Concert Review: Niall Horan, The Show Live On Tour
On the third of September this year, I attended Niall Horan’s concert at the famous O2 Arena in London.
Niall Horan, formerly in the boy band One Direction, set out earlier this year on his second solo tour, The Show Live On Tour, following the release of his third solo album ‘The Show’.
Horan still has a substantial fan base, with many following him from his One Direction days.
Earlier in the day, before the venue had opened, you could already see the community of people coming to this concert scattered around North Greenwich, sporting Irish flag feather boas, green accessories, and any merchandise showing their love for Horan.
Prior to the concert starting, there was already a phenomenal atmosphere, with the audience singing and dancing to the pre-show playlist as I entered the arena, building up the excitement for the concert to start.
The last song played before he came on was ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac.
Horan has previously said they’ve influenced some of his previous music, being a fan himself.
Niall then came on stage, and this atmosphere continued as he began to sing his first few songs, starting with one of his most popular hits, ‘Nice To Meet Ya’, from his second studio album ‘Heartbreak Weather’.
The crowd's pent-up energy waiting for his arrival was expressed into screams of excitement.
After a few songs, Horan made a heartfelt speech, showing his gratitude to everyone for attending the concert, reminiscing on the many times he had played at this venue before with former band One Direction, and stating how this was his first time playing this venue as a solo artist, provoking an emotional feel throughout the arena.
Horan’s voice was excellent, being both powerful and melodic. Having been a fan of Niall for over 10 years, it did not disappoint live, with the live version of the songs meeting the standard of the studio versions.
At times, the audience loudly singing limited me to hear Niall’s voice, but for the most part, this was not a major problem.
Throughout the concert, Horan’s stage presence was prominent, with the volume of the crowd increasing as he moved around the stage.
He was a very competent performer, dancing down a catwalk to the beat of ‘Heaven’ and jumping along the stage to ‘If You Leave Me.
Although he had incredible stage presence, there was a lack of crowd interaction, which I would have liked to of seen more of.
He also played some older songs from his time in the band, playing a crowd pleaser, ‘Night Changes’, which the crowd was exhilarated to hear.
Overall, I thought it was an amazing concert and would give it a four out of five star rating. I would definitely attend a future Niall Horan concert and recommend others to come and experience this spectacle. I would recommend this concert to anyone who likes pop folk, or pop rock music.
