Photos and a review of The Beaches at Base31
[Virginia Meeks got the assignment. – AC]
Air quality warnings may have lingered over Prince Edward County, but they weren’t enough to keep fans away from Base31’s Drill Hall on Thursday night. The Beaches opened the first of two sold-out shows to a crowd whose enthusiasm never wavered from the moment the doors opened until the house lights came up.
Opening the evening was Toronto’s Chiara Savasta, who delivered the kind of polished, infectious pop set that immediately won over the room.
Reminiscent of a young Lights, Savasta balanced catchy hooks with an energetic stage presence.
Even as someone unfamiliar with her music, it was clear she had brought fans of her own. People near the barricade sang along word for word, proving she wasn’t simply an opener, but an artist worth arriving early for.
Her upbeat performance built the perfect momentum for the night’s main event.
Once The Beaches hit the stage, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Their chemistry was undeniable, each member feeding off the others’ energy with a performance that felt both tightly rehearsed and completely uninhibited.
Every stride across the stage, every shared glance and every burst of movement reinforced why the band is filling a venue the size of Base31’s Drill Hall for two consecutive sold-out nights.
Just as compelling was the relationship between the band and its audience. The Beaches have cultivated the kind of fanbase every artist hopes for, one built on genuine connection rather than fleeting popularity.
That bond was on full display when Jordan Miller stepped into the media pit, singing directly to the rail-hugging die-hards who had waited since doors opened to be there.
It wasn’t a grand theatrical moment; it was a simple interaction that perfectly captured the band’s charm and the closeness they’ve built with their fans.
Fans didn’t just explode for the radio hits! They sang every lyric, right down to the deepest cuts in the catalogue.
At one point, even the bartenders at the back of the room were singing along and dancing as they worked, a small but telling reminder that the excitement reached every corner of the venue.
The crowd transformed the Drill Hall into a sea of movement and colour. Bright outfits, smiling faces and constant dancing created an atmosphere that felt more like a celebration than a concert.
Despite the haze outside, inside the venue there was nothing but positivity, with fans lifting each other up and matching the band’s infectious energy from beginning to end.
