All that glimmers

Sarah McLachlan, Victoria, BC

Save-on Foods Memorial Centre, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour

October 15, 2025

It’s well known that waiting builds intensity, and for fans waiting for Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour, it was perhaps, quite intense. Some fans waited for a full year, as her anniversary tour was postponed when Sarah lost her voice. Others waited 11 years since her last stop in Victoria for her Shine On tour.

You could feel that intensity in the sold out Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, where Sarah captivated over 6,000 fans from the moment she stepped onto the stage barefoot and rocking a glorious silver and gold dress. Sweet Surrender and Building a Mystery delivered fans a quick hit of what they had been waiting for.

Her voice was powerful and flawless, while her energy on the stage was authentic, comfortable and fierce. Sarah’s voice has always been a force, but it was clear that her recovery from acute laryngitis over the past year had landed her with even more power and depth. The audience was at ease, and Sarah had their full attention as she shared her thoughts on current events, the political climate, and the stories behind the songs we’ve been singing along to for over 3 decades.

Female energy filled the venue as Sarah shared stories and songs about the power of women’s friendships, her daughters and women’s rights. While women made up most of the crowd, the diverse ages reflected her broad impact as an icon who made history in the late 90’s by spearheading the all-female festival, Lillith Fair.

Her 2.5-hour set featured the repertoire from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and a mix of radio hits and deep cuts along with new tracks from the just released Better Broken album. The audience had no choice but to rise to their feet after her almost operatic performance of Fear delivered awe and chills. Other highlights included the new song Gravity which features her daughters on the recording, and a crowd-pleasing singalong to Ice Cream.

Once she completes the rescheduled Canadian leg of the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30^th Anniversary tour, Sarah will take her Better Broken album tour through major U.S. cities, ending in Los Angeles in late November.

Fresh off releasing the Lillith Fair documentary and appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s show after his return to ABC, Sarah McLachlan is clearly having a moment to shine, and we are here to bask in the glow.

Photos by Mel Z