Opening an arena show is a strange assignment. You’re playing to a crowd that didn’t come for you, in a room built for spectacle, with most people still settling into their seats or scanning the merch lines. Amber Mark walked into that situation at Scotiabank Arena opening for Sabrina Carpenter and handled it with a cool confidence that immediately set her apart. There was no overreaching, no attempt to force a pop-star moment. Instead, she leaned into her strengths—groove, restraint, and a voice that carries real emotional weight—and slowly pulled the audience into her world.
She came out to a warm wash of lighting and opened with “Don’t Remind Me,” easing the room into her set rather than jolting it awake. It was a smart move. The song’s laid-back pulse and smooth vocal delivery worked like an invitation, and you could feel the arena gradually shift from chatter to attention. Amber doesn’t perform like someone trying to prove herself; she performs like someone who already knows exactly who she is. That self-assurance came through immediately.
“Mixer” picked up the tempo just enough to keep things moving, and it was here that her band really started to shine. The live instrumentation added a thicker, funkier texture than her recorded material, which translated well in such a large space. Amber moved more freely now, dancing without choreography, letting the rhythm guide her rather than the other way around. It felt natural and unforced, which made it easy to connect with.
One of the early highlights was her cover of “Jealous Guy.” In an arena full of pop fans, pulling out a John Lennon song could have felt random, but she made it completely her own. She stripped it down emotionally, delivering it with a tenderness that hushed the room. You could actually hear the crowd quiet down, which is rare for an opener in a venue this size. It wasn’t flashy—it was honest, and it worked.
With “All the Work,” she shifted gears again, leaning into a smoother, groove-heavy sound that showcased her versatility. The lighting warmed up, the bass got deeper, and the song felt tailor-made for swaying rather than singing along. Even without massive crowd participation, the vibe was locked in. People were watching, nodding, absorbing.
Then came “Vogue.” Covering Madonna in front of a largely pop-leaning audience is a bold move, but Amber Mark didn’t try to outdo the original. Instead, she reimagined it with a funkier, more soulful edge, turning it into something playful and slightly unexpected. The crowd reacted immediately—cheers, laughter, phones coming out. It was easily the most outwardly energetic moment of her set and a smart way to meet the audience halfway.
The back half of the performance settled into a confident groove. “Sweet Serotonin” was a standout, blending pop accessibility with Amber’s signature smooth delivery. It felt like one of those songs that people hearing for the first time were instantly filing away to look up later. “By the End of the Night” followed, keeping that momentum while adding a more emotional edge, her voice floating cleanly over the band.
With “Cherry Reds,” she brought the room back down slightly, leaning into mood and atmosphere. The lighting dimmed, the tempo slowed, and she let the song breathe. It was another moment where she trusted the audience to stay with her without needing a big hook or dramatic flourish.
She closed with “What It Is,” finishing strong without trying to compete with the headliner’s pop energy. It was confident, stylish, and left the crowd with a clear sense of who she is as an artist. The applause at the end felt genuine—not just polite opener clapping, but the sound of people who had been won over.
Amber Mark didn’t try to steal the show or outshine Sabrina Carpenter’s massive pop production. Instead, she did something arguably harder: she introduced herself to a huge, unfamiliar audience and made a lasting impression by simply being excellent. Her set was smooth, soulful, and quietly powerful, proving that sometimes the best way to fill an arena is not with noise, but with control.
Setlist:
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Don’t Remind Me
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Mixer
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Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover)
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All the Work
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Vogue (Madonna cover)
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Sweet Serotonin
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By the End of the Night
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Cherry Reds
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What It Is