On Saturday night, fans came in droves to the newly constructed Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, Minnesota to watch Hilary Duff perform a mix of her early 2000s anthems and current pop releases. A heat advisory was in effect, but the threat of high temperatures and humidity couldn’t keep midwestern fans from this Millennial icon.
The Lucky Me Tour — Duff’s first major headlining tour in nearly 20 years — featured English synth pop band La Roux and Canadian singer-songwriter Jade LeMac, creating the ultimate night of feminine power music.
Upon entering the venue, the fans were a whole vibe.
The vibe was nostalgic glam — with an emphasis on the glam. While some fans were decked out in full early-2000s-style pieces (think: glitter, tube tops, hair clips, denim mini skirts, and kitten heels), others opted to cosplay their favorite characters from Lizzie McGuire. There were quite a few Ms. Ungermeyers, Isabella Parigis, and Lizzie McGuires throughout the crowd…
Jade LeMac was the first to get the music of the evening started. While the tempo of LeMac’s songs were the slowest of the evening, her performance had an ethereal quality that immediately captivated the audience. Her voice was sweet and smooth, demanding attention. The live rendition of “Constellations” — the title track from her 2023 album — was a standout moment of the set, getting fans swaying in their seats, moved by the music.
La Roux picked things up with a dazzling, high-energy set next. Similar to the act before, Elly Jackson’s vocals cut cleanly through the electrified atmosphere. Pulsing synths and sharp, infectious beats generated a subliminal urge to move among the audience. By the time the group ended their set with their 2009 hit song “Bulletproof”, the crowd had been properly warmed up (both literally and figuratively), with temperatures in the eighties and humidity still lingering around 70%, despite the sun setting.
When Hilary Duff finally took the stage, the crowd erupted.
The set began with the song “Wake Up”, with the lyrics “wake up, wake up on a Saturday night” aptly belted out, jolting the audience into the present moment. Fans immediately jumped and sang along with great enthusiasm.
The production leaned into the shimmering girly-pop theme that lives at the core of Duff’s music, with silver and pink stage decorations and a massive disco ball hanging from the center rafters overhead.
Every detail of this night felt magical.
Duff appeared authentic and assured as she moved through her setlist packed with songs spanning her entire catalogue. Disney-era favorites were flawlessly blended with her new music. While her music has always been raw and emotional, songs like “Holiday Party” and “Adult Size Medium” rang out with such power and vulnerability live, demonstrating how her music has grown alongside her.
During song breaks, Hillary Duff shared personal stories reinforcing the topics covered in her music, speaking of her family and her journey as an artist — especially of her love toward her fans! She thanked the crowd for standing by her for so many years, accepting her music for what it was in each stage of her career. The night closed on a delightful high, reminding attendees that, sometimes, this really is what dreams are made of.
Thumbnail & select in-article photography @rkhimages
Cover & select in-article photography by Summer Rabold @gir1photography
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