It’s no surprise that Minnesota has been feeling the heat this past week. On July 13th in particular, though, I believe it’s in part due to the lively performances that took place at the Amory. Ella Mai paid Minnesota a visit along with opening acts Ama (aka AMA Lou) and GIRLFRIEND. Walking through the Armory before and during the show, I was surprised at the showing. The Tour came prepared with a photo op with an iconic phone booth that had a line that was constantly packed.
The first performance of the night was by an artist by the name of GIRLFRIEND. Having limited time, GIRLFRIEND was only on stage for 20 minutes and performed just a handful of songs. In my opinion, however, that is just enough to leave concert-goers wanting more. GIRLFRIEND, whose real name is Kenya Edwards, is from Mississippi and now resides in Los Angeles. Earlier in the year, GIRLFRIEND was selected as the BET Amplified Artist for March of 2026. My particular favorite moment of her set was when she dedicated a song to the love she has for her home state and the fans/support that she has garnered from Mississippi.
Following GIRLFRIEND, Ama Lou took the stage and immediately had cheers from the crowd. AMA began her performance by really working the stage and interacting with the crowd. Dancing, singing, and serving a lethal face card for the duration of her set, she really captivated the audience. Ama is classically trained and has previously opened for Jorja Smith and Snoh Aalegra; She has also recently been signed to Brent Faiyaz’s ISO Supremacy. I’m personally really excited to follow along with Ama’s career after her stunning performance last night. Her self-titled album Ama was released on June 19th of this year, and it is shaped by a deeper exploration of womanhood, seduction, confidence, and softness inside her signature airy R&B/pop world and melodic precision.
The night ended with a beautiful performance by Ella Mai that had the audience singing and swaying along with her music. Starting her performance promptly at 9:30, Ella Mai gave a whopping 90-minute performance that delivered stunning vocals all throughout. The “Do You Still Love Me?” Tour marks Ella Mai’s first tour in three years. However, when she began singing, it sounded pristine, just like how you would hear her on the radio. Ella Mai’s set ended with her most viral hits “Boo’d Up”, ‘Trip”, and “Little Things”. Ella has Minnesota fans reeling after her show, wishing they could go back and replay the night.
