A far cry from his X-Factor beginnings, James Arthur packed the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Valentine’s Day with a sold-out show full of thousands of adoring fans. The energy from the crowd was consistently high, helped along by the nostalgic tunes and remixes of DJ Imbo – sporting some Arthur merch – with classics such as Call Me Maybe and Timber. There was even a little extra entertainment from some enthusiastic members of the crowd dancing to the pre-concert music.
Arthur opened his Pisces show with Water, kitted out in designer gear and album-inspired guitar, and every phone shot up to capture the moment we’d all been waiting for. His sixth studio album, it’s more than just music; James Arthur has created such a heartfelt, emotional experience reflecting his personal battles and inspiring others to speak up.
A particularly poignant interaction with the crowd revealed his own struggles with mental health and his openness and honesty brought tears to more than a few eyes. His advocacy of self-belief was an inspiring snapshot into his own battles and a reminder that no one should ever suffer alone.
One thing was made clear: James Arthur belongs on a stage. His infectious stage presence and fun banter with his band made it evident that performing brings him such unfiltered joy. His band of 10 years, he was their biggest cheerleader – his performance of Rewrite The Stars with backing vocalist Yasmin Green was a sensational blending of harmonies. You could feel the love the band shared for each other in the warm playfulness of their interactions. It made the whole show feel like a family affair and the crowd was just another member of the team.
Speaking of, Arthur kick-started ‘Karaoke’ by bringing up a very enthusiastic member of the audience to sing along with him. Shay, a Liverpool local, had been entertaining the crowd before the show started with his fabulous dance moves and pure joy. Quite frankly, he stole the show. With his flawless moves and unwavering energy, he managed to gain the love of thousands of fans and made quite the impression on the singer himself who even stated “that’s the best one we’ve done”.
The vibe was slowed down massively with the introduction of Embers – Arthur making his way to a separate stage and getting comfy on a plush sofa for the tempo change – but things soon picked up again with Bitter Sweet Love. Who doesn’t love a confetti cannon?
Well aware of the significance of the date, Arthur paid tribute to Valentine’s Day with a rendition of A Thousand Years which had the whole crowd on their feet and feeling the love. It was made all the sweeter by the beautiful message recorded by Arthur’s own daughter – an emotional surprise for the artist – to wish him a happy Valentine’s. This led seamlessly into the enormously popular Impossible which saw him win The X-Factor back in 2012. The noise from the crowd was impossibly loud as we were all transported back to that iconic moment 14 years ago.
James Arthur definitely ended on a high note, coming back out to crush his performance of Yeah, No. – a heavier aesthetic than we’re typically used to from Arthur but a very welcome change of pace. He finished the night with his biggest hit Say You Won’t Let Go and a well-deserved standing ovation. He took a moment to soak in the moment with his friends as they all took a bow.
Overall, the artist reminded us why his music touches so many hearts and it was a true pleasure to watch him perform. The stage is such a natural setting for him and it’s incredible to see that people are still voting for him beyond the TV show that helped his star to rise. His talent speaks for itself and a James Arthur concert is definitely a must-see experience.
