For Gilbert native Lindsey Stirling, Valley concerts aren’t just another stop on her packed tour itinerary. The dancer/violinist calls it a reunion, a reset and a reminder of where her story began.

“The hometown show is always so special,” said Stirling, who brings her “Duality Untamed Tour” to Arizona Financial Theatre on Tuesday, July 28. Tickets start at $54.50.

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“It’s always fun to have my friends from high school come out. I’m quite close with them. My mom and a sister still live there. We get the whole gang out.”

Stirling — who began her “Duality Untamed Tour” on July 7 in Richmond, Virginia — reinvents her live shows with each tour. For this jaunt, she has redesigned the costumes, choreography, stage set and the narrative.

The concert unfolds through vignettes inspired by “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Complementing it is the “most whimsical, the most magical music I’ve ever written,” she said, drawing heavily from her 2023 album “Duality.” 

“We’re just trying to showcase the hero who has to go through the hardship to thrive,” said Stirling, a YouTube and “America’s Got Talent” darling before her record deal. 

“I just hope people find themselves in the show; in whatever moment they might be in — whether they feel like they’re thriving or they’re struggling. I just hope that they see themselves in that and realize they can write the story they want.” 

The Mesquite High School alum shares this story with her signature blend of violin performance and choreography. Aerial work adds a new dimension, turning the stage into a living storybook.

Stirling’s catalog crisscrosses genres, from classical to pop, rock to electronic dance music. She writes songs but also performs works by the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Vivaldi.

Her tracks are embraces across the board. Gymnast Suni Lee used “Duality’s” “Eye of the Untold Her” in her gold- and bronze-medal winning floor routines during the Paris Summer Olympics.

Authentic self

Vulnerability is a common theme for Stirling and her music. She openly addresses her recovery from anorexia nervosa and depression and, subsequently, partnered with vetted nonprofits like the National Alliance for Eating Disorders to provide free online therapy, and with groups like Dollar For and RIP Medical Debt to forgive medical bills for people in crisis.

Six years ago, to address this, she founded The Upside Fund to provide equitable healthcare and debt relief; mental health access and advocacy; and nutrition, education and food justice. Since then, The Upside has helped eliminate more than $17 million in medical debt. According to its website, The Upside Fund is a fiscally sponsored project of Mission Edge San Diego, a registered charity with Tax ID 27-2938491.

“We buy medical debt in bulk a lot of times, and people will get a letter saying their medical debt has been forgiven,” she said. “They are no longer chased by debt collectors. The relief that that provides people can be life changing.

“I’m really proud of not only my team for helping me organize The Upside Fund, but my fans. They have been so generous; $1 from every ticket sale for several years has gone to The Upside Fund.

“Just from fans buying tickets, we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

She’s spending the second half of the year on self-care. She will celebrate her 40th birthday in September. (A Christmas tour and a South American run are also on the docket.) 

“Myself, my sister and some friends are going to do a fun 40th birthday trip,” said Stirling, adding that Japan may be the destination. 

“Life is short and long. I’ve gotten to do a lot of things. I can’t believe the numbers here. But I’m ready for it.”