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This article is about the 2024 concert tour by Girls Aloud. For the Girls Aloud song, see The Show (Girls Aloud song).
The Girls Aloud Show
Tour by Girls Aloud
Promotional poster
Location
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
Start date17 May 2024 (2024-05-17)
End date30 June 2024 (2024-06-30)
No. of shows30
Girls Aloud concert chronology

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." A one-hour special,The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2, aired 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 was 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, aired 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]

  1. "Untouchable"
  2. "The Show"
  3. "Something New"
  4. "Love Machine"
  5. "Can't Speak French"
  6. "Biology"
  7. "Whole Lotta History"
  8. "Wake Me Up"
  9. "Sound of the Underground"
  10. "Girl Overboard"
  11. "No Good Advice"
  12. "Graffiti My Soul"
  13. "Long Hot Summer"
  14. "I'll Stand by You"
  15. "Sexy! No No No..."
  16. "On the Metro"
  17. "Jump"
  18. "Call the Shots"
  19. "Something Kinda Ooooh"
  20. "The Promise"

Tour dates

List of 2024 concerts[21][9][10]
Date (2024) City Country Venue
17 May Dublin Ireland 3Arena
18 May
20 May Belfast Northern Ireland SSE Arena
21 May
23 May Manchester England AO Arena
24 May
25 May
27 May Cardiff Wales Utilita Arena
28 May Sheffield England Utilita Arena
31 May Newcastle Utilita Arena
1 June
2 June
4 June Aberdeen Scotland P&J Live
8 June Glasgow OVO Hydro
9 June
10 June
12 June Nottingham England Motorpoint Arena
13 June
15 June Leeds First Direct Arena
16 June
18 June Birmingham Resorts World Arena
19 June
20 June
22 June London The O2 Arena
23 June
25 June
26 June
27 June
29 June Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
30 June

References

  1. ^ Alex Ross (5 July 2024). "Girls Aloud's reunion tour is 'biggest arena tour of 2024' so far". Rayo. Bauer Media. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  2. ^ Guardian music (21 March 2013). "Girls Aloud split after final UK show". The Guardian. United Kingdom. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  3. ^ Aniftos, Rania (27 August 2020). "Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding Reveals She's 'Fighting' Breast Cancer". Billboard. United States: Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  4. ^ Wright, Katie (5 September 2021). "Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding dies aged 39". BBC News. United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  5. ^ Parker, Ryan (5 September 2021). "Sarah Harding, Girls Aloud Singer, Dies at 39". The Hollywood Reporter. United States: Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. ^ Barr, Sabrina (8 October 2022). "Girls Aloud stars reunite at ball in honour of late band member Sarah Harding". Metro. United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. ^ Brazier, Tori (9 April 2023). "Kimberley Walsh: Girls Aloud 'tighter than ever' following Sarah Harding's death". Metro. United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  8. ^ Aniftos, Rania (22 November 2023). "Girls Aloud Announce 2024 Reunion Tour In Memory of Sarah Harding". Billboard. United States: Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Aubrey, Elizabeth (30 November 2023). "Girls Aloud add extra shows to 2024 UK reunion arena tour". NME. United Kingdom. ISSN 0028-6362. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b Spence, Niamh (11 December 2023). "Girls Aloud add another date to tour after selling 200,000 tickets in minutes". Daily Mirror. United Kingdom: Reach plc. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ ""It's Gonna Be The Nostalgia Of Your Life": Girls Aloud Tells Vogue Why The Time Is Right For A Reunion Tour". British Vogue. United Kingdom: Condé Nast Publications. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ^ Virgin Radio (23 November 2023). "Girls Aloud stars Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh announce 2024 tour in memory of Sarah Harding". Virgin Radio. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. ^ Hedderman, Zara (18 May 2024). "Girls Aloud review – a glorious pop institution still calling the shots". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  14. ^ McCormick, Neil (18 May 2024). "Girls Aloud make a spectacular comeback with this moving, celebratory tribute to their late bandmate". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  15. ^ Power, Ed (18 May 2024). "Girls Aloud review: ferociously enjoyable, and a heartfelt tribute". The Times. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ^ Mullally, Una (18 May 2024). "Girls Aloud review: nostalgia and fun fills the air but show is also act of remembrance". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  17. ^ Egan, Barry (18 May 2024). "Barry Egan review: Girls Aloud give the crowd exactly what they want, hit after hit with nothing but brilliance". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  18. ^ "The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2 to air on ITV1 & ITVX this autumn" (Press release). United Kingdom: Paramount Global. Paramount Media Networks. 14 October 2024. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  19. ^ Smith, Carl (12 November 2024). "Girls Aloud's The Girls Aloud Show TV air date confirmed". Official Charts Company. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  20. ^ Smith, Carl (18 May 2024). "The Girls Aloud Show tour setlist: deep cuts and songs they're 'dead against'". Official Charts Company. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  21. ^ Rigotti, Alex (22 November 2023). "Girls Aloud announce 2024 UK and Ireland arena tour". NME. United Kingdom. ISSN 0028-6362. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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