Live Review: Becky Hill

Tamzin Meyer

Becky Hill took to the stage at the O2 Academy Birmingham (16th October) bringing electric energy that all fans bounced off of with glee. The chart-topping star created an atmosphere that was unmatchable, performing a mixture of club hits and slower, emotional tunes. The gig was especially significant as she noted that her family and friends were all watching her perform in the audience, often paying touching tributes to them throughout the night.

Taking it back to the hour before Hill blessed us with her presence, local support act Richard Fairlie certainly gained new supporters instantly through his likeable personality and soothing tone. He immediately made an entrance wearing an Aston Villa shirt and continued to make an impression with the beautiful ‘Fonda on the Roof’ and ‘THE REASON I’M BREATHING’ before entering the crowd to take selfies with fans – a lovely added touch demonstrating how much he values the crowd’s support.

After a seemingly very long forty-five minute wait, Becky Hill herself started her set but oh was it worth it. She started the show with ‘Heaven on My Mind’ which immediately made the crowd go wild and get ready to party. This was followed by a series of upbeat hits that included ‘Afterglow’ (a personal favourite of mine), ‘False Alarm’, and ‘I Could Get Used to This’. These being a wise selection of opening tracks to provide a glimpse of the energy that was going to come at the end of the show.

her relatability and loveable character helped make fans feel appreciated

Taking the tempo down a notch, Hill was overcome with emotion and highlighted a beautiful side of vulnerability as she dedicated ‘Distance’ to her family after the loss of her grandparents, then turning to her guitar for a beautiful and personal rendition of ‘Perfect People.’ The audience connected with Hill as she spoke directly to the crowd; her relatability and loveable character helped make fans feel appreciated.

Of course, as Hill is renowned for her pop hits, the rave-like atmosphere was not gone for long. With Hill saving an encore for future ‘arena’ shows, fans were able to be fully immersed in the music that just kept getting better. The last seven or so songs were incredible; everyone was having the time of their lives singing and dancing to some of the star’s biggest hits that included ‘My Heart Goes (La Di La),’ ‘Better Off Without You’ and ‘Wish You Well.’ As she took to the microphone to sing one last song, ‘Remember,’ she could leave the stage knowing that she had done everything she needed to, to ensure that fans left the doors of the O2 Academy feeling nothing but elated.

Chelsie Henshaw

On Saturday 16th October, I had the amazing opportunity of seeing Becky Hill live at the O2 Academy in Birmingham. For those who know little about the singer, she reached the semi-finals on the debut series of the Voice UK in 2012. After gaining more popularity in recent years, Becky released her first studio album Only Honest on the Weekend earlier this year.

Having only ever attended one concert previously, all the way back in 2017, I did not know exactly what to expect. However, I can honestly say that the concert provided me with an unforgettable night.

Doors opened at 7pm and the support act, Richard Fairlie, took centre stage at 8pm. With a very minimal stage of a microphone and a dark blue curtain as a backdrop, Fairlie did well to keep the audience’s attention during his set. One particular highlight was the song ‘The Reason I’m Breathing,’ a catchy pop song that felt poignant and filled with emotion.

the concert provided me with an unforgettable night

During the 40-minute interval between Fairlie’s set and Becky’s appearance, the audience danced along to a variety of pop songs. At 8:10pm, Becky appeared on stage wearing a lilac ensemble consisting of a leather crop top with puffy sleeves and a matching pair of trousers. Becky launched straight into her hit song ‘Heaven on My Mind,’ followed swiftly by ‘Afterglow.’ These two songs ramped up the energy in the audience, as everyone (including myself) half-shouted, half-sang the lyrics. They were the perfect combination to start off Becky’s set with a bang.

In the middle of her set, Becky switched to a couple of slower, emotion-filled songs, one of which was inspired by the difficulty of lockdown and the physical barriers posed by it for couples. This song is aptly named ‘Distance’ and is one that I am sure many in the crowd could relate to. For the song ‘Perfect People,’ Becky went back to her roots and played the guitar herself whilst she sang, rendering the performance more down-to-earth and personal.

The slow section of her set was followed by two classic club songs, including famous ‘Gecko (Overdrive),’ during which Becky requested the audience put down their phones and just be present in the moment. I have to admit I was guilty of spending a lot of time on my phone during the beginning of the concert, trying desperately to record videos for the memories. Yet during those two songs, the energy in the room changed as the majority of people threw themselves into the two songs, not worrying about capturing the moment for Instagram.

For her last song, Becky chose to sing ‘Remember,’ one of her most recent chart toppers whose refrain will certainly get stuck in your head once you listen to it.

Before I end my review, I have to mention Becky’s interactivity with the crowd, mostly via her storytelling. Early into the show, Becky sweetly said ‘hello’ to her mom, dad, and other family and friends in the crowd, which made her feel more like a ‘real’ person, as opposed to a celebrity or performer. The singer also took the time to introduce all of the members of her band and even sang an energy-filled duet, ‘Business’, with her backing singer who has a phenomenal voice. Becky told the story of how she bought her first guitar at the age of 10 from Stourport – this was a really interesting fact to me as my stepdad currently resides in Stourport and my mother spent a significant amount of time there during her childhood.

Overall, I had an incredible evening, and it is one that I imagine will be unforgettable.