The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicLive music

James Arthur at Wembley Arena

James Arthur at Wembley Arena | Live review
26 November 2017
Musanna Ahmed
Avatar
Musanna Ahmed
26 November 2017

Music review

Musanna Ahmed

James Arthur at Wembley Arena

★★★★★

Highlights

Impossible, Careless Whisper, Cry Me a River

Links

Twitter Facebook Instagram Soundcloud Website

James Arthur has a very loyal fanbase. They stuck by his side during the controversies of the three years between his two albums, as evidenced with a surprise number one hit in 2016 with Say You Won’t Let Go, and came out in full force to sell out Wembley’s SSE Arena on the evening of 24th November.

The popstar had a lot to be grateful for, taking his time to thank the X-Factor voters, Emeli Sandé before he performed Roses, and those in attendance for selling out the venue in his first UK arena tour. He rewarded their loyalty by delivering an electric vocal performance with a passion that suggested he truly is back from the edge, belting out hit, after catchy album cut, after hit over the course of 90 minutes.

Even after he left the stage, he came back on for three more songs, including fan-favourite Rudimental collaboration Sun Comes Up, as if to make sure his followers were fully getting their money’s worth or that he was challenging the third Lord of the Rings movie for most false endings in pop culture.

The concertgoers provided a warm reception throughout but were most present when he was covering tracks like Cry Me a River or Careless Whisper, during a segue when he paid tribute to George Michael. It’s not so surprising considering that the artist became a star through a cover anyway – of course referring to Impossible, which was, predictably, a highlight where audience participation nullified Arthur’s necessity to sing. But not even the live-streamed world premiere of new single Naked could elicit the same level of crowd responses. Presumably because nobody except the backing singer wanted to voluntarily sing “I’m standing here naked, naked, naked”.

The runner-up for MVP was whoever was responsible for directing the lighting. A range of vivid colours and diverse illumination shapes enhanced the spectacle, which was sporadically aided through ornaments such as raining confetti and a butterfly cross. The show opened with a sports montage, aimed to be inspiring, but proving to be ultimately unnecessary as the theme was discarded by the 10-minute mark.

It’s time for Arthur to go bigger. He’s sold out Wembley, and has a voice that’s certainly capable of travelling further but it may take something more inspiring than Naked. Regardless, the fans will be turning up to support him anyway: the arena is still echoing with cheers.

★★★★★

Musanna Ahmed
Photo: Capital FM

For further information and future events visit the James Arthur website here.

Watch the video for Can I Be Him here:

Related Itemslive musicreview

More in Live music

Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Bat for Lashes Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Barker-Turner Overdrive: An Evening of Duets at the Tunbridge Wells Forum Online

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Ben Howard: Global Transmission from Goonhilly Earth Station live stream

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

The Sherlocks at Sheffield City Hall Online

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

The Snuts at Stirling Castle Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Valley Maker – When the Day Leaves Livestream

★★★★★
Jasper Watkins
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Music review

Musanna Ahmed

James Arthur at Wembley Arena

★★★★★

Highlights

Impossible, Careless Whisper, Cry Me a River

Links

Twitter Facebook Instagram Soundcloud Website

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Syml – Dim EP
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Ride or Die
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Secret Connection – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Josh Rouse at the Courtyard Theatre | Live review
Jools Holland at the Royal Albert Hall | Live review