Words and Photos by Emmie Sweeting
Previously featured Loudspeaker Collective artist MARIS just wrapped up her first solo headline tour in Bloomington, Indiana. After MARIS’ last duo tour with Caroline Kingsbury and the release her new single “Body is On Fire,” she set off on her own to headline a small tour in the south. Called MARIS Goes To College, the tour had a college theme where fans (called “Superstars”) dressed as jocks, professors, scholars, etc.
Along with the tour, the VIP package was also on theme, as it was a typical college pregame. Activities included karaoke — a staple for MARIS — playing Redbull pong, and MARIS drawing her famous star logo on her Superstar’s faces. Fans also got an opportunity to shop for early merch (some of which is hand spray painted by the artist herself) and received free red bulls and a signed diploma from MARIS.
The show itself started with a dramatic voiceover sharing news of how MARIS never actually went to college and didn’t even attend her own high school graduation, which was the reason for the tour theme, as it followed college towns in the south. She then went straight into the set, starting with “The Fight” and continuing to play older songs from her discography, possibly for the “last time on tour.”
Despite the smaller crowd compared to ones MARIS has become used to while opening for artists like The Driver Era and Maude Latour, the energy was upbeat and excited, and the room was full of fans dancing. Superstars that followed the tour were giving everything they had, even after attending multiple shows of the same set. This is proof that MARIS always gives it her all and keeps everything interesting for her fans. Even more proof of this connection she has with Superstars is a bit she did during her recently released song, “Missing Me,” where she told fans to FaceTime the loved ones that couldn’t be there. She then held those phones up on stage; I’m not sure what the record is, but she typically ended up holding upwards of eight phones at a time to include as many people as possible.
MARIS even included those in the crowd who may not know her music yet. During the show, she played a classic One Direction hit, “What Makes You Beautiful,” and a mashup of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” with MARIS’ own “GOING YET!”
MARIS closed out the night with two classics, “Give Me A Sign” and “Salt Water Taffy,” bringing the energetic night to an end. A bittersweet ending in more ways than one — the set concluding, the friends made on the tour bidding farewell, and the tour coming to a close — which was even celebrated by a fan project for MARIS, handing her a congratulatory diploma for closing out her first solo headline tour.
However, no need to be too sad! One of MARIS’ favorite parts is meeting her Superstars after the show to take photos. Not only that, but fans can also see MARIS at a small festival run later this summer. Furthermore, you didn’t hear this from me, but keep your eye out for news of a certain artist’s tour this fall! In other words, it is not too late to hop on the MARIS Superstar train before it takes off!
Loudspeaker Collective 