On Friday night (February 27 2026), Australian singer-songwriter Ruel brought the Kicking My Feet Tour to Toronto’s History and from the moment the doors opened, the energy was undeniable.
The night kicked off with London-based singer-songwriter Arthur Hill, who delivered an engaging pop set that drew the crowd in and got them moving. His performance was confident and well-paced, leaning into indie-pop and soulful melodies. “Dead in the Disco” was a standout track that amplified the energy in the room and set the foundation for the night ahead.
A door stood at centre stage throughout the night, quietly anchoring the set design rather than drawing attention to itself. When the lights dimmed and the music began to build, lights began swirling from behind the door, adding a sense of anticipation. The tension finally broke when Ruel stepped onstage to open with “Only Ever”, followed by “Not What’s Going On” and “Dazed & Confused”, instantly commanding the room and being welcomed with roaring cheers.
Ruel is a pleasure to watch perform – his stage presence is effortlessly confident. He moves across the stage with an infectious energy and a sincerity with how he connects to the audience.
In the middle of the set, Ruel pulled things back, settling at the piano for a stripped-down moment that showcased his vocals and emotional range including “No News Is Good News” and “Even Angels Won’t”.
From there, the momentum only grew with the crowd jumping and dancing along to the rest of the set. Between songs, Ruel reflected on growing up alongside his fans, sharing how special it felt to see familiar faces mixed in with new ones, making his connection with the crowd feel personal despite the packed venue.
Fans were also treated to a new song, “Don’t Say That”, which was met with an enthusiastic response, proving just how invested and eager the audience is for what’s next from Ruel. And of course, the room lit up when he played his hit “Painkiller” before the close of the set.
Ruel closed out the night with the title track from his new album, Kicking My Feet, before grinning at the audience and saying “I swear to God, you guys got me kicking my feet”, as a sweet goodbye and disappeared back through the door for a final time.
Catch Ruel on the Kicking My Feet tour – check out the rest of the dates on the official website.
