Live Review : The Lumineers + Chance Peña @ State Farm Arena, Atlanta - October 4th 2025

Chris Collett
Oct 6
3 min read

Updated: Oct 10

There is something uniquely warm about a Lumineers concert. The band doesn’t rely on special effects or overproduction, just songs that cut straight to the heart. At State Farm Arena, that sincerity filled every inch of the room as thousands of fans sang, swayed, and lit up the night with phone lights.

Chance Peña Opens with Heart

The night opened with Chance Peña, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Tyler, Texas, whose soulful presence and emotional storytelling immediately drew the crowd in. Peña’s stripped-down style and powerful vocals brought a sense of intimacy to the massive arena. His set featured a mix of folk-pop and indie ballads that showed both skill and heart. Songs like “Familiar Faces” and “In My Room” highlighted the kind of quiet confidence that makes an opener unforgettable. It was the perfect prelude to what was to come.

The Lumineers Bring Light and Emotion

When The Lumineers took the stage, the arena roared to life. The Denver-based folk-rock group, led by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, has spent more than a decade turning deeply personal stories into anthems that feel universal. Their set blended old favorites with newer material in a seamless flow that never lost its emotional weight.

The night moved effortlessly through songs like “Flowers in Your Hair,” “Angela,” and “Cleopatra,” while the crowd joined in word for word. During “BRIGHTSIDE,” Schultz walked out into the audience, surrounded by phone lights and voices that echoed back every lyric. The connection between band and fans felt genuine and unbreakable.

Wesley Schultz -The Lumineers - Photo by Chris Collett

Much of the band’s newer material showed The Lumineers continuing to evolve while staying true to their storytelling roots. Songs like “A.M. RADIO,” “WHERE WE ARE,” and “Brightside” trade the rustic charm of their early records for something bolder and more cinematic, filled with big choruses and layered production.

Yet even with the added polish, the emotional core remains the same. Wesley Schultz’s voice still carried that fragile mix of hope and heartbreak, and Jeremiah Fraites’ percussion grounds every track with heartbeat-like rhythm. The new songs may sound bigger, but they never lose the intimacy that made fans fall in love with the band in the first place.

Then there were moments like “Ho Hey” and “Sleep on the Floor” that reminded everyone why The Lumineers have remained a cornerstone of modern folk music. The band’s performance of “Leader of the Landslide” flowed into a snippet of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” creating a shared moment of reflection that carried into the final stretch of the show.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

As the set drew to a close, Schultz took a quiet moment to speak about losing his younger brother, Sammy. Who saddly passed away this May. His voice was soft, steady, and was filled with emotion as he talked about the loss and coping with it. Then, he dedicated their cover of “New York State of Mind” to him, saying simply, “This one’s for Sammy.” The arena fell completely silent, a rare kind of stillness that said more than applause ever could.

The night ended with “Stubborn Love,” a fitting closer that reminded everyone of the healing power of music. The Lumineers didn’t just perform; they created an experience built on memory, connection, and grace. It was a show that stayed with you long after the lights came up.