The Girls Aloud Show was the seventh concert tour by English-Northern Irish girl group Girls Aloud, with 30 shows across Ireland and United Kingdom. The tour marked the group's first tour since 2013's Ten: The Hits and their first as a quartet, following the death of Sarah Harding in 2021. It was the biggest UK arena tour of 2024 so far after the final show in Liverpool on 30 June 2024.[1]
The tour commenced on 17 May 2024 in Dublin, Ireland and concluded on 30 June of the same year, in Liverpool, England. Group members Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have described the tour as a "celebration of Sarah, our music and our incredible fans." The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2—a one-hour television special—will air 17 November 2024 on ITV1.
Background
Girls Aloud — composed of Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, Cheryl and Kimberley Walsh — was formed on reality TV show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, going on to achieve 20 consecutive top ten hits before taking a hiatus in 2009. The group eventually reformed in 2012 to mark their ten-year anniversary with the release of "Something New" and greatest hits album Ten, before embarking on their Ten: The Hits Tour; the group disbanded following the conclusion of the tour.[2] In August 2020, Harding announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which had spread to other parts of her body;[3] Harding died in September 2021.[4][5] In October 2022, the remaining members came together to raise funds and awareness of breast cancer in honour of Harding.[6] In April 2023, Walsh described themselves as "really as tight as we've ever been at the moment" in wake of Harding's death.[7]
On 22 November, it was announced the group would tour in 2024, in "celebration of Sarah, our music & our incredible fans".[8] Eight days later, eight additional dates were added,[9] followed by an additional London date in December.[10]
In an interview with British Vogue, the group announced they would not be releasing new music, stating it was "because Sarah wouldn't be included in that newness."[11] In an interview with Virgin Radio, the group revealed initial discussions to celebrate their twentieth anniversary had begun several years prior, but had stalled following Harding's diagnosis, revealing: "all priorities changed".[12] That December, an additional date in London date was announced.
Critical reception
In her review of the tour's opening concert in Dublin on 17 May 2024, Zara Hedderman of The Guardian noted that Girls Aloud are "a glorious pop institution still calling the shots." Alluding to Harding's passing, she further wrote: "Old lyrics now have new poignancy – but with motorbikes and mic-stand moves, the mood stays upbeat [...] Euphoric cheers are constant, reaching an apex for a singalong to "I’ll Stand By You" and a confetti shower for "Jump." But the biggest reception is saved for the encore of "The Promise," a song with a sparkle that – much like the tenacious and tender group singing it – has never dimmed."[13]Daily Telegraph critic Neil McCormick found that "these women have got qualities their younger selves would struggle to match: experience, loyalty, the sheer life-affirming delight of being able to stand onstage and sing to remind themselves and their fans that we are still here, and to celebrate those who aren’t."[14] Ed Power from The Times called the show a "ferociously enjoyable, and a heartfelt tribute."[15]
Una Mullally, writing for The Irish Times, felt that "this tour could have been framed as a nostalgia-fest, a chance to revisit some of the best pop hits of the early 21st century, or an all-out dance party. It’s all of those things, but also a touching tribute to their bandmate. Ultimately, the decision to lean into commemoration over commodification demonstrates an unexpected authenticity."[16]Irish Independent's Barry Egan praised Girls Aloud for giving "the crowd exactly what they want, hit after hit with nothing but brilliance." He noted that "although most of us are aware of the fragility of life, sometimes it takes a pop song to make us really understand how lucky we are — and realise what impermanent creatures we are, too. That pop song was "Whole Lotta History," performed by Girls Aloud to a sold out 3Arena last night in Dublin."[17]
Broadcast and recordings
On 14 October 2024 it was announced one of the London concerts at the O2 Arena were filmed for ITV1 and ITVX, and will feature "sneak peeks behind-the-scenes" and air as a one-hour special.[18] The special, billed as The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2, will air on 17 November 2024,[19] which would have been Harding's 43rd birthday.
Set list
This set list is from the 17 May 2024 concert in Dublin.[20]
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