The sun shone brightly on Vancouver on August 9th, with temperatures hitting a scorching 30 degrees, creating the perfect setting for Olivia Rodrigo’s highly anticipated GUTS World Tour stop at a sold-out Rogers Arena. The excitement was palpable as fans, some who had waited for hours, flooded the plaza, eager for the evening’s festivities.
Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour Bus experience, stationed at the Rogers Arena plaza, was the star attraction before the show. I spoke with the manager of the Tour Bus Experience, who revealed that the bus welcomes an average of 1,000 fans per show, with some lining up anywhere from 1 to 4 hours to get inside. Every square meter of the bus was meticulously designed to offer fans an unforgettable, interactive experience. From Olivia’s iconic outfits from the SOUR tour on display to photo ops nodding to the GUTS album and stage setup, fans were immersed in Olivia’s world. Visitors could also leave voice messages for Olivia, take selfies at a make-up station, and admire the posters and polaroids adorning the walls. This bus has followed Olivia across her American and Canadian tour dates, adding an extra layer of excitement for her fans.
In addition to the bus, two merchandising stands were set up outside the arena, along with a Doc Martens customization station where fans could bejewel their Docs. While the manager mentioned that the Vancouver setup was somewhat scaled back due to border issues, the fan experience was still a fantastic way to build anticipation for the show.
The plaza itself became a fashion show of sorts, with many attendees dressed in outfits inspired by Olivia’s tours, music videos, or themes—plenty of purple, sparkles, Doc Martens, and cowboy hats filled the space. While the crowd was predominantly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, it was refreshing to see older millennials like myself, who weren’t just there to chaperone, fully embracing the concert vibes.
Unfortunately, the opener, PinkPantheress, had to cancel her appearance a week before to focus on her physical health and overall well-being. This led us straight into Olivia’s set, with the word “GUTS” appearing on the giant screen as a melting candle countdown began. The anticipation was so high that the audience spontaneously started a wave in the lower and upper bowls. As the last candle melted, an intro video showed Olivia running through hallways with a sense of urgency until she knocked on a purple door, and the lights went out, revealing Olivia on stage. She kicked off the night with the energetic “bad idea right?” and from that moment, the energy never wavered.
Despite only having two albums in her discography, the level of excitement from the crowd was impressive. Fans cheered, sang, and stayed on their feet for the entire show. The production setup was minimalist, with a big screen projecting graphics and images related to the songs, a spacious stage with two thrusts, a seven-piece all-female band, and eight dancers. Yet, Olivia managed to hold everyone’s attention for two hours. The audience knew every word to each song, leading to numerous sing-alongs. She interacted plenty with the fans, reading their posters, admiring their outfits, and even wishing happy birthdays. Before performing “teenage dream,” a song she wrote before she turned 19, she offered advice to all the teenagers: “Don’t worry so much, many magical moments are around the corner.”
One of the highlights of the night was an acoustic version of “drivers license,” with Olivia on the piano. As phone lights illuminated the arena, everyone belted out the song together, creating a memorable moment. In the middle of the show, she slowed the pace with “logical” and “enough for you,” performing while sitting on a giant half-moon that floated across the arena, surrounded by suspended stars. It was beautiful moment that allowed the fans to be closer to Olivia.
The back end of her set didn’t let up as she delivered teenage anthems like “brutal,” “obsessed,” and “all-american bitch.” For the encore, Olivia returned with “good 4 u” and “get him back!” while sporting a customized tank reading “bad idea eh?” As confetti filled the arena, it was clear that everyone had an amazing time.
With only three dates left on her GUTS World Tour in Portland and Los Angeles, if you can find a way to get tickets, go for it—you won’t want to miss out on this unforgettable experience.