(Tour Review): Sinéad Harnett’s ‘Boundaries Tour’ Was A Healthy Serving Of Self-Love

Since Sinéad Harnett’s breakout single, “If You Let Me,” the British soul sensation has built a career on her self-proclaimed toxic run-ins with love. However, after completing some scary shadow work and with considerable therapeutic assistance, she’s changed, and so has her musical muse. As heard throughout her latest studio album, Boundaries, Sinéad focus is Sinéad. More specially, the songwriter’s creative inspiration is younger Sinéad. To dig even deeper, she’s examining the needs that were left unfulfilled. These empty promises formed a pile of mess that older Sinéad would instinctively run towards.

Sinéad Harnett returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her heart set on displaying this emotional growth. On September 11, 2024, Sinéad Harnett’s highly anticipated Boundaries Tour stopped at The Foundry in Philadelphia. Now, I wasn’t in attendance for Sinéad’s debut, but as she floated toward the stage, it was evident this was an entirely different person.

With the instrumentation of “Shoulder” cued up in the venue’s sound system, Sinéad fiercely asserted herself onto the bare stage. The stance wasn’t your typical gesture to send fans into a frenzy. No, this posturing was as if moments before Sinéad broke loose from the shackles of past baggage. These were footsteps of internal freedom. “Life taught us patience / ‘Til the creation / Of all our dreams really came true / So good / Love how it feels getting closer / You and me shoulder to shoulder,” sang a focused Sinéad. 

With the crowd serving as volunteer background singers, it was apparent Sinéad’s lines sadly resonated with far more people than she thought. Although Sinéad’s rhinestone mesh top stole every glimmer of light the space could offer, it could not compete with her inner glow. Both elements drowned out the minimalist staging—Sinéad’s name projected onto the Foundry’s velour curtains and a sturdy enlarged box. After belting out Boundaries tracks “Thinking Less” and “The Most” then Ready Is Always Too Late standout, “Take Me Away,” the seemingly empty stage filled with a more poetic meaning. 

To mirror the album’s purpose, each night of the Boundaries Tour was meant to solely showcase Sinéad. No horse and pony show. The name projection being Sinéad’s raw reintroduction whereas her use of the lone stage prop represented several healing exercises outside of the obvious physical one. First, Sinéad was actively standing up for herself, something her younger self couldn’t and up until recently her older self wouldn’t. Next, Sinéad was removing all distractions for herself and the audience. Instead of being enamored with what was in the background, concertgoers were forced to prioritize Sinéad. Lastly, she was knocking off all other false idols to replace them with herself. On Boundaries, Sinéad sang about putting others, their opinions, feelings, and more above her own. Without an outside source to take up the mantle, Sinéad is placing herself on that pedestal. 

Though Sinéad’s set was predicated on her third album (hence the tour’s name), she didn’t toss her older records by the wayside. Her run around the globe was about healthy healing practices, not delusional dismissals. “Be The One,” “Ready Is Always Too Late,” “Take Me Away” and more all made an appearance. In fact, with guitarist Antonio Loomis’ piercing focus the pair snuck in a tear-jerking acoustic set of  “Stay,” “Heal You” and “Hard 4 Me 2 Love You” before working in the newbie “Downtown.” Sinéad’s pristine vocals and Antonio’s nimble finger work was transcendent. Suddenly the snug Foundry crowd became a spacious room with enough square footage for everyone to unpack and shift through their traumas. 

Typically, romantic partners and R&B shows go hand-in-hand. For Sinéad’s Boundaries Tour stop in Philly a different classification of love was present–platonic. This was yet another serendipitous manifestation Sinéad conjured up. With friends tightly locked at the elbow, Sinéad immediately took notice while applauding those for reprioritizing what type of love is worthy of celebration. Given the emotional rollercoaster she had taken supporters on, Sinéad decided to end things with a bang, closing with the Sonny Fodera remix of “Unconditional.” Well, until her faux encore of “Where You Been Hiding” and “If You Let Me.”

Highs, lows, and everything in-between Sinéad Harnett’s Boundaries Tour was a healthy serving of self-love. Even if you are not ready to forge healing’s traitorous jungle, just bearing witness to Sinéad Harnett’s finish line you know what lies on the other side when you are ready to toe the line.

Do you want more of Sinéad Harnett? Connect with her on your favorite social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook. 

Sinéad Harnett’s album Boundaries is available for purchase here or streaming on your favorite music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal.

Sinéad Harnett’s Boundaries Tour Setlist:

1. “Shoulder”
2. “Thinking Less”
3. “The Most”
4. “Take Me Away” 
5. “Ready Is Always Too Late”
6. “Distraction”
7. “Body”
8. “Be The One”
9. “Say Something”
10. “Stay” (acoustic)
11. “Heal You”
12. “Hard 4 Me 2 Love You” (acoustic)
13. “Downtown” (acoustic)
14. “Burn”
15. “Pulling Away”
16. “Unfamiliar”
17. “You First”
18. “Are You That Somebody?” (Aaliyah cover)
19. “Unconditional”
20. “Unconditional” (Sonny Fodera Remix)

Encore:

1. “Where You Been Hiding”
2. “If You Let Me”