Photo Credit: Cuffe & Taylor
Words: Amy Booth

If there was ever to be an evening where the weather could be scripted, it would have been on the fourth of July where James Arthur illuminated the stage at the Piece Hall. By the end of the night the rain felt less like a nuisance and more like a paid actor, setting the scene for a performance that was emotional, electrifying and truly unforgettable. 

Before Arthur took to the stage, the crowd were blessed with an incredibly strong lineup of support acts which each brought something different. Ruby Poole delivered heartbreak in a reflective way, while Ben Ellis added an indie- pop vibe which felt intimate despite the much bigger venue. Jerub brought pure energy and incredible vocals which warmed the crowd up perfectly for James Arthur to take the stage for the main event. 

From the moment Arthur walked out on stage, the crowd were screaming. He entered to the track ‘Water’ which is featured on his latest album ‘Pisces’. This song in the rain was a moment for the fans to remember forever. Arthur spent this year performing in arenas but despite this venue being significantly smaller, he made the production equally as 

huge. He showcases the same intensity and value across his summer shows, whilst remembering to keep the closeness and connection that venues such as the Piece Hall are favoured for. 

During hit song ‘Impossible’ Arthur’s gratitude for where he is today was present. Several of his fans have supported him since the moment he walked onto the X-Factor stage, 14 years ago. When he sings this song live it is a real reminder of how loyal his fans have been across his journey. For me, it is the best feeling watching the same artist I voted for and still feeling the same raw intensity over a decade later. 

Arthur then performed ‘Sermon’ from his comeback album, ‘Back from the Edge’ with a transition into a cover of ‘Ready Or Not’. This created a sense of nostalgia and for a lot of fans, this beat feels like the start of summer. 

‘Can I be Him’ is also another fan-favourite on the setlist, and when performed live, Arthur takes the end to walk across the stage and soak in the sound of the crowd chanting the lyrics back to him. 

One of the shows biggest strengths, as always, was the band around him. The team has been built over the years, and I genuinely believe them to be the best in the game. Built up from vocalist Mike Hough, Yasmin Green, pianist Daniel Bingham, guitarists Ricky Ahir, Drew Stead and Jack Duxbury. The band are a core part of the James Arthur live experience, and that chemistry shows. 

During ‘Rewrite the Stars’ Arthur invited Green to sing Anne Marie’s verse, she has the most remarkable voice and the crowd in Halifax adored her. 

Arthur dedicated his TikTok viral ‘Cars Outside’ to his late driver Wayne Calveley and this further reiterates just how important each member of the team is to Arthur, despite his successes, there remains deep connection, gratitude and appreciation across his team. 

He went on to play a brand-new unreleased song titled ‘Waste My Tears’. The lyrics express that it can be hard to feel alright within yourself when you are battling with your mental health, but the overall feel and beat of the song is uplifting and comforting and spreads the message that you should never stop dreaming, believing and being yourself. Arthur captures the vulnerability that we all feel and turns it into something that truly comforts and lifts you. 

Before performing ‘Trainweck’ Arthur explains that it is okay to speak about up about your mental health and that he often worried that this would be seen as weakness. Tears were shed by fans who relate deeply with the lyrics, and for several fans this performance has become memorabilia of our late fan-girl friend Tali Cestaro. 

The crowd enjoyed dancing and singing along to ‘Bitter Sweet Love’ and slowing it down for a cover of ‘A thousand Years’. During ‘Lasting Lover’ the whole crowd at the Piece Hall jumped along and it felt as though we could all forget the stress of life for a few minutes and really be in the moment. Arthur closed the night with his global hit ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’, a love song that has connected with billions. 

Performed during the rain, with Arthur feeling under the weather himself, the level of dedication Arthur has to his fans was highlighted. The crowd helped him along throughout and this is one of those live music scenes that you will remember long after the show ends. 

This set balanced classic James Arthur with newer material from ‘Pisces’ but more importantly, it was a perfect reminder of why Arthur continues to hold such a loyal fanbase across all these years. He truly gives us everything. There was no saving his voice, just total commitment to the fans who continue to show up for him at shows across the world. 

At The Piece Hall, James Arthur showcased proof that more than a decade into his career, he still knows how to make every performance magical.