6 Things that happen at a Billie Eilish concert

Back in 2017, Billie Eilish emerged as a bold new voice in music, captivating audiences with her haunting vocals, sharp lyrics, and distinct personal style.

Her streetwear-inspired fashion—characterised by neon tones, oversized silhouettes, monograms, and graffiti—stood in stark contrast to her soft vocals and emotive ballads.

This juxtaposition is central to what defines Billie Eilish. As she transitioned from a teen sensation to a self-assured artist, her style evolved. She balanced youthful elements—often featuring cartoon characters like Jessica Rabbit, The Powerpuff Girls, and Sailor Moon—with a more mature edge on her terms. Examples include a Comme des Garçons tee styled with an elongated blue necktie or another paired with a black tee and basketball shorts.

Unbothered by critics, Eilish remains as authentic as ever. While promoting her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, she has sported baggy shorts, wire-rimmed glasses, and sports jerseys with knee pads. Her wardrobe effortlessly shifts between streetwear labels like Left Hand LA and ERL and high-fashion pieces such as a Gucci monogrammed suit or a Willy Chavarria skirt. Regardless of the outfit, she consistently owns her style.

Her current tour, supporting her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, is set to conclude in 2025 at Dublin’s 3Arena. The album has earned notable accolades, with all 10 tracks charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and 339,000 units sold in its opening week.

A nine-time Grammy winner, Eilish has continued to electrify audiences, packing stadiums and inspiring fans to passionately sing every lyric throughout her tours.

In this article, we bring you a preview of the things that happen at a Billie Eilish concert and what makes her concerts unique.

Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour 2025

The three-time Billboard Music Award winner is gearing up to launch the European segment of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” Tour in the new year. She will begin with four back-to-back performances on February 18, 19, 21, and 22, 2025, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

As part of her 12 scheduled Australian shows, her next destination will be Melbourne, where she will take the stage at the 14,000-seat Rod Laver Arena for four concerts from March 4 to March 8. Accompanying her in Melbourne will be American artist Ashnikko, renowned for her platinum hit “Stupid” featuring Yung Baby Tate, which soared in popularity across the United States and Canada.

Following her Melbourne appearances, the two-time Academy Award winner will head to Sydney for another four performances, running from February 24 to February 28.

European fans can look forward to her arrival starting April 23, as she performs in 14 countries across the continent. The tour will wrap up in Dublin, Ireland, but not before she graces iconic venues such as the Accor Arena in Paris, Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Unipol Arena in Bologna, Bærum’s Unity Arena in Norway, Hanover’s ZAG-Arena in Germany, Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome in the Netherlands, London’s The O2 Arena in England, and Dublin’s 3Arena, among other sold-out locations throughout Europe.

With 47 concerts planned for 2025, commencing on February 18 in Brisbane, Eilish is poised to offer an electrifying experience for fans spanning multiple continents. Fans can already get their hands on Billie Eilish tickets for the upcoming shows but they better act fast as the events are expected to sell out fast.

The alt-pop pioneer’s setlist will encompass her entire musical journey, including hits from her revolutionary debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?,” her follow-up release “Happier Than Ever,” and even tracks from her lesser-known projects, “Don’t Smile At Me” and “Guitar Songs.” This comprehensive selection promises to showcase the evolution of her artistry, delighting audiences worldwide.

Eco-friendly initiatives

Billie Eilish has consistently championed “environmental sustainability,” actively collaborating with organisations that share her commitment to this cause. Her partnerships with REVERB, Live Nation, Support + Feed, and Wasserman played a pivotal role in advancing this mission. The tour stood out for its extensive “environmental and climate initiatives,” implemented across multiple venues.

A key achievement was her collaboration with REVERB to “decarbonise the tour” by minimising plastic use. As a result, over 117,000 single-use plastic bottles were eliminated from the shows. Venues were encouraged to serve drinks in “their original containers” instead of transferring them into disposable plastic cups. At Madison Square Garden, the Eilish/REVERB partnership led to the introduction of “free water refill stations” for fans—marking a first for the venue.

Additionally, the tour promoted plant-based dining through the Support + Feed initiative, spearheaded by Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird. The catering team collaborated with venues to ensure the availability of “plant-based entrée options” for artists, crew, and attendees. In total, over 300 plant-based meals were served during the tour.

Eilish also prioritised sustainability in her “Happier Than Ever” merchandise, which was made using “100% organic cotton blanks” and “water-based inks and dyes” to reduce environmental impact.

Beyond the performances, her bond with fans extended to sustainability efforts, as volunteers engaged in “eco-awareness activities” at concerts across North America, Europe, and Australia. These initiatives took place in dedicated “eco-villages,” where volunteers wore “upcycled shirts.”

Renowned for her environmental advocacy, Eilish collaborated with Google Maps to assist fans in locating “eco-friendly transportation options” such as public transit, bike routes, or pedestrian-friendly paths. As part of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” sustainability drive, Google Maps also provided recommendations for “vegetarian eateries” in select U.S. cities.

