On a serene evening near Glasgow’s River Clyde, floods of fans excitedly awaited entry into one of the city’s premier live music venues, the OVO Hydro. With each second that trickled by, the palpable energy grew as fans eagerly anticipated experiencing Olly Murs’s greatest hits from the last 15 years. The liveliness of the evening only intensified by the night’s support act, which was Noughties pop boyband Blue, whose strong vocal harmonies and synchronised dance routines would perfectly compliment this beautifully constructed time capsule of pop hits.
Within the venue, crowds hurried to their seats, longing for Blue to grace the stage and kick off what was sure to be an excellent evening that celebrated pop nostalgia. As the lights dimmed, past images of the band flashed across the stage screens and isolated vocal snippets from the band’s hit ‘All Rise’ echoed throughout the room, instantly captivating the audience and sparking a surge of electric cheers. Then suddenly, the familiar opening chords began and the four members appeared on stage, as if they had stepped straight out of the 2000s from the pictures behind them. This enthralling introduction immediately reassured the audience that the evening’s show would be a heartfelt exploration of the band’s legacy over 20 years later.
In their prelude to Murs’s performance, Blue took the audience on a journey of reminiscence, that made fans Waugh, Brooke, Maclean and Waterson feel that “they were a great opener, who transported us straight back to the 2000’s”. Upbeat tracks like “Curtain Falls” and “Bubblin’” featured synchronised dance routines and lighting effects that pulsed in time with the song’s beats, giving the impression that the venue itself was dancing along too. However, the band skilfully showed their versatility by balancing these vibrant dance beats with softer, romantic love ballads like “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word” and “If you Come Back” that kept the audience engaged and emotionally in tune.
A standout moment occurred during “Breathe Easy”, when band member Duncan James graciously asked the crowd to “light up this beautiful Glasgow skyline because in our day we had Nokia 33/10s”. As audience members raised their flashlights, the room lit up like stars underscoring the artistically beautiful vocal belts of Lee Ryan. The audience held their breath and time seemed to suspend in this moment, an impactful reminder of the emotions that only live music can create. The song became a perfect metaphor for the night ahead, showcasing music as a source of camaraderie, connection and unity. The audience’s admiration for the performance only intensified the excitement for the night ahead.
Shortly after Blue concluded their set, fan’s anticipation peaked as Olly Murs graced the stage, launching into his catchy and upbeat song, ‘Troublemaker’ from his album Right Place, Right Time. The performance featured an interesting and fresh arrangement, with the addition of an alto saxophone, trumpet and trombone, a carefully chosen twist that added flair and richness making it impossible not to sing and dance, as Murs encouraged. The heart-warming connection between performer and audience was further strengthened through his use of call and response or antiphony, which invited the crowd to come together in formulating and shaping a shared musical experience. In this moment, Murs subtly highlighted the core meaning of the entire 15 Years of Hits tour, which is that music possesses the power to unite people, even across generations. Throughout the show, Murs proved himself to be a true showman, donning his iconic trilby hat and drawing on his years of experience in entertaining to connect with his fans; not only through his amazing vocals, but also with story telling, humour and commanding stage presence. He delivered energetic renditions of songs such as ‘Army of Two’ and ‘Kiss Me’, both of which featured deep walking bass lines and driving drum beats that reverberated through the crowd, allowing for the music to be not only heard but truly felt in the bones, creating a multisensory experience that could only be achieved in a live setting.
Despite the electric atmosphere, the evening unexpectedly came to a halt when Murs sadly had to cut the show short due to medical reasons, which he stated, “is something that has never happened to [him] in fifteen years.” The announcement was difficult for many fans who had been eagerly anticipating this night, including Quinn Harrison who had come to celebrate good news from school. However, the crowd responded with overwhelming support and admiration that transcended their disappointment. Though the show ended prematurely, the Glasgow audience was still humbly honoured to have been part of an incredible celebration of pop music and nostalgia. Through the incredible performances from both Blue and Olly Murs, the night’s core message was still deeply resonant, which is that music remains a powerful force that unites.
Review by Rachel Bissett
