On November 9, dodie’s concert at Dürer Kert in Budapest was an evening overflowing with warmth, emotion, and unfiltered joy. Touring in support of her second album, Not For Lack Of Trying, she created an atmosphere that felt both intimate and alive, giving everyone a night of laughter, reflection, and connection. These existed in perfect harmony throughout the entire night. It wasn’t dodie’s first time in Budapest, as she last performed here in 2022 as part of her “Build A Problem Tour,” but her return felt just as special, if not more. The crowd’s anticipation was evident, and the moment she appeared, the whole room lit up.

But before dodie’s set came the opener aron!, who we would later see on guitar, piano, and backing vocals as part of her band. During his solo set, he completely mesmerized the audience, not just with his charm, but with the rawness of his performance, having nothing but himself and his electric guitar. Surrounded by blue lights, he sang songs like “table for two” and “cozy you.” Between songs, he treated the audience like friends, engaging with them actively and setting the perfect mood for dodie.

When she finally took the stage, skipping on with her signature energy, dodie radiated pure light and warmth. Each song came with a small story about how it was written or what moment in her life inspired it, turning the performance into something intimate and real.

Her set blended older favourites like “She” and “In the Middle” with new material such as “I’M FINE!” and “Smart Girl,” moving effortlessly between energetic tracks and gentler, more introspective ones. After upbeat songs, she’d say it was time for a little break, easing into slower ones that let the room breathe before building the energy right back up again. Songs like “Lonely Bones” brought playful bursts of rhythm, while “When” and “Now,” which she introduced as connecting pieces, made the room stand still. The audience mirrored every shift, never stopping singing, dancing, and swaying in shared emotion, their energy rising and falling with hers.

Visually, the show felt like stepping into her imagination, as the stage glowed with shades of orange, blue, and green, lights fading and fitting each mood. Her piano was decorated with moss and mushrooms, which added a whimsical, fairytale-like touch that perfectly matched her artistry as well as the aesthetic of her recently released album.

What made the night truly special was her care for the crowd. She often paused to check on everyone in the heat, even handing out water herself to the fans front row. When someone sneezed, she stopped mid-thought to learn how to say “bless you” in Hungarian, and later, “thank you.” Those small gestures of curiosity and kindness spoke volumes about who dodie is: an artist whose empathy shines just as brightly as her music. By the end, Dürer Kert felt transformed, and it felt less like a concert hall and more like a living, breathing moment of community. Happiness, freedom, and shared vulnerability filled the air, with dodie’s energy traveling from the barricade all the way to the back, and anyone who walked in alone likely left feeling the opposite.

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