Olly Murs at the O2 Arena
A knee injury and subsequent surgery put Olly Murs out of action, forcing him to cancel his 2022 tour. Clearly enthused to be back on-stage, the singer offers an evening of up-tempo entertainment combined with his trademark cheeky-chappy charisma and confidence at the O2 Arena.
Opener I’m Still Standing is reflective of the artist’s humour and sets the tone for the night. The 20,000 strong audience are here for it – after all, with such uncertainty in the world right now, a healthy dose of feel-good pop is just what many of us are in need of.
Murs is a natural showman and knows what his audience are after, while also seeking to have fun himself. This is evident in the series of covers among his own hits, which makes for a well-rounded show that acknowledges his talent show roots.
The largely jubilant atmosphere only drops (appropriately) as the artist pays tribute to the late Caroline Flack, with Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline feeling more poignant than ever. Addressing his own issues with anxiety and depression also allows the singer to feel even more relatable. For the most part, though, this is a high-octane, joyful gig that unashamedly celebrates love and marriage (Murs became engaged last year, which adds additional layers to his catalogue).
Dear Darlin’ has the audience singing along, and energising crowdpleaser Heart Skips a Beat is well executed. Professor Green is brought onto the stage to rapturous applause for Thinking of Me. Dance with Me Tonight has the audience doing exactly that, while a cover of Harry Styles’s track Watermelon Sugar is a nice nod to Murs’s fellow former contestant on The X-Factor.
As the evening draws to a close, we are treated to a medley of additional covers. The Jacksons’ Blame It on the Boogie, Sex Is on Fire by Kings of Leon and the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way see the star at his most fun. His own hit Troublemaker rounds off the night.
With stellar support from his band and backing dancers, Murs proves his prowess as an entertainer and rightly justifies his longevity within the industry.
Jonathan Marshall
Photos: Guifré de Peray
For further information and future events visit Olly Murs’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Dear Darlin’ here:
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