Ben Barnes at the Crystal Ballroom – 01/14/25

You may know Ben Barnes from his various acting roles, including Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia (2008-2010), Neil McCormick in Killing Bono (2011) or General Kirigen in Shadow and Bone (2021-2023). Breaking away from the scene, Ben Barnes goes back to his childhood dreams of music, releasing his debut album “Where The Light Gets In” on January 10th, 2025. 

His album release night and second show of tour was sadly postponed due to the LA fires, making his stop in Portland Oregon the third stop on his North American run. The line of fans wrapped around the corner leading up to the start of the show, with eager and excited faces awaiting what was to come. Crystal Ballroom, who is usually known for splitting the floor down the middle with an all ages side and 21+ side, moved the 21+ section further back, creating a more intimate setting for the night with fans up close and personal. 

Three beautiful performers opened the night with back to back sets, warming up the crowd for the main event. Artists Aaron Childs, Sophia James, and Charles Jones each performed a 15 minute set, showcasing original songs and covers. As Ben Barnes took the stage, so did the three of them, Aaron Childs (guitar and vocals) Sophia James (keyboard and vocals), Charles Jones (keyboard and vocals), alongside Zoe Sparks (bass guitar and vocals), and Paul “Hammy” Hamilton (drums).

  The show starts off with a spark, playing the first two songs off of his debut album, “Beloved” and title track “Where The Light Gets In,” the crowd smiling during every moment. After the third song “Nevermind”, one of my favorites, he speaks of loving yourself in different moments. The lyrics tell the tale of loving someone, yet realizing you need to let them go. 

 “I can dream all I want to go back to us before

The stars aligned, I got left behind

I can wait all I want, but your heart is spoken for

It was never mine, so never mind” 

Barnes drifts back and forth between new songs and old, performing a fan favorite off of his debut EP “Songs For You” titled “Pirate Song,” and even got the crowd laughing at cheesy pirate jokes. Getting serious for a moment, Barnes introduces each band member, sharing heartwarming stories of how he met his drummer and music manager “Hammy” during the filming of Killing Bono, nearly 15 years ago. “Being able to do this amazing adventure with these people who matter so much to me, and these new friends who I just love more every day is just amazing”.

Ben Barnes thanks fans for listening to his music, from his debut song, to the new album, and even covers. The band jumps into a beautiful rendition of “River” by Bishop Briggs. Halfway through the song, the band pauses and all members switch places, leaving fans with stunned faces. All five musicians showcase their universal talent on various instruments. Barnes heads to the drums, smashing away while bassist Zoe Sparks takes it away on vocals. 

The show goes on, jumping between songs off the album while Barnes shares his thoughts on how the songs came to be, what they are about and emotions they evoke. Performing slow down, he shares that this song is a reminder to slow down and spend time with the people you love and care about. Fans in the audience drew closer to one another, cherishing every moment. “Ordinary Days” he shared, was written while he was filming Shadow and Bone, where he would write sentimental, heartfelt songs to wash off the day. The crowd cheered, even shouting quotes from the beloved show. It was clear the crowd were huge fans of all his work, and he was very grateful for the support. 

As Barnes sits down center stage, he introduces “One Minute More” , the only song on the album with a duet. Barnes shares that most nights he is accompanied by Sophia James, but that he wanted to find local artists to perform when he could. Out comes West Lynn, Oregon born actress and singer, Aubrey Cleland. Most known for her performance on season 12 of American Idol, and her roles in Black Widow and Lethal Weapon, she also starred in Barnes music video “Nevermind.” The two sing a beautiful duet, their voices melting together perfectly. 

Nearing down to the end of the night, Barnes introduces the last cover of the evening, giving the audience a chance to pick from four songs. Instead of naming the songs, he gives hints at each one, with the audience choosing the one featured in a disney movie. He goes on to perform “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman, showcasing his powerful vocals and riffs with a call and response to the crowd, who try and replicate each note. As the song came to an end, the crowd decided they needed more, chanting “Cowbell” over and over until Barnes gave in to one last cover, singing “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” by Ray Charles. 

As he heads into the second-to-last song of the night, Barnes introduces that it is his favorite to perform. Not only does it showcase the talent of the wonderful musicians that accompany him on stage, it also is a beautiful song about hope, chasing your dreams and never giving up. It is about the ways in which we can uplift and motivate those around us, our family and friends to reach their full potential. “Thank you so much for being here, seriously. This is my dream, you’re my dream audience, and this is one of my dream places to play. So thank you for having me, this song is called ‘Someday.’” 

While everyone heads off stage, the crowd chants “encore”, trying to keep the night alive for just a moment longer. Barnes comes back on stage performing his debut song “11:11” starting off with just him and the piano. As the first chorus comes along, the crowd sings so loudly he lets them take it away, standing up and conducting them through each line. The full band joins him onstage to finish out the song, with the crowd belting along. 

It was wonderful to see how the music community can come together first hand, from the beautiful stories Barnes shared about everyone he tours with near and dear to his heart, to how fans connected with each other online so they have friends to be with at the show. Barnes’ music brought everyone together, rolling through the emotions of relationships, connection, watching time pass by, and achieving your dreams.