Ben Barnes Concert Experience

Salt Lake City, Utah • January 17, 2025

Google “healing from concerts” and you’ll find right at the top The Healing Power of Live Music: More than Just a Concert. This is something I have experienced many times the past 17 years – the first such healing in 2008 about 9 months after Mike’s passing. I went to see Rick Springfield for the first time in almost a decade and for those couple hours, I let go of the reality that was outside those concert hall doors. I remember going home and telling Michaela who had just turned 6 all about it. She saw a marked difference in my mood and happiness in my eyes. She begged me to take her to a concert so she could feel it too. About 7 months later I took her to see Rick and he came out into the audience and sang with her. Even at such a young age, she experienced the power of that concert experience. She was so excited. It became a ritual for us. We’d even travel out of state to see him. It wasn’t long until Rick new her by name. He knew her before he knew me. I appreciated how kind he was to her. And I came to deeply love the opportunities I was given to photograph him on stage. He encouraged me to continue and complimented my “good eye”. It kept us going a really long time.

The pandemic pretty much put an end to all of that. I have only had one more opportunity to photograph a show for him since. It’s been an exercise of patience attending any concerts without my dSLR especially when I feel like I was made to do this. But I know photographers a dime a dozen, especially in Utah. Everyone with a camera thinks themselves a photographer. And part of being a good parent is sacrificing what you WANT for what you NEED. We needed a steady paycheck, a roof over our heads and my daughter needed support as she endeavors on her journey to working in medicine. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a good show! And if needs be, take photos with a cellphone. 😒 I tell myself it’s supposed to be a challenge. But I’m not sure that’s working because I still get frustrated.

BUT! The Ben Barnes concert was not about an opportunity to take photos but spend the evening with my girl. She knew how much I adore Ben’s music and insisted that our experience would be her treat – a gift for my birthday. So for the last 2 months I mentioned the show every chance I got. Seeing the smile on her face knowing she was doing this for me, it made all the times I made a fool of myself worth it. She wanted to do this for me. And I was so touched. She even embroidered the 11:11 song lyrics for me for Christmas. So, it was more than just meeting Ben. More than just a seeing a show. It was both of those things but it was mostly it was about creating another moment with her.

The VIP Experience

We did the VIP experience and having done a few of these with other artists, this was a pretty great one! We were let into the venue promptly. Ben showed up right on time. Everyone was cooperative and friendly.

I don’t know exactly if the experience is the same in each city – meaning I think what Ben & his crew do for you is the same but I’m not sure how the venue handles things are the same. Soundwell in Salt Lake City were super chill and very cordial. I can’t say enough nice things about them. I’ve been to some of these meet & greets where it feels like the fans are an inconvenience and bother. Not so during our experience.

What You Get

Ticket to the Show
Official Tour Poster
Autograph from Ben (1)
Selfie with Ben
Early Access to the Merch Booth
Early Access to the Venue

The cost was $128 (+ any fees) per person. Again, this may be venue specific? I did notice that ticket prices varied by city so maybe the VIP portion is the same but the total cost will vary by city, too. Either way, the value was GREAT especially since it included the ticket to the show and the artist actually was there for it (yep, we’ve been to VIP experiences when the artist wasn’t even there. Thanks, Ben for being there!) 👍🏻

How it Went
The venue let us in right on time. Most lined up for merch but those who know better ready themselves for stage access which meant they were first in line for the meet and greet. We’re seasoned concert goers. This wasn’t our first rodeo! Not only was Ben there, he showed up on time. He was super relaxed. He took his time with each person. He was patient and kind. He would sign one thing (that I could tell) – either the tour poster or an item you brought with you, if you brought one. He was very generous with the selfies – not just one. He took the selfies himself & he is a total pro! This girl didn’t look like Jabba the Hutt for once! 😏

After your turn with Ben was done, we lined up for the stage access. The strategy paid off and we were right in front!

Where the Light Gets In Tour 2025

This February, Ben and his very talented band embark on a headlining tour in the UK and Europe.

Currently, he’s traversing across the United States with dates in:

January 12 @ The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
January 14 @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
January 15 @ The Showbox, Seattle, WA
January 17 @ Soundwell, Salt Lake City, UT
January 19 @ Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO
January 21 @ Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN
January 22 @ House of Blues, Chicago, IL
January 27 @ Royale, Boston, MA
January 28 @ Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
January 30 @ Lincoln Theatre, Washington D.C.
February 1 @ Webster Hall, NYC, NY
March 5 @ The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

Get Tickets to See Ben!

Our Thank You to Ben

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Where the Light Gets In Album Review

The Show

I cannot adequately express how much fun this concert was. Ben radiates a light that just oozes with joy and it’s so easy to just glom on to it. You can feel how much he loves doing this. And you can feel how much he REALLY LOVES his band. The concert openers are members of his band who get to spend about 15-20 minutes each showcasing their talents. They truly are so very talented and humble! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing what they could do.

The point of this site to chronicle the memories I’ve made with Michaela. I don’t expect a lot of traffic on this site and I admit that it takes a back burner to everything else I do. Priorities are 1) my family, 2) my job, 3) my clients and after all of that if I have time or feel so inclined I can put a little bit of myself into writing our stories here. Our stories are meant for Michaela. I honestly don’t like writing about myself yet so many say it’s important to journal – to share yourself, if not as a source of catharsis for yourself but as a record for family that comes after you. I record history in photos. That’s just what I do. I take A LOT of pictures. So, writing about this experience makes me a little uncomfortable because there’s a lot about me. I don’t like to do it. But at the same time, it was such a memorable concert for me, I want Michaela to always remember it and how her generous gift made me feel.

Highlights

When Ben acknowledged that Salt Lake City was the very first city to know all the words to “Where the Light Gets In”, I was a little proud because his album had only been out a week. I’m not surprised, mind you. Utahns love to sing. I think we all believe we’re Osmonds or something and I’m not even originally from here! 😂 If there is an opportunity to sing along, Utahns will.

For those about to see shows in the remaining US cities or over in Europe, vote for cowbell. Trust me. You want the cowbell. Be sure to watch the little thank you video on this page for a sneak at that one and listen for my daughter’s giggles. I am pretty sure I remained in a state of permanent flushed face for the rest of the show after that song!

Lastly, he didn’t have to do what he did. I told Ben about how much 11:11 meant to me and why. He had already thanked me for sharing the story with him. I did joke that he could always dedicate the song to Michaela and I but I certainly didn’t mean it. The song came at the tail end of the concert. It was just a look. But it was acknowledgement of something I told him a few hours prior. And he remembered. This look was his little way of saying “here it is!”

If that was not enough, he offered another personal handshake mid song… I had jealous women screaming at me by the end of the show – not in a bad way but it certainly took me by surprise as I was red faced and giggling by the time it was all over. Michaela may just say, “you broke Mom, Ben!” 😂

So was the show good? Uh, yeah, it was GREAT! It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. It is so obvious that Ben was born to do this. His acting is phenomenal but his live musical performances are stellar. We left the venue energized, excited, full of joy and laughter – out of breath and grateful.

Thank you, Ben.