I have attended my fair share of gigs over the years, but I must admit, Olly Murs was not someone who was high up on my list of must-see artists. However, after watching his Marry Me Tour at the AO Arena in Manchester, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by his showmanship and undeniable talent.
The night started with support from Scouting For Girls, who brought their upbeat pop-rock and a whole lot of “oh this hit was one of theirs?!” to the stage and warmed up the crowd. But it was Olly who really stole the show, as he burst onto the stage with a medley of “Marry Me” and “I’m Still Standing”, setting the tone for the evening.
Throughout the night, Olly had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand, with his infectious energy and undeniable charisma. He interacted with the crowd constantly, making jokes, dancing and generally creating a fun and lively atmosphere that had everyone on their feet. A bit like a wedding if you will, just one with several hundred very eager brides in attendance.
One of the highlights of the night was when he performed a duet with Professor Green, belting out the crowd-pleaser “Thinking of Me”. Olly’s grief tinged rendition of “Sweet Caroline” turned his and the crowds thoughts to his late friend Caroline Flack in a touching back to earth moment.
But he was far from relying on just covers tonight. Olly’s own hits, such as “Heart Skips a Beat” and “Dance With Me Tonight”, were met with screams and cheers, and the audience were even treated to a new song, “Best Night of Your Life”.
The evening ended with a bang as Olly closed the show with an encore of “Troublemaker”, which had everyone up and dancing once more.
Despite our initial scepticism, we were thoroughly won over by Olly Murs and his undeniable talent. It was clear that he was determined to give his audience the best night of their lives, and with his infectious energy and upbeat setlist, he certainly succeeded.
If you get the chance to see Olly Murs live, I would highly recommend it. You will find yourself highly entertained.
Setlist:
Marry Me / I’m Still Standing
Best Night of Your Life
You Don’t Know Love
Kiss Me / Watermelon Sugar
Right Place Right Time
I Found Her
Thinking of Me (with Professor Green)
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond cover)
Dear Darlin’
I Hate You When You’re Drunk
Heart Skips a Beat
We Found Love (Rihanna cover)
Wrapped Up
Dancing on Cars
Celebration / YMCA / Blame it on the Boogie / Don’t Stop Believing / Sex On Fire / I Want It That Way / Dancing On The Ceiling
Dance With Me Tonight
Encore:
Troublemaker
View our photo gallery from the night below.
