Laufey and the Virginia Symphony at the Chartway Arena

Laufey (pronounced LAY-vay) first appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 31, 2022. She shyly stood at the mic, she wore a simple white summer dress, guitar held in front of her like armor offering protection from the hundreds of people sitting in the audience. Soft spoken, she talked about her Chinese-Islandic heritage then she sang and the audience realized they were in the presence of an emerging vocalist who defied description. A singer-songwriter equally at home with jazz, pop, and bossa nova, Laufey's eclectic repertoire touches listeners with her honesty and heartbreak.

Fast forward to 2025 and that shy singer in the simple white summer dress is now the spellbinding charismatic vocalist in a body-hugging gown who roams the stage, owns the stage, singing of love, identity, jealousy, all the human emotions. She shares personal anecdotes and background stories about her songs creating a more engaging experience for her listeners.. Even backed by a full symphony orchestra, her concerts feel intimate with many in the audience singing along with her. She will still occasionally accompany herself with a guitar, but sometimes during the performance she played the cello and piano. Her blending of jazz and pop is introducing a younger audience who would have not have otherwise listened to jazz.

Her recent concert in Norfolk, as part of the Virginia Arts Festival was no exception. Performing with the Virginia Symphony to an audience of 7,000 people (tickets sold out so quickly that a second show was added, which also sold out in minutes), mostly Gen Z, Laufey captivated the audience, leaving them wanting more.

The following are photos of one of the Norfolk concerts.