Merch

Eilish’s merchandise is another standout feature of her tour, blending “creativity” with a “tangible connection” to the experience. Her ongoing tour offers a diverse range of exclusive apparel, including “hoodies, white cover tees, thermal long sleeves, and Christmas pyjamas,” all adorned with her signature designs. Fans can also purchase accessories such as “customised tote bags, ornaments, flat-brim hats, and keychains” through her online store or at designated kiosks within each venue—all available at “affordable prices.”

Fan engagements

Since Billie Eilish rose to global fame, she has cultivated a loyal fandom that has played a crucial role in her career’s success. Equally, her ability to connect with and command these legions extends beyond the allure of her hypnotic eyes. She actively engages audiences during concerts and never hesitates to grant photo requests.

Fans got exactly what they hoped for during the opening night of her “Happier Than Ever Tour” in New Orleans, where the torrential rain only intensified the atmosphere and matched her energy. Beyond storytelling through her music, she pauses mid-show to express appreciation or involve the crowd in playful interactions. At one point during the New Orleans show, she instructed fans to crouch as low as possible before jumping in unison—prompting a “possible tear-in-time-continuum scream.”

Notably, the artwork for the music video for “When the Party’s Over” was inspired by a drawing from a fan—an image of Eilish with blacked-out eyes and black tears.

During a later set in her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour,” Eilish, having flung off her bandana, spent the subdued first half of “L’Amour de Ma Vie” fidgeting with her thick black hair, which was loosely styled into two low pigtail buns. Before launching into her deeply moving “Barbie” ballad “What Was I Made For?”—which made her the youngest person ever to win two Oscars—she disclosed the source of her distraction: Her “hair ties were knotted” into her hair. “No one’s going to be able to untie it,” she said before turning it into another audience challenge, adding, “Somebody try it.”

It is hard to picture another pop superstar allowing themselves to be seen so dishevelled, let alone stepping down into the crowd to be assisted by fans. Yet, Eilish’s spontaneous intimacy transcends even the grandest stages. For a fleeting, giggly moment, as eager hands reached out to help, she wasn’t a stratospherically famous icon but simply “a friend on the sofa.”

Lighting and stage design

The lighting and stage design at the “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” has been nothing short of spectacular, ensuring that every seat in the arena offers an exceptional view. Billie chose a 360° stage layout, positioning the main platform at the centre of the venue rather than at one end. This innovative setup not only minimised obstructions but also created a more intimate and immersive experience for fans. As Billie moved around the stage, entire sections of the audience could be seen visibly moved, adding to the emotional connection of the performance.

The band was strategically placed in two on-stage pits, keeping them visible while allowing Billie to move freely without obstruction. During quieter moments, some band members joined her onstage with acoustic guitars, temporarily scaling back the grandeur of the arena setting. In contrast, the pyrotechnics and lighting design were breathtaking, enhancing the show’s visual appeal without overshadowing Billie’s presence. Lasers synchronised with beat drops, animated projections that transformed the stage’s central structure, and a swinging platform for a standout performance of “The Greatest” all contributed to a visually stunning spectacle.

A common concern with elaborate stage designs is the artist’s distribution of time across the space. Billie, however, was highly mindful of this, ensuring she spent ample time in every area. The shorter sides of the rectangular stage became designated spots for ballads, while she energetically circled the entire platform during upbeat tracks. Additionally, an elevated B-stage, located near the main platform, allowed her to create a standout moment reminiscent of a scene from “Brat”, further elevating the show’s dynamic energy.

Performances with Multi-instruments

The multi-talented artist not only showcased her vocal layering during the live performance but also demonstrated her versatility by playing various instruments throughout the concert. For tracks like “Ocean Eyes” and “I Don’t Wanna Be You Anymore,” she took to the keys, while she switched to an acoustic guitar for “Male Fantasy” and “TV.” The highlight of the night came when she passionately played the electric guitar during “Happier Than Ever,” which served as the second-to-last song on the setlist.

Over the years, the world has grown increasingly aware of Billie’s diverse skills, ranging from songwriting to acting. However, witnessing her display so many of these talents in a single performance remains an unforgettable experience that continues to captivate audiences.

Choice of outfits

From the outset of her career, Eilish’s distinctive style has drawn significant attention, particularly during her early days as a defiant teenager with neon-green hair and a penchant for streetwear. Both her music and fashion choices appeared to draw inspiration more from male hip-hop artists than from her female contemporaries. She disrupted traditional pop norms with her haunting, trap-influenced tracks and embraced hypebeast-inspired outfits that deliberately concealed her physique.

Eilish’s preference for loose-fitting clothing stemmed from a deliberate and relatable desire to avoid being sexualized, ensuring discussions about her body didn’t overshadow her artistry. In a Calvin Klein campaign, she explained, “Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath, you know?” Her bold, logo-heavy, and oversized ensembles were more than just practical; they sparked varied interpretations. Some viewed them as a rebellious rejection of conventional femininity, while others saw them as a privileged stance against the establishment, with accusations of failing to acknowledge her influences.

Yet, during a performance on the Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, Eilish introduced a playful twist to her trademark style. She sported an oversized red jersey, knee pads, and form-fitting, lace-trimmed bicycle shorts that resembled lingerie, humorously complaining at one point about the discomfort they caused. With a number boldly displayed on her back, she exuded the energy of a solo athlete, effortlessly commanding the attention of an entire arena as if she were a one-woman team.