sombr sells out Nationwide Arena in Columbus
The 21-year-old artist performed to a 20,000-person crowd on Nov. 8, marking a sharp increase from his previous show in the city.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
sombr performed to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Nov. 8. The show was part of his You Are The Reason Tour. He closed the set with back-to-back performances of '12 to 12,' a song that helped launch his career.
The arena, located at 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., reached full capacity for the event. This marks a substantial increase in attendance compared to his previous visit to the city. On Oct. 3, 2025, sombr played at a Columbus venue with a capacity of 1,700. In under a year, his audience size has grown by more than 18,000.
Hannah Jadagu and Dove Cameron opened the night. Cameron performed tracks from her most recent studio album, 'FINAL GIRL,' which released on Nov. 6. She sang 'do the math' and 'Boyfriend' to the audience. Jadagu provided a softer, indie-style opening performance.
Before taking the stage, sombr played a video on the arena backdrop. The clip was filmed in a New York City studio apartment. In the video, he discussed the personal nature of his music. He stated, 'Sometimes, it’s easier to live inside a song than it is to live inside of yourself.'
The main set began with 'we never dated.' sombr wore black leather pants, an open jacket, and a mesh shirt. He performed 'i wish i knew how to quit you' and 'under the mat.' 'Under the mat' is from his 2025 studio album, 'I Barely Know Her,' released on Aug. 22.
sombr performed 'My Body Isn’t Ready,' a track released on June 25. He explained that the song addresses body image struggles. 'When I get on stage, surrounded by my fans who are, point blank, my family, that’s truly the only time I feel comfortable in my own skin,' he said. The audience held up flashlights and swayed to the orchestral arrangement of the song.
He selected 'caroline' for a fan-request segment by comparing audience cheers. The song is from his early discography. According to a Variety article, this track helped secure his record deal. He also performed 'crushing' and 'makes me want you.'
During 'would’ve been you,' sombr sat in the lower bowl among the audience. The stage screen displayed the lyrics, 'You came to this concert to see me / Somehow I’m the one who needed you.' He described the relationship with his fans as reciprocal, noting, 'I need this just as much as they do.'
