Suki Waterhouse looked like she’d stepped out of one of her own songs.
As the band eased into the opening moments of “Supersad,” a silver mirrored heart pierced with oversized arrows glistened at the back of the stage. Moments later, Waterhouse emerged through a wall of fog wearing dark sunglasses, a purple feather boa draped over her shoulders, and looking as though one of those arrows had struck its target. It was theatrical without feeling overdone, setting the dreamy tone that carried through the afternoon.
The music fit Stern Grove as naturally as the eucalyptus trees surrounding it. Waterhouse moved through “Tiny Raisin,” “OMG,” “Any Man,” and “Back in Love” with an easy confidence, never rushing to reach the songs everyone came to hear. Instead, she let the set breathe, allowing the crowd to settle into its own rhythm on the hillside.
About midway through the show, Waterhouse paused to take in the scene.
“I’ve never played anything like this in my life. I had no idea. Thank you so much for having me and showing up like this. This is amazing.”
It didn’t sound like routine stage banter. Looking across thousands of fans spread across the lawn, the moment felt genuine, and the audience answered with one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon.
“When I Get Drunk (I Want You Boy)” and “Good Looking” naturally drew the biggest singalongs, but Waterhouse never changed gears to chase the reaction. She stayed in the same dreamy lane that has made her music resonate in the first place. By the time she reached “Think Twice,” “Dream Woman,” “Johanna,” and “Puppy Dog Eyes,” the crowd seemed completely locked in.
A brief encore of “Weirdo” and “To Love” closed the afternoon without fanfare. Waterhouse didn’t need a dramatic finish. Between the striking stage design, the easy chemistry with the crowd, and a setting unlike anything she’d experienced before, Stern Grove gave her one of the summer’s most memorable stages, and she looked genuinely surprised to find it.
