Louis Tomlinson has once again delivered an incredible performance at The Brighton Centre on Saturday, in what could be his smallest venue to date. In perhaps the smallest venue he has ever performed at, he delivered an epic show. The Brighton Centre has a capacity of just 5,500 people, with the standing floor taking up the vast majority of the tickets, and the atmosphere was electric.
I have seen Louis countless times over the years, from his days with One Direction to every solo tour he has done, and he just gets better every time. Last week, I saw him perform at the Co-op Live, the biggest dedicated indoor music venue, whereas this weekend, on the penultimate show of his How Did We Get Here? World Tour, I saw him perform to one of the smallest crowds, and I preferred it.
Standing on the floor at the Brighton Centre, it was impossible not to have a good view of Louis on stage – it was so small, it felt as though we were in the kitchen of a house party. There was no huge arena to fill, just one cheeky chap from Doncaster, living his dream on stage, performing his own music.
A Unique Atmosphere
Louis's sound over the years has varied as he experimented, finding his niche after life in the chart-mauling boyband, but now he has firmly landed on his feet. With the soft tones of his voice during 'Lucid' and 'Bigger Than Me', it is fair to say Doncaster's finest export certainly had the crowd eating out of his hand.
Seeing him perform acoustic renditions of 'Defenceless' and 'Just Hold On' is truly special. These are two of my favourite songs by Tomlinson. 'Just Hold On' now holds different memories for me, and I now prefer his acoustic performance over the original EDM version. Seeing an artist who is so used to performing in stadiums and arenas strip their set back to just an acoustic guitar will always give me goosebumps. Not many people could do it, but Tomlinson has the stage presence and voice to nail it every time.
Engaging with Fans
But the tempo of the night soon changed with energetic fan favourites like 'Imposter' and 'Kill My Mind'. Throughout the night, Louis acknowledged his success, telling fans that performing live and seeing them are the highlights of his job. There was not a moment when he did not seem grateful for the platform he has been given and has made the most of it.
He was constantly engaging with the audience, including one fan who attempted to do a shot with Louis. At one point, he acknowledged his career with One Direction, joking that it looked as though he was part of a boy band again. Although I was hundreds of miles from home, hearing that strong Donny accent made me feel as though I were home, which not many artists could do.
I also have to give a huge shout-out to ADMT, from Donny, who has been supporting Louis. He is such a decent chap with an incredible amount of talent. Pale Waves have also been amazing throughout this tour; they are made for the stage.
Affordable Tickets
With the cost of living soaring again, Louis really deserves praise for keeping his tickets affordable. It is rare to find concert tickets for less than £70 nowadays, especially for somebody on Louis's level, but he never overcharges for his events. Many artists could learn a thing or two from him.
My one regret is not buying merch, but we move.
