This is one concert that I have been looking forward to attending. Olly Murs with support from another of my favourites: Blue!
It took me two hours in traffic to reach the venue which should have been a 50-minute journey. So, I was a little stressed on arrival.
The venue was packed, mostly females, all very excited for an evening of great songs. There is a huge screen that fills all the back of the stage that has different things filling it all night. The lights go down and the spotlight hits the back of the stage and there stands the Blue lads. A 45-minute set of all their hits – fantastic.
Olly Murs: the main event
20 minutes interval so the audience can dash to the loo, get a drink and be ready for Olly Murs. It is a big stage with a slope from the back to centre of stage, steps in front. Total darkness and suddenly there he is, up through a trap door at the back/top of stage, dressed in a tuxedo. He could apply for a modern James Bond 007’ film. Very smart.
Olly often talks to the audience, in between his energetic dancing, singing and using the whole stage to keep every person captivated. “Liverpool, you are my kind of people, you have spray tans” – that causes a reaction from the crowd!
He tells us that he was on the X Factor in 2009 and he performed Stevie Wonder’s Superstition in season six. When he did his first tour he was petrified and asked if anyone would want to see him? They did and still do.
He tells us it was his 41st birthday yesterday. If he was celebrating, it has not stopped him giving 100 per cent on stage.
He tells us, “on this part of the show I have absolutely no idea what is about to appear on that screen”. A photo appears of Olly touching the This Is Anfield sign at Liverpool Football Club. A few cheers but mainly the audience BOO. Olly looks taken aback, not the reaction he expected. “Of course this will probably get the biggest boo of the night. I am a Manchester United fan” – more boos! He laughs and asks, “Shall I Go?”
He often slides down the stage on his bum!
Whilst singing Kiss me he humps and gyrates against the microphone stand. Oh, my, goodness. To be honest there is gyrating and thrusting hips all night – yes Olly!
Pyro flames shoot in the air. We are all hot just watching Olly, no need for more heat. Boy, can he dance and move. I am enthralled. You think of him as a mate as he is so normal when he talks to the audience – fame has not changed him.
Time for a costume change
After some time he leaves the stage, again the trap door drops him below. Soon he is catapulted back on in a change of clothes. Are they blush pink trousers and jacket? He whips off the jacket and has a sleeveless sparkly top underneath. Keep going Olly…. What muscles, in all the right places! Again, he simulates sex on the mic stand. Many of the audience are wishing they were the mic stand!!! What energy, what moves.
His voice is perfect, and the hits come one after another.
Now he talks about a more sensitive subject. Recently the newspapers did an article and said that his fans do not like his new toned look, they prefer his dad bod. He is upset about it. Do you still love me, he asks. “YES!” everyone screams.
The audience is in the palm of his hand. He performs the song “Marry Me”, and then he tells us how he met his wife Amelia, they married two years ago. Their first baby was born whilst he was on tour with Take That. He tells us that he and his wife got a little bit busy at Christmas – Amelia is now expecting their second baby. “It still works!” he shouts. Yes, we can see from your moves it works alright Olly!
He constantly thanks the audience for all their love and support. It’s like he can’t believe the love people have for him.
Back to the 80s
“Let’s go back to the 80s” he shouts. He goes into the aisles and the fans can’t believe their luck. Some manage to get a touch, a photo, one girl just stands and screams when he stops directly in front of her! He sings songs of George Michael, Rick Astley, Michael Jackson and Bon Jovi.
When he sang Dear Darlin which he dedicated to his X Factor co-host Caroline Flack, who died in 2020, he tells us “I genuinely think about her every day. I know that feeling of losing someone that you love very much. With this song, I want you to think of those people and sing with me”. The venue is lit up with lights on mobile phones.
Two hours on stage.
What a sexy, talented, entertaining man.
What a showman.
Looking forward to next time…
Olly Murs set list
- Best Night of Your Life
- Troublemaker
- Right Place Right Time
- Please Don’t Let Me Go
- Thinking Of me
- Oh My Goodness
- Kiss Me
- Army Of Two
- Hand On Heart
- Up
- Die Of A Broken Heart/I Found Her/Dancing on Cars/I Hate You When You’re Drunk
- Seasons
- You Don’t Know Love
- I’m Your Man/Never Gonna Five You Up/Livin On A Prayer/Beat It/Careless Whister/I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles/I’m So Excited
- Dear darlin’
- Never Been Better
- Heart Skips a Beat
- Wrapped Up
- Save Me
- Encore:
- Dance With Me Tonight
All pictures by Deborah Law
