Hilary Duff
W/ La Roux, & Jade LeMac
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colorado
Photography by: Michael Drummond | 7.20.26
Walking into Red Rocks on July 20 felt like stepping back into the early 2000s. Every corner of the amphitheater was packed with fans wearing Lizzie McGuire shirts, shades of pink, butterfly clips, and all kinds of Y2K fashion. It honestly felt like I was back at home watching Disney Channel after school. Before the music even started, you could already tell this was going to be more than just a concert. It was a chance for an entire generation to relive a huge part of their childhood.
Canadian singer-songwriter Jade LeMac kicked off the evening with an incredible set. She and her band were all dressed in white, and her vocals were even more impressive live than on her recordings. Best known for her TikTok breakout hit “Constellations,” she showed exactly why she’s one of the fastest rising artists around. By the time she closed her set, she had the entire crowd swaying their arms back and forth during her final song, creating the first unforgettable moment of the night and setting the stage for everything that followed.
La Roux kept the energy rolling with a set full of infectious synth-pop. Their music had me thinking of a modern-day Ace of Base while still keeping the unique sound that has made La Roux so recognizable. At one point, they shared that they had been looking forward to playing Red Rocks for quite some time, and during “Cabin Fever” they asked everyone to hold up their phone lights. Seeing thousands of lights glowing throughout the amphitheater was one of those classic Red Rocks moments that never gets old. They also had the crowd singing along to their biggest hits, including the instantly recognizable “In for the Kill,” where Elly Jackson’s iconic vocals sounded just as incredible live, and of course “Bulletproof,” which turned Red Rocks into one giant dance party.
When the lights went down for Hilary Duff, the excitement reached another level. She walked on stage wearing a gorgeous outfit with flowing fabric that moved beautifully as she performed. Opening with “Wake Up” was the perfect choice. It instantly got everyone singing and dancing before she rolled right into “So Yesterday.” Hearing thousands of fans sing every word to a song that feels like it came out just yesterday was one of the biggest nostalgia moments of the evening.
Midway through the show, Duff recreated her famous Disney Channel signature using a drumstick, which instantly brought smiles to everyone’s faces. She then had the audience clapping along during “Honey I Need Help,” turning the song into one big crowd participation moment.
One of the most fun parts of the night came during “With Love.” Hilary invited a few fans from the audience to come on stage and recreate her iconic, wonderfully cringey dance that has become viral over the years. Instead of worrying about looking perfect, everyone embraced the moment and had fun with it, which really summed up the spirit of the entire concert.
A few songs later, she performed her new version of Blink-182’s “Growing Up.” It felt like the perfect song for this audience. Fans who grew up with Hilary Duff were celebrating not only the music they loved as kids but also everything that has happened since then. There was something really special about hearing that song surrounded by people of all ages who have followed her career for more than two decades.
Near the end of the night, Hilary launched into “Why Not,” and there couldn’t have been a better way to build toward the finale. As everyone shouted, “Take a crazy chance, why not? Do a crazy dance?” you could look around and see exactly what those lyrics meant. Nobody cared what they looked like. People were dancing, singing at the top of their lungs, and simply enjoying the moment.
Of course, there was only one song that could close the night. As the opening notes of “What Dreams Are Made Of” filled Red Rocks, every voice in the amphitheater joined in. For so many fans, this was the song they had been waiting for. It wasn’t just the perfect finale, it perfectly captured what the entire evening meant. Seeing Hilary Duff perform at Red Rocks truly was what dreams are made of.
As she looked out at the crowd, Hilary summed up the night perfectly with one simple sentence.
“That girl can Red Rock.”
She absolutely can.
The Lucky Me Tour was more than a concert. It was a celebration of growing up, embracing nostalgia, and remembering that sometimes the best nights happen when you stop worrying about looking cool and just let yourself have fun. Judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces as they walked out of Red Rocks, that is exactly what happened
