Kesha

Article by: Brittany Ormiston

“We shall be transformed. I love you my wild ones. I’ll see you in the light.” Pop icon Kesha ascended from the floor wearing pink and white feathered wings. “Indianapolis, are you ready for freedom?” she yelled before the 2010s anthem ‘Tik Tok’ began. The lighting moved swiftly through the vast cylindrical setup on stage as the audience jumped to the beat with their hands stretched to the sky. The vibes felt very similar to a rave, and the party was just getting started. The camera work during ‘Crazy Kids’ was exceptional as the crowd was given an aerial view of Kesha and her dancers posed in a star formation. She sat on her dancer’s shoulders and greeted fans around the venue as she wrapped up the track. Smiles lingered as the interlude began to play. 

Kesha’s performance of ‘Cannibal’ had the crowd on the edge of their seats. “Is anybody hungry?” asked Kesha as she revealed a large knife as her prop of choice. She held it up with a sinister look on her face, and blew a kiss while embellished in red lighting. After a message stating she would rather be vulnerable than living dead, Kesha dove into tracks from her most recent album . (period). This album was her first album release as an independent artist, and through her self-titled label Kesha Records. ‘JOYRIDE.’ was electronic dance music perfection with red and purple lasers accompanied by smoke cannons. The feel good song ‘YIPPEE-KI-YAY.’ transitioned into ‘Timber’ making the fans lose their minds. Kesha gave a taste of her newest release ‘Origami’ that had notes of nostalgia, and choreography that was detailed, alluring, and hypnotizing. 

The audience was in for a real treat as Kesha performed a few acoustic tracks, including ‘cu next tuesday.’ The track recently went viral, yet it was released over 15 years ago on her album Animal. Her tone during the performance was breathtaking, and each note was delivered so effortlessly. During ‘Good Old Days,’ Kesha reminisced on the small things, such as getting a whale tattoo that was poorly done and the dents in her old car. She expressed how those moments made life worth living, and they lead up to where she is now. She broke through the shackles of her past, took ownership of her music catalog, and just sold out the biggest tour of her career. The encore of ‘Praying’ brought a whole other level of meaning this time around. “I'm proud of who I am // No more monsters, I can breathe again // And you said that I was done // Well, you were wrong and now the best is yet to come,” exclaimed Kesha. Her entire outfit was adorned in gold with an immense halo sparkling in the light as phone flashlights lit up the venue like a church. 

Before she brought the Indianapolis show and The Freedom Tour to a close, Kesha stood center stage and expressed her love for the fans. “Your love healed me, and I want to thank you,” she stated as her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears. Now more than ever, Kesha is an artist who is fearless, honest, and reminds us that we are who we are.            

Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN on August 30, 2026

Photos by Chris Shaw for Live Nation