On a lovely evening in Glasgow, fans are getting together for James Blunt’s Who We Used to Be Tour at the OVO Hydro. This marks James’s first time performing at the Hydro, having previously played at various venues in the city, from King Tut’s to the Armadillo on his last tour. The anticipation is electric as fans chat excitedly while waiting for the show to start. The talented Lucy Spraggan is tonight’s supporting act.
As the venue lights dimmed, Lucy Spraggan and her band took the stage, kicking off their set with the energetic “Run” to introduce their music to the Glasgow audience. Lucy confidently commanded the stage with her exceptional voice, engaging with the crowd in front. She had everyone singing along to The Proclaimers’ classic “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” and even divided the room to see which side sang it best. Lucy’s performance had the audience fully captivated, with standout moments including “Blues Song,” “Cocaine,” and “Unsinkable,” where she encouraged the crowd to join in on the chorus.
The audience truly resonates with the artist’s lively music and insightful lyrics. Wrapping up her performance with the impactful tunes of “Not Another Travelling Song” and “Lightning,” she leaves the Glasgow crowd yearning for more. Before bidding farewell, she encourages them to scan the QR code on the big screens for a chance to win tickets to her upcoming Glasgow show at the Barrowland Ballroom, which she is eagerly anticipating. She waves goodbye to the audience and expresses gratitude to James Blunt for including her on this tour.
The roadies cleared the stage for James Blunt, enhancing the atmosphere in the sold-out venue with images of James on big screens. Excitement buzzed through the venue as stage time approached, creating amazing energy.
As the lights dimmed, the band began playing the intro music and slowly made their way onto the stage. James then appeared from the left side of the stage, acoustic guitar in hand, acknowledging the audience with a nod before moving to the centre and right side. The crowd enthusiastically sang along to “Beside You” from the latest album, while James’ vocals impressed everyone. The energy in the venue increased as they performed songs from the album “Saving a Life.” The atmosphere reached a peak with the hit “Wisemen” from the album “Back to Bedlam.” The stage lighting, resembling a cosy living room, added to the ambiance with flood lights at the back and a large LED screen surrounding the stage. It was truly a mesmerising sight.
James chatted to the audience, saying how he used to play to 8 people in Glasgow. Look at it now. Thank you for giving me a twenty-year career. He said you used to buy my miserable records, and you still buy them now, but sometimes I have happy songs, but the next few will be miserable. He paid tribute to his friend Carrie Fisher with the brilliant song Dark Thought, a stunning song filled with lots of emotions.
Returning to this fantastic album Back to Bedlam, the audience was enthusiastically singing along to Goodbye, My Lover, and the wonderful High. James Blunt described High as a song that only he and woman can sing due to its high pitch. He urged the crowd to stand up unless they had a medical condition. The performance featured a great blend of songs from his albums as well as a few covers, such as Slade’s Coz I Luv You. During this cover, he exited the stage and ran around the crowd, giving high-fives before returning to his spot on stage. The atmosphere in the venue was electric as he performed. Some of the highlights included Postcards, Same Mistake, and the excellent You’re The performance was stunning. James ended his set with a fantastic cover of Robin Schulz’s “OK,” getting the audience up from their seats and dancing. As the song concluded, James waved to the crowd before leaving the stage on the right.
After a brief intermission, James returned and sat at the piano to deliver a moving rendition of the classic “Monsters,” captivating the audience, who sang along as images of James and his father appeared on the big screens. The venue echoed with the uplifting “Bonfire Heart,” as the Glasgow crowd erupted into applause. This was the perfect encore, ending the night with a heartfelt performance of “1973” from the “All the Lost Souls” album. It was the ideal conclusion to an incredible set list. As the band exited the stage, James lingered a moment longer, waving goodbye to his devoted Glasgow fans.
Tonight was a memorable performance for James and the audience, as he went from playing small venues in Glasgow to selling out the OVO Hydro. The set list was exceptional, with no dull moments, just pure excitement. If you have the opportunity to see James live, don’t pass it up; it will be an unforgettable experience.
Review by Karen Edmond
