I spent my youth dreaming of going to concerts in the city and having the time of my life. I was expecting a communal, unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience — but the reality is…unpredictable, to say the least.

In late 2022, I secured tickets to two of my favourite alternative artists, Kelela and serpentwithfeet. Both are rooted in a love for R&B, have undeniable vocals and are beloved amongst music critics. Despite going solo, I left Kelela’s show feeling as energized as I would after a catch-up session with friends. The passion of the crowd, their unapologetic dancing and expressive singing reminded me why concerts are worth it.

Sadly, serpentwithfeet’s show was the opposite, of no fault of his own. The audience sat still, no one bothering to even sway to the songs. It was so quiet that I could hear my off-key singing in a room of hundreds of strangers. I’d heard about the gamble of modern Toronto concerts and aloof audiences, but hadn’t experienced it until then. I left feeling awkward, disappointed and most importantly, lonely.

When it comes to Gen Z, loneliness is seemingly inescapable. We’ve been talking about it since last November through our community-focused Action Journeys. In its 2023 “Vital Signs” report, the Toronto Foundation found that 37 per cent of Torontonians are lonely three to four days of the week. Last year, a nation-wide study by Leo Burnett found that 77 per cent of Canada’s Gen Zers are lonely.

It’s hard enough feeling disconnected from others in general, but at a concert venue where you expected a communal experience with like-minded folks? A whole other beast.

What’s more, the cost of living is making it harder and harder to afford concerts in the first place.

Inflation has hit the resale market and made nabbing tickets for your favourite artist immeasurably harder. Even regular hangouts at bars are on the decline as nighttime spending dipped in 2024, according to data by Square, a business technology platform. According to the report, 62 per cent of people surveyed across Canada say, “Even with Happy Hour discounts, it’s still too expensive to go out.”