Photo Credit: Charlie Sarsfield
Words: Sophie Eley

After a two-year break from music, Lewis Capaldi returns to live performances with a run of September dates across the UK and Ireland, including a sold-out stint at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.The arena welcomed him for the second of two sold-out nights, a show that proved the Scottish singer-songwriter’s voice and presence are as powerful as ever. After stepping back to focus on his mental health, these shows felt less like a standard tour and more like a celebration of resilience and reconnection with loyal fans.

The evening started with performances from openers Aaron Rowe and Skye Newman. Rowe, an Irish singer-songwriter, delivered a sincere and heartfelt acoustic set, his passion and quiet charm earning an appreciative response from the crowd.  By the time Newman took the stage, the arena was nearly full as her voice filled the space effortlessly. Both acts set the mood perfectly, leaving the crowd primed for Capaldi’s performance. 

As lights dimmed once again, it was time for Lewis Capaldi himself to take the stage and the ripple of cheers alone proved just how much he was missed. Opening with ‘Survive’, his first single since the break, a song that symbolised both persistence and renewal. From there, he moved seamlessly between material from his debut and second album, sprinkling in unreleased tracks along the way. Only Capaldi can balance heartbreak and catharsis while keeping the audience laughing with his comedic relief. Songs such as ‘Grace‘ and ‘Forever‘ became communal singalongs, while ‘Wish You The Best‘ highlighted his ability to craft ballads that sit comfortably in arenas yet still feel intimate. 

New material formed a key part of the set with Lewis declaring he wanted to “attack us with new songs”. ‘Almost’ felt like a natural continuation of what fans love about Capaldi, carrying freshness which hinted at future directions. ‘The Day That I Die’, another unreleased track, was written while Capaldi was on his “best form” yet the song reflects a time when he was at his lowest. Stripped of humour, it carried a weight that visibly held the arena’s attention and demonstrated why his vulnerability is a hallmark of his song writing. Spectacle was not forgotten as ‘Pointless’ built to a huge climax, showing off the singer’s vocal range. ‘Something In The Heavens,’ released only a week earlier, provided one of the night’s most memorable visuals, with confetti firing across the arena. Light-up wristbands throughout added another layer to the immersive atmosphere. The main set ended with ‘Before You Go’, the audience singing so loudly it almost overshadowed Capaldi.

The carefully chosen encore combined both joy and emotion. ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ welcomed Capaldi back to the stage, before ‘Hold Me While You Wait’ delivered the type of singalong moment that only a debut album track can provide. The finale, ‘Someone You Loved,’ was extended to let the audience take over, Capaldi stepping back in awe as Birmingham’s voices filled the arena. 

The show reinforced why Capaldi is such a compelling live act. His voice is as strong as ever, and his charm and honesty makes every song resonate. Birmingham’s response left no doubt that his place in the live circuit is secure, and his return has been embraced wholeheartedly.