Rachel Platten - Set Me Free Tour - April 23, 2025 - Toronto, ON
- total magazine
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Review & pictures by
Rachel Platten is an American singer-songwriter and author, best known for her empowering anthem "Fight Song," which propelled her to international fame in 2015. Following a seven-year hiatus, she released her fifth studio album, *I Am Rachel Platten*, on September 3, 2024, under her independent label, Violet Records. The album delves into her personal struggles with mental health and marks a significant artistic evolution. Rachel Platten has since embarked on her first headlining tour in eight years, the *Set Me Free Tour*, which commenced in March 2025. On April 23, 2025, she performed in Toronto, Ontario, as part of this tour.
As the first person in line for GA it was a huge surprise when Rachel came out at about 6:45 pm and ran towards the fans outside, giving people high fives, nodding, waving, and saying quick hellos.
Once we got in, all VIPs were already front row, I ended up in the second row.
At around 9:00 pm, Rachel came out.
The setlist included her early songs from 2011 and songs from her recent album in 2024. She talked about how she’s a Mental Health Advocate, as she’s gone through traumatic stuff in her life. She also played piano, guitar, and keyboard for multiple songs, but piano for about ¾ of the setlist.
The night started out with her song “I know,” which had the whole crowd in tears. With lyrics like “I know things are tough, but everything will be okay, you’re loved, worthwhile, and needed,” the song can be very relatable to the audience.
Next, she sang “Stand By You,” which is one of her more well-known songs. The whole crowd was singing along and screaming the lyrics, especially the part “IM GONNA STAND BY YOU.” After this, the next few songs got more emotional as she talked about her past traumas and mental health.
During “Surrendering,” she brought out Ben Abrams to sing with her as a duet. Which touched on mental health/trauma, letting yourself go, and letting god/faith/religion take care of it.
She ended up playing a song called “1000 Ships” which was one of her first releases back in 2011. She played the keyboard for this one. She even Beatboxed for part of the song. Talk about being a triple threat.
After, she brought out JoJo Dodge to dance with her during her song “Shivers,” where they were dancing together halfway through and getting the crowd to dance along as they got more interactive. Rachel danced with a bit of an allure in certain parts of the song.
She then talked about moving to Canada (specifically Toronto), and needed help pronouncing Torontonians. Which multiple fans did.
She sang a song called “Better Place,” which states, even though you have struggles and are going through something, “It’s a better place since you came along” - a lyric from the song. During this song, one of her team members even came on stage and filmed the crowd singing along.
As the night was coming to a close, she headed off stage. The crowd started chanting “Encore Encore Encore” whilst stomping their feet on the ground. Rachel came back out and went towards the piano and even took a picture with a fan in the audience from the stage as she waited outside for almost 16 hours to be as close as possible to the front. (I’m the fan)
Pictured are two friendship bracelets she got before singing the next song. One has her name “Rachel Platten” (I gave it to her) and another from a fan named Alexa that says ”Stand By You”
She ended the night by singing Fight Song as she played the piano another classic that all the og fans know & love. This song encapsulates what it means to fight for what you want & what you love no matter. It’s saying your strong not weak and you will get through what your going through.
For the final song, she sang a cover of ”Angels of Montgomery” with her whole band/crew taking turns singing different parts of the song.
She thanked everyone for coming and said to get home safely.
If you are an advocate for Mental Health/Trauma or know someone who is. Tell them about these songs.
Always make sure you tell someone they’re loved and worthwhile and that they matter.
You might be saving a life at the moment.
If you're reading this…. You matter, you’re important, you’re loved, you’re worthwhile, and the world is a Better Place because you're in it.
