📍 3TEN at ACL Live (Austin) — July 14, 2025
Written by: Clinton Camper

On a warm Monday night in downtown Austin, the 3TEN ACL Live stage became a portal—one that gently pulled the crowd into Mereba’s world of introspection, soul, and sound. Touring in support of her sophomore album The Breeze Grew a Fire, Mereba delivered a performance that felt more like an intimate gathering than a traditional concert.

Opening with “White Doves,” “Ever Needed,” and “Rider,” she set the tone with effortless grace. Dressed in flowy earth tones, acoustic guitar in hand, Mereba moved with a calm power—her voice gliding over dreamy production and stripped-down arrangements. By the time she hit the simmering chorus of “Counterfeit,” the crowd had already surrendered to the spell.

Mereba is a master of mood and meaning. Her live set blurred genre lines, folding folk, hip-hop, soul, and spoken word into something distinctly her own. Every song carried intention, and every moment between songs added to the story. She shared reflections about new motherhood before easing into “Starlight (My Baby),” a song she wrote for her son, introducing it with a softness that left the room holding its breath. The emotional weight in her delivery was matched by the quiet awe of the audience.

There were playful moments, too. At one point, she paused to laugh with someone in the crowd, showing the same wit and warmth that colors her lyrics. “Planet U” and “Ghost Ride” brought a different kind of energy—groovy, glitchy, and quietly defiant. Her band, a tight-knit trio of keys, drums, and bass, elevated every transition, creating a sonic current that felt alive and ever-shifting.

Highlights included “Phone Me,” which landed like a late-night voicemail you didn’t know you needed, and “Heart of a Child,” which paired deep vulnerability with featherlight instrumentation. The show’s pacing was deliberate but never slow; even its silences felt full.

After closing with “Sandstorm,” Mereba stepped offstage, leaving the crowd cheering for more. The room erupted when she returned for an encore, blending “Bet” with a delicate cover of Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” before finishing the night with “Black Truck.” That final track—a fan favorite from The Jungle Is the Only Way Out—hit with familiar comfort and quiet triumph.

Mereba’s Austin performance wasn’t about spectacle. It was about connection, craft, and clarity. In a city known for live music, she stood out not by being loud, but by being intentional. From start to finish, the night felt like a conversation—one we were lucky to be part of.