đź“ŤScoot Inn, February 27, 2026
Written by Krysta Ayers
Catching an artist you just discovered, or one that you already really love, at Scoot Inn, is one of the optimal places to see them perform in the city. It’s quintessentially Austin without being sullied by new high-rises: the historic venue has an outdoor stage with a large enough patio to host a sizable crowd, plus an outdoor bar. And this is where Lights stopped on Friday to promote her new album, A6.
Lights is like if Ellie Goulding were more alternative or if the music of Avicii, Melanie Martinez, and Avril Lavigne were blended together. Based on her Apple Music catalog, she’s been releasing music since 2009 (!) and definitely looked like she could have been at Warped Tour on the back of Avril Lavigne’s fame.
Her set opened with “COME GET YOUR GIRL,” a dancey little bop with 80s-esque synths, found on the extended version of A6. She bops around on stage with short, bleach-dyed hair, a rhythm guitarist and drummer beside her, and it’s the perfect track to warm up the crowd.
She immediately dived deep into her discography, playing “River” from her 2009 album, The Listening, with many loyal fans singing along to the pop-rock, emo-adjacent tune.
Lights, strapped with a guitar, also played 2014’s “Running with the Boys,” livened things up with “Prodigal Daughter,” a dance tune recalled her collabs with deadmau5 and Seven Lions, and brought it back to the present with “SURFACE TENSION,” a track that begs for strobe lights, shades in the dark, and a leather jacket. (It sounds cool.)
Throughout the show it was evident this was not her first time on stage—but that time once existed: ATX Concert saw her years prior at Mohawk, commanding a crowd of maybe 20 people the best that she could—her voice demanded to be heard, and the stage presence held potential. Now, Lights jumps around stage, belting out her decades worth of songs with confidence and contagious joy. She banters graciously with the crowd and leads them in sing-alongs. Her growth as an artist and songwriter is hitting a crescendo, and we’ll continue to listen to the buildup.