Photo Credit: Press
Words: Sophie Thompson

Louis Tomlinson had always been the most underestimated member of One Direction but on Saturday night at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena he proved why he deserves to be playing to packed out arenas of fans across the world. 

One thing that he does best is picking top tier support acts with previous names including the likes of Only the Poets, The Lathums and The Snuts all who have gone on post opening for Louis to playing to sold out crowds of their own fans.

This tour is no different with opening performances from Doncaster singer ADMT and Pale Waves. ADMT’s personable stage presence and deep love for his hometown resonated with the crowd. At one point jokingly asking the crowd if there was another guy from Doncaster performing on the night, with the answer obviously being yes. His vulnerable songwriting and natural ability to engage the crowd made a compelling start to the night.

Next came Pale Waves the Manchester based rock band delivered a confident and energetic set. Their lively cover of The Cranberries ‘Zombie’ showcased their own alternative edge and got the entire arena singing along. 

As the crowd eagerly awaited Tomlinson‘s arrival the crowd put the entertainment into their own hands as a light up Mexican wave circled the arena. Opening with ‘Lemonade’ the lead single taken from his third album ‘How Did I Get Here?’ Louis launched into a set packed full of fan favourites. His live band truly making his shows as special as they are adding grit and depth to his performance.

A standout moment came during the acoustic section when Tomlinson was joined by his backing vocalist and guitarist Isaac Anderson for a stripped back performance of ‘Defenceless’ holding the arena in a sense of silence, and my word it was beautiful. 

Emotion ran even deeper during ‘Dark to Light’ a track which Tomlinson has described as the most personal on the album. Widely understood to reference the tragic death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, the performance felt poignant in Birmingham, a city closely linked to Payne. Addressing the crowd Tomlinson spoke of the emotion of the moment telling fans: “When you get emotional in a space like this, it can be a bit intense, but I feel so fucking lucky to have this family with me. Fucking lucky. We’re here for a celebration. We’re here for a good night.” It certainly takes some vulnerability and strength to get up on stage in front of 16,000 people and admit to his emotion. That’s what fans love him for, his ability to wear his heart on his sleeve.

The setlist also featured surprises, including the return of the fan favourite ‘Holding onto Heartache’ the tracks anthemic bridge had the entire arena singing at full volume. Energy reached its peak during ‘Jump the Gun’ and ‘Kill My Mind’ the latter transforming the crowd into part of the production as thousands of phone lights moved in unison to the beat of the song. There really was no need for elaborate stage effects when the fans themselves create the spectacle.

Another highlight came from ‘Silver Tongues’ a defining track from his 2023 sophomore album ‘Faith in the Future’ as the crowd belted out the lyrics “I don’t feel like going home” and that they certainly didn’t. Tomlinson also treated fans to two tracks taken from the bonus edition of his latest album, ‘The Observer’ and ‘The Answer’ both which fans are eagerly awaiting their release onto streaming services.

As the night came to a close, he performed his 2017 hit ‘Miss You’ a track which fans had never expected to become a staple in his 2026 setlist. The closing song ‘Palaces’ bought the night to a euphoric end with confetti raining down and Tomlinson venturing across the barricade to greet fans.

What sets Louis Tomlinson apart is his genuine love and connection to his fans. His repeated gratitude to all who came out to see him and his declaration of “I fucking love you lot”, never felt anything other than authentic. Whether you have followed his journey from 1/5th of One Direction or just his journey as a solo artist this show was proof that he shouldn’t be underestimated. He is a defining voice in pop music, and his adoring fans are there every step of the way.