An early summer thunderstorm with lightning delayed the opening of the gates by 30 minutes at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater in Tampa, Florida, at The Florida State Fairgrounds on June 12, 2026. The sold-out crowd was lined up in the parking lot to see “The Sanctuary Tour” with bands Evanescence, Spiritbox, and the British duo, The Nova Twins. This was the second stop on the tour after playing The iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, in West Palm Beach, FL, the night before.
The first night reviews were highly favorable, and the Tampa crowd was anxious to get the party started. The Nova Twins started their set without delay at 7:00 PM. These two ladies have been childhood friends, and their music has been described by The Guardian as “bass-heavy duo fusing grime and punk,” which sums it up nicely. They were bundles of energy and smiles, as their intensity was contagious and radiated to the audience, and everyone got into the beat. This duo was fantastic and would get the #1 vote for the perfect opening band for any concert on the planet.
Band Members:
Amy Love – Vocalist/Guitarist
Georgia South – Bass
Jake Woodward – Drums
Setlist:
1.Antagonist
2. Cleopatra
3. N.O.V.A
4. Choose Your Fighter
5. Monsters
6. Glory
Spiritbox started their set about ten minutes early at around 7:50 PM. The ninety-degree heat was starting to subside, but the amphitheater construction of concrete and steel, along with every seat occupied, kept the heat in the venue. Yes, summer is here in Central Florida, and the entertainment was starting to really heat up for the night. Courtney LaPlante, the lead singer for Spiritbox has a commanding stage presence and a hypnotising visual effect as she swings her hair back and forth as she performs while switching between clean vocals and progressive metalcore guttural screams.
The band was formed in Victoria, British Columbia, by Courtney and her husband, guitarist Mike Stringer, in 2017. This highly talented band has been on an upward trajectory for the past three years, and their music has received Grammy nominations over the past three years. A great second act for the night, keeping with the unwritten theme of Women of Rock.
Band Members:
Courtney LaPlante â Lead Vocals
Mike Stringer â Guitar/Backing Vocals
Zev Rosenberg â Drums
Josh Gilbert â Bass/Backing Vocals
Setlist:
2. Black Rainbow
3. Perfect Soul
4. Keep Sweet
5. Cellar Door
6. Jaded
7. The Void
8. Tsunami Sea
9. Circle With Me
10. Rotoscope
11. Screw Me Up
12. Holy Roller
13. Soft Spine
At 9:30 PM, the stage was lit in red as the opening intro played over the PA system. The band filed out onto the upper level of the smoke-filled stage, and the crowd started to rumble. Amy Lee appeared and walked across the smoky, dimly lit stage, and the audience’s volume increased to a roar. Amy stood still on the inclined part of the stage as the rest of the band stood at attention just above her. The intro ended, and Evanescence burst into the title track of their June 5, 2026, newly released album, Sanctuary. They would play 11 of the 12 tracks on the album, leaving off the song “How Do I Heal.” They also played all their long-time hits.
The show had many great moments, like the loading of the grand piano three times from a hydraulic lift on the stage for songs, “Lithium” and “Like You,” and then disappearing into the stage. Later, the piano reappeared as Amy described a song that encompasses her life, “Forever Without You,” which she performed solo with Emma singing back up. The song really felt like she was bearing her soul, and the crowd hushed into a melancholy vibe. When she completed the song, Amy didn’t step away from the piano; she stayed seated and started banging away on the intro to “Bring Me to Life.” The melancholy vibe was gone, and the whole venue rose to their feet, and the band returned and joined Amy as she left the piano stool and strutted on stage, pounding her fist in the air as she sang the lyrics to the song everyone came to hear. The piano again disappeared and later reappeared in the set for “My Immortal.”
There were hydraulic risers in the real of the stage to lift up Will Hunt and his drum kit as well as the two guitarists, Troy and Tim, on either side for four songs. Pyrotechnics and even confetti cannons in two songs! This was a well-produced show, complete with real-time video on both sides of the stage. This is probably the most complicated production of the band’s history. They never sounded so good, and Evanescence seems to be at a peak in their 32 years of existence. The show was in-your-face rock n roll with moments of soft vulnerability and an entertaining full production.
Get out and see this tour!
Band Members:
Amy Lee â Lead Vocals/Piano/Keyboards/Harp
Troy McLawhorn â Guitar
Tim McCord â Guitar
Emma Anzai â Bass/Backing Vocals
Will Hunt â Drums
Set List:
Intro
1.Sanctuary
2. Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough
3. Afterlife
4. Rapture – (Lift)
5. Going Under
6. Lithium – (Piano)
7. Like You – (Piano)
8. Self Destruct
9. Calm Down – (Lift-Pyro)
10. Call Me When You’re Sober
11. Beautiful Lie – (Lift-Pyro)
12. Wasted on You
13. Forever Without You – (Piano)
14. Bring Me to Life – (Piano- Pyro-Confetti)
15. Imaginary
16. Better Without You – (Lift)
17. About Us
18. Fight Like a Girl (with Courtney LaPlante) – (Pyro)
19. Who Will You Follow – (Pyro)
20. My Immortal – (Piano-Confetti)
21. Wide Open Heart -(Confetti)
Follow Evanescence Online:
Follow Spiritbox Online:
Follow Nova Twins Online:
Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.