The Fray lit up the night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, VA, with their third stop on the highly anticipated “The Fray is Back Tour,” proving that their music still hits just as hard as it did in the 2000s. Fans, both longtime and new, were treated to a night full of nostalgia, raw emotion, and unforgettable moments.
The evening kicked off with an exclusive VIP meet-and-greet at 6:15 PM, where fans were able to meet the band, snap a photo, ask their burning questions, and leave with an autographed poster and VIP kit in hand. As VIPs hurried to their seats, the general crowd filtered in, buzzing with excitement for the 8:00 PM start time.
When the lights finally dimmed, the cheers erupted as Joe King (lead vocals), Dave Welsh (lead guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums) took the stage. They opened the night with the emotional “She Is,” immediately setting the tone for the heartfelt show that would follow. Without missing a beat, they rolled into the fan-favorite “Over My Head (Cable Car),” followed by the upbeat and melodic “Heartbeat.” A major highlight of the night came during “Hurricane,” when Joe King lept off the stage and ran through the crowd, stopping to sing with fans, pose for photos, and create truly personal moments that made the show feel intimate despite the size of the crowd.
The band seamlessly blended newer material with iconic hits like “Love Don’t Die,” featured in the 2008 film Jumper, and “Never Say Never,” which appeared in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Of course, the emotional peak of the setlist was “You Found Me,” also from Jumper, with fans belting out the lyrics word for word. As the final chord rang out, the band exited the stage, but the crowd wasn’t ready to let go. Chants of “One more song!” grew louder until The Fray returned for a two-song encore. They performed “Vienna,” and closed the night with their most iconic track, “How to Save a Life.” The emotional lyrics echoed through the venue as fans sang along to every word, ending the night on a powerful and heartfelt note.
Final verdict: The Fray’s return to the stage in Bristol was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of their legacy. With a perfect blend of nostalgic hits, passionate performance, and intimate fan interactions, they reminded everyone why their music remains timeless. A must-see tour for any fan of emotionally charged alt rock.
The Fray still has plenty of tour dates coming up across North America and Europe this year. Tickets are available here.
Upcoming tour dates:
Apr 24 – The Ritz, Raleigh, NC
Apr 25 – The National, Richmond, VA
Apr 26 – Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Charles Town, WV
May 9 – Mercury Ballroom, Louisville, KY
May 10 – The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
May 16 – Bel-Aire Backyard, Las Vegas, NV
May 18 – Wonderfront Festival, San Diego, CA
May 23 – Clyde Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN
May 24 – Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, Decatur, IL
Jun 27 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Grand Rapids, MI
Jul 25 – South Side Ballroom, Dallas, TX
Jul 26 – ACL Live at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX
Jul 27 – Bayou Music Center, Houston, TX
Jul 29 – House of Blues, Orlando, FL
Jul 30 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
Aug 1 – The Anthem, Washington, DC
Aug 2 – The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
Aug 3 – Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
Aug 5 – The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York, NY
Aug 7 – History, Toronto, ON
Aug 8 – The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
Aug 9 – Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH
Aug 12 – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Aug 14 – Holliday Park, Indianapolis, IN
Aug 15 – The Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
Aug 16 – The Fillmore, Minneapolis, MN
Aug 19 – Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
Aug 20 – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
Aug 22 – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
Aug 23 – The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
Aug 24 – The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
Sep 26 – Oceans Calling Festival, Ocean City, MD
European dates:
Nov 1 – Progresja, Warsaw, Poland
Nov 2 – Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin, Germany
Nov 4 – Annexet, Stockholm, Sweden
Nov 5 – Union Scene, Drammen, Norway
Nov 7 – Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Nov 8 – Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Nov 11 – E-Werk, Cologne, Germany
Nov 13 – Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Nov 15 – SWG3 TV Studio, Glasgow, UK
Nov 17 – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
Nov 18 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK
Nov 19 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK
Nov 21 – The Telegraph Building, Belfast, UK
Nov 22 – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
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