Music Critic Maya Bernstein reviews Bradley Simpson’s live show in Birmingham, part of the UK leg of his The Panic Years tour
Halfway through his The Panic Years tour, Bradley Simpson lit up Birmingham’s O2 Institute on 17th May with a performance that proved he was truly born to be on stage. Touring his rock and indie-inspired debut solo album, Simpson returned to his hometown, to a venue where he once stood in the audience, creating an energy and unforgettable performance that felt both personal, intimate and electric.
Excitement and anticipation radiated from the crowd of twenty-somethings eagerly waiting in line to be let in. As the sun set over Birmingham, golden hour cast a warm glow on crowds of fans dressed in double denim, leather jackets and red miniskirts. Each outfit echoed the bold, rock-indie spirit that Bradley Simpson so effortlessly embodies. The moment the doors opened at seven, waves of fans poured into the venue, dancing their way towards the red-lit stage that perfectly captured the aesthetic of The Panic Years. Anticipation buzzed through the crowd as fans sang every word of the pre-show playlist, generating an instant and infectious energy that pulsed through the venue and carried effortlessly into the night.
As the lights dimmed, the pulsing beat and drums of ‘Getting Clear’ thundered through the floor, flooding the venue with anticipation and a vibrant electric energy. With a sudden crash of drums, Simpson burst onto the stage, instantly igniting the crowd in a wave of screams and cheers. He launched straight into ‘Getting Clear’, a high-energy, rock-fuelled opening song that set the tone for the night. Fans sang, danced and waved their hands in time with the beat, fully immersed from the very first beat. Simpson’s seamless transition into ‘Picasso’ plunged the crowd into a fully immersive moment, as fans chanted the lyrics “Picasso, oh oh oh” in unison, their voices echoing through the venue as he turned the mic towards the crowd.
“His singing surrounded by fans and without a microphone […] was undoubtedly one of the night’s standout highlights.
After the high energy of the first two songs, Simpson paused to introduce himself, thank the crowd and reflect on how much Birmingham means to him. Beaming while saying “Oh, it’s good to be home, Birmingham”, he created a shared magic in the room – a hometown pride that made the night feel truly unforgettable. Introducing the next few songs, Simpson encouraged the crowd to have a dance, launching into ‘Cry at the Moon’, ‘Almost’ and ‘Not Us Anymore’, as fans sang every word in unison, dancing freely and soaking up the energy of the moment.
As Simpson sang his latest single ‘Favourite Band’, he invited Nieve Ella to sing with him. The show’s opener and featured vocalist on the track, Nieve Ella stunned the crowd with her voice and energy, perfectly complementing Bradley’s own and creating a dynamic performance.
Taking a break from the high-energy dancing, Simpson invited everyone to raise their phone lights, illuminating the venue in a shimmering glow as he performed ‘Holy Grail’. This sense of magic and intimacy deepened when Bradley stepped off the stage to deliver an acoustic version of ‘The Band’s Not Breaking Up’ from within the crowd. His singing surrounded by fans and without a microphone created a cosy, unforgettable moment, allowing the audience to experience Simpson’s voice up close. This was undoubtedly one of the night’s standout highlights.
Reigniting the energy, Bradley returned to the stage and urged everyone to put their phones away, encouraging the crowd to live in the moment and dance freely as he performed ‘Always Like This’. His radiant stage presence during the upbeat, rock-infused track sparked a contagious energy that swept across the room.
“Born to be on the stage, Simpson’s boundless energy, dances, jokes and intimacy never dipped throughout the entire set
Calling out to everyone in their twenties, Simpson introduced ‘The Panic Years’, the song that inspired the album’s title. He explained that he wrote it to capture the chaos, mess and beauty of being in your twenties, delivering a heartfelt message to fans that, despite the struggles, everything will be okay. This song perfectly encapsulated the complex emotions of everyday life, clearly resonating with the crowd as they sang every word back, creating a beautiful moment of nostalgia, honesty and unity.
As chants of ‘one more song’ echoed through the venue, Simpson returned to perform the night’s most anticipated track. The room exploded with energy as fans screamed every lyric of ‘Daisies’ and tossed daisies onto the stage at the opening line “I’ve been picking daisies”. Towards the song’s end, Bradley invited half the crowd to sing one line and the other half to join in with the next, weaving a powerful atmosphere of pure energy and magic. To close the night. Simpson urged fans to dance, climb on each other’s shoulders and put their phones away as they sang along to ‘Carpet Burn’, a perfect finale that captured the vibrant spirit and unforgettable magic of the evening.
Bradley truly created such a special and magical atmosphere, connecting deeply with fans through an intimate and energetic experience. Born to be on the stage, Simpson’s boundless energy, dances, jokes and intimacy never dipped throughout the entire set, perfectly encapsulating what it means to be a Bradley Simpson fan. This tour marks a flawless debut for Bradley’s solo career, and with four more shows left on the UK leg of The Panic Years tour, I highly recommend everyone listen to the album and make seeing him live an absolute priority. As an up-and-coming solo artist, I am truly excited to see Bradley’s solo career catapult and eagerly anticipate what Simpson has in store for the future.
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