REVIEW: SAINT LEVANT'S SYDNEY DEBUT WAS MORE THAN A CONCERT - IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

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Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos.

There are concerts where the music is the main event, and then there are concerts where the music becomes something much bigger. Palestinian singer-songwriter and rapper, Saint Levant’s first ever Sydney performance, as part of Vivid Sydney, was firmly the latter.

The first of two sold-out nights at City Recital Hall, amidst his debut Australian tour, carried an anticipation that could be felt long before the lights went down. A queue stretched down the street, with fans eagerly waiting to witness an artist that extended beyond the music. Palestinian and Lebanese flags were proudly draped across shelters and held up high, immediately setting the tone for an evening that felt less like a concert and more like a celebration built on shared identity, culture, music and unwavering solidarity. 

From the moment Saint Levant stepped onto the stage, the room erupted into a defining roar. Every lyric was met by thousands of voices singing in unisons, whilst fans danced and embraced one another. There was an overwhelming sense of joy that radiated throughout the venue, a rare kind of atmosphere where everyone seemed united by something far greater than simply being fans of the same artist. 

It wasn’t just excitement, it was belonging. That connection remained palpable throughout the entire evening. Although Saint Levant spoke sparingly between songs, he never faltered in commanding the room. His relationship with the audience existed almost entirely through the music itself. Every chorus became a conversation. Every beat inspired movement. Every glance across the theatre revealed smiling faces, arms around shoulders and voices singing ack every word with complete conviction. There was an undeniable camaraderie present, one built on cultural pride, mutual understanding and an unwavering sense of love. It was one of those rare concerts where the audience became just as integral to the experience as the performer on stage.

Helping create that atmosphere was Saint Levant’s remarkable presence as a live performer. Whilst his music has earned him a devoted global following, witnessing him live reveals an artist whose greatest strength may well be the stage itself. His vocals were breathtaking from beginning to end. Rich, warn and effortlessly expressive, his voice carried every melody with remarkable control whilst retaining an intimacy that made even the largest moments feel deeply personal. Seamlessly moving between Arabic, English and French, he delivered each lyric and melody with sincerity, allowing the emotional depth of his songwriting to resonate in ways that recordings simply cannot capture. His music is deeply rooted in his Palestinian heritage, but it also draws from cultures and sounds across the region, creating a body of work that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Live, those influences become even more vivid. 

Equally impressive was his musicianship. Frequently reaching for the saxophone throughout the set, Saint Levant added another layer to the evenings sonic landscape, wearing smooth instrumental passages within songs that elevated the performance beyond a standard live show. The saxophone became more than an accompaniment, it was an extension of the emotion within the music itself - creating moments of pure atmosphere that lingered long after each song ended. 

His setlist balanced beloved fan-favourites with deep cuts, showcasing both the breadth of his catalogue and the devotion of his audience. Very Few Friends, Samra, Exile and Nari Nari Nari prompted some of the nights loudest sing-a-longs, whilst Wazira and Sabah El Ward drew equally passionate responses from longtime listeners. There was an enormous emotional weight behind performances of Mawthai, On This Land and Daloona, each one highlighting the cultural foundations that sit at the heart of his artistry. Deira, built arid its instantly recognisable Algerian instrumental, became one of the evenings most infectious moments, effortlessly blending tradition with contemporary production and sending waves of movement through the crowd. 

While the music remained the heartbeat of the evening, its emotional centre arrived when Saint Levant addressed the audience. Reflecting on making it to Australia, he acknowledged there had been “some difficulties” surrounding his visa before, reminding the audience that it was “nothing compared to what our brothers and sisters in Hamza, in Palestine” are going through. He delivered a powerful and impassioned speech. 

“I think that we are moving in the right direction, and I think that all of us here know that all of this did not start on October 7. This is a hundred years of colonisation… that’s how they paint it. And they tried to label us Palestinian’s as sub-human, you know? Because when you don’t see the person in front of you as a human, it’s very easy for you to take their life. It’s what they’ve been doing to us for the past hundred years because they do not see us as human beings, and art has played a very big part in portraying Palestinian’s, Arabs in general, people from the global south in general, as sub-human and today I am here, a representation I think of the global south… We are much, much, much more than you think we are. We are lovers, we are fathers, we are mothers, we are teachers… anyone who thinks Arabs are not humans, you clearly have never been to an Arab household, and I invite you… I can’t speak to much, I can’t say what’s on my mind and I would love to say. But you can. You have free speech, and I encourage you to always, always, always keep that in the back of your mind. No matter which profession you do, if you’re a student, if you are a teacher, if you’re a painter, just always remember that your voice does matter and they’re scared of us. So use your voice, and it’s a beautiful thing to see all of us here today and I hope you guys can feel the family vibes.

Saint Levant has never separated his artistry from his advocacy, and that authenticity is a defining reason his music resonates so deeply with audiences around the world. Throughout his career, he has consistently used his platform to amplify Palestinian voices and draw attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, ensuring that conversations surrounding his music never lose sight of the people and experiences that have shaped it. On this night, those messages were met with thunderous applause, raised flags and an audience that clearly understood every word carried far beyond the walls of City Recital Hall.

Later in the evening, a DJ interlude shifted the mood without disrupting the evenings momentum. The theatre transformed into a celebration, with the crowd dancing relentlessly before Saint Levant ushered in a euphoric closing run through some of his most beloved songs. The energy reached another level, with every chorus echoing through the venue louder than the last. As the final notes faded, Saint Levant paused, wrapped in a Palestinian flag, for one final message. “My name is Levant, and we came from Gaza with love.” With that, he stepped off stage, leaving behind a room filled with applause, emotion and an unmistakable sense of hope.

More than simply introducing himself to his Australian audiences, he created an evening that celebrated culture, heritage and humanity through exceptional musicianship and deeply affecting performances. It was a concert where remarkable vocals met extraordinary audience connection, where activism and artistry existed side by side, and where every person inside City Recital Hall left feeling like they had been part of something much bigger than a live show. It felt like a family.