Auri
Venue: Union ChapelTown: Islington
Date: 15/09/25
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AURlband/
I haven't been to The Union Chapel since before the lockdown, which is a shame as it is such a stunning venue. I knew that sometimes they opened up the balcony and sometimes they didn't, and I thought that if I was up high I might be able to get some impressive video of Tuomas's keyboard playing, so I was determined to get there early to try and guarantee a good seat.
I therefore arrived at soon after 4pm, knowing that the doors weren't due to open until 7. Was unsurprised to find that I wasn't the first and that there was a good handful of people there already. The first to arrive had got there at noon. This was going to be a very popular gig!
Auri features three members of the symphonic metal band Nightwish, one of the most popular bands in that genre. Currently Nightwish are not touring, so Auri are a massive draw to Nightwish fans around the globe. Having only discovered Nightwish and symphonic metal during lockdown, this was my first symphonic metal related gig, but I can honestly say that Nightwish/symphonic metal fans are amongst the nicest people in the world. So many of them knew each other from other concerts, but they were all happy to share their experiences with strangers.
Despite the fact that this was Auri's first ever tour, and London was only their third concert in the British Isles, amongst those in the queue already there before I got there were people who had already seen Auri five times, the Union Chapel being their sixth. There were also people there who had been in Tilburg in the Netherlands the night before to see one of Ayreon's 30th Anniversary concerts. Ayreon, for those not aware, is not classed as symphonic metal, being closer to prog, but has many ties with Nightwish - three members from Nightwish having performed with Ayreon in the past.
My hopes of being able to film the concert from the balcony were dashed, however by two reasons. They didn't open up the balcony, and professional photography is not permitted in the chapel. They performed a bag search on everyone prior to entry, primarily to ensure that nobody brought in liquids to the venue, but when they searched my bag they saw my camera and decided that it looked professional, so I was not allowed to take it out of my bag all night. Protestations that it was only a Lumix fell on deaf ears. Photography via mobile phones is permitted though. I'm fairly sure that in this day and age many mobile phones can take a more professional photograph or video than you can with my camera, but sadly my phone is not one of them, so I apologise for the quality of the attached photo.
As it was, the front three pews were all reserved, (for the VIP ticket holders who had paid for a meet and greet, and for anyone who had booked for a meal alongside the performance), so although I was one of the first few of the general ticket holders let in, I would not have had a perfect view for videoing, so I was happy to simply sit there and be entranced by the music.
And boy was it entrancing. Although the chapel was filled with metalheads, you could have heard a pin drop if someone had had the temerity to drop pins. The entire audience was spellbound. They had two standing ovations, and the length of applause between tracks was the longest I think I've ever heard.
Johanna Kurkela came on to the stage, a sound track playing in the background, whilst she sang "Those We Don't Speak Of". She sat down on the stage, the billowing folds of her dress surrounding her like clouds, whilst the rest of the band came on stage.
Auri comprise Tuomas Holopainen on keyboards, Tuomas's wife Johanna Kurkela on vocals and viola, and multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley who played guitars, whistles, uillean pipes and, I think at one time he even played a harmonica. They were joined on this tour by husband and wife Mikko and Johanna Iivanaine, with Mikko playing guitars, and Johanna Iivanaine providing backing vocals and also playing keys. They were also joined by Kai Hahto on percussion. Kai also played on their last two albums, so he's almost a permanent member. Tuomas, Troy and Kai are all from Nightwish.
Johanna K has a stunning voice, which adds to the ethereal nature of the songs, but when Johanna Iivanaine's backing vocals are added, the effect is incredible. I was in a total dreamlike state throughout the concert.
The stage layout, and the lighting was organised in such a way as to highlight Johanna K. The drums and keyboards were partially obscured with tarpaulins, and the musicians were effectively backlit by beams of light from behind them. The stage was bedecked by flickering battery powered candles in jars, possibly in recognition of their third album's title. I think the overall message was 'we know that you are here because of Nightwish, but we're not Nightwish. Forget about us musicians, we're not the important thing here.'
For the first half Johanna K wore a sparkly white dress which ballooned down to the floor looking for every inch like a Disney princess going to the ball. With her exceptionally long flaming red hair cascading down her back, when she turned round to get her viola, the image of a snow covered volcano in full eruption sprang into my mind. For the second half she changed into a similar style dress, but pink. You could tell from the smooth way she glid around the stage that amongst her many talents she was also a dancer.
Her dancing skills became apparent during their last song before the encores. During "Them Thar Chanterelles" her Terpsichorean muse wafted her around the stage and earned them their first standing ovation.
I have never previously seen Tuomas perform live, in the flesh, although I have seen him perform on YouTube thousands of times. I have to say that I don't think I have ever seen him look so happy as he did performing at the Union Chapel. Further, Kai looked at him, saw how happy Tuomas looked, and instantly beamed.
I was a bit surprised about the set list. Having only recently released their third album, I had assumed that the tour was to promote "Auri III, Candles and New Beginnings", but they only played four tracks from it. In fact they played seven tracks from their second album and eight from their first. I had forgotten that this was their very first tour, and so obviously they were not just promoting the latest album, they were promoting all of them. Every song on every one of their albums is perfection so they would wow any audience whichever tracks they picked. There will be plenty of time on their next tour to play more from III.
Bring it on.
Set List
Those We Don't Speak Of
The Space Between
I Hope Your World Is Kind
The Duty Of Dust
Skeleton Tree
Night 13
Libraries Of Love
Blakey Ridge
Kiss The Mountain
Aphrodite Rising
The Long Walk
See
The Valley
Shieldmaiden
Museum Of Childhood
Desert Flower
Them Thar Chanterelles
Pearl Diving
Fireside Bard
Pete Bradley
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