Friday 18 October 2024.

Friday 18 October 2024. ASTON MERRYGOLD live at Shepherds Bush Empire Aston Merrygold is known for his time with band JLS, who had five Number 1 hits, winning numerous awards. He has made strides in his career appearing on the West End, Strictly Come Dancing and released his platinum debut single “Get Stupid” as well as singles “Overboard”, “How Many Times” and “Sweat”. This is show three on a five date UK tour. ----------- Levels 2 and 3 are closed , and plenty of space elsewhere in the stalls and Level 1. His band JLS can play arenas around the UK, but like many musicians when they go solo, smaller crowds. As expected , it's around 90 % female fans here. The bar staff are not very busy tonight. JAMIE GREY on stage at 8pm for 25 mins. A singer-songwriter from Redcar who played ok. The DJ did a good job of playing the right tunes,that got all the girls singing loudly along. ASTON MERRYGOLD on stage at 9.50pm for 80 mins. Plenty of screaming during his set. A highlight is his fantastic dance moves, and his band got involved with the dancing too. The only JLS tracks performed were after an hour , when he performed a medley of their hits, including ' Beat Again' and ' Everybody in Love'. His solo material ticked along ok , with most of his hits in the second half. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Thursday 17 October 2024. DUA LIPA live at The Royal Albert Hall. DUA LIPA plays a special one-off London show, on her world tour of arenas and stadiums. Following her headlining performance at Glastonbury, three-time Grammy and seven-time BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa announced she will perform two massive shows at London’s legendary Wembley Stadium in June 2025. Dua Lips is promoting her third studio album. 'Radical Optimism' is the latest studio album by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was released on 3 May 2024 through Warner Records. Her first full-length studio album in four years since ' Future Nostalgia' (2020). The album was preceded by three singles, "Houdini", "Training Season", and "Illusion", all of which peaked within the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. ---------- The venue is rammed solid sold out. The crowd are told no filming, and the RAH staff do their best to try and stop folks taking sneaky videos. The stage production is just jaw dropping The end where the stage usually is , is now seats. The production takes over the entire floor area , and looks like a giant scalextric , which has been transformed into a lavish in-the-round arena for the night. A looping, custom-built walkway cuts through the center of the venue, weaving around Lipa’s collaborators for the evening – the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra, a 14-person choir, and seven-person band. As a sight, it’s nothing short of breathtaking. All of the musicians and road crew are dressed in black , as there are cameras everywhere , recording it for future broadcast. DUA LIPA was on stage for 90 mins ,over two sets of 70 mins and 20 mins. Just a five minute break between sets , to change into another stylish gown. Dua Lipa spends much of the night standing at its centre, performing some modest dance moves. Every now and then , she would have a walkabout. I don't really know her material , but recognise some. At the start of the second set / encore , the venue erupts as ELTON JOHN joins Lipa onstage – for a rendition of the boppy mash-up collab “Cold Heart/ Rocket Man". As if there weren't enough people with her, she is joined by a dozen dancers after Elton's stint. No doubt that when the show is broadcast, it will shift a few more tickets for her Wembley Stadium shows . It was quite a show.

Posted 18th October 2024