.
Prior to Lekan being announced as a guest, I had already listened to him briefly with songs like “On Me” and “Safety”. Once Lekan stepped on stage and started performing his earlier single “Familiar,” I knew that I would be in for a treat! Throughout his set, I was tuned in, and go figure… it was his first time ever performing in Charlotte; made it even more special that I got to witness it.
Not to mention meeting him after the show. I got to tell him how much I enjoyed his set. Not only was he kind and respectful during our interaction, I learned something new that I wasn’t expecting: he’s incredibly tall. The interaction felt genuine and refreshing. Leaving the venue that night made me become even more of a fan than I was prior to the show.
Since the show, I went down the rabbit hole of Lekan’s discography. My current favorite songs are “Brand New,” “Safety,” and “Make It Right”.
Once the lights went low and the music stopped, I noticed that everyone (myself included) got up from our seats… knowing that Ari ends her shows with a bang, it only took a few moments before there were screams of anticipation!
“2AM on the ‘Gram, feeling crazy,”
Ari ends the concert, her vocals taking over the noisy dismissing arena, song choice? “Mobbin In DC”! Ari’s voice felt like shea butter melting into my skin: warm, smooth, and impossible to ignore.
What stood out most about her set? The audience singing along to every song she sang throughout the night. Completely engaged. I must say that even though this isn’t my first time seeing her live, it was my first time seeing her on her own headlining tour in a city she used to call home.
Every song from “Under The Moon” to “New Apartment” had a crazy reaction. Everyone knew each song word for word and I was not disappointed with how great Ari put on her show. Halfway through the show, she went into a praise dance and said “God is good” with everyone in the audience responding with “All the time.” Everything about her set was heavenly and beautiful.
Overall, Ari’s set made me feel seen & accepted. Watching her growth from where she started to where she is now only deepened my appreciation for the artist she has become and the community she’s built around her music.
Each artist found a way to engage with the audience and keep focus on the music & community. Before the show began, I found myself watching concertgoers and knowing based on what they were wearing, who they were going to see, but I truly couldn’t tell once the artists were performing and everyone in every variation of jungle print imaginable were enjoying the sets. It excited something inside of me— an intimate setting with a theme? So beautiful to see.
Looking back, I can’t help but smile at how the night unfolded. What began as a chance to finally see PHABO live turned into so much more. I left with a deeper appreciation for three talented artists, a playlist full of memories, and proof that live music remains one of the best ways to discover something new.
By the time I got home, I knew I wanted a way to preserve the feeling of the night, so I started rebuilding the setlist into a playlist. If you made it this far, give the playlist a listen and experience a small piece of what made the Vacancy Tour’s final stop such a memorable night!