The Girls Aloud Show Explained

Concert Tour Name:The Girls Aloud Show
Border:yes
Artist:Girls Aloud
Number Of Shows:30
Last Tour:
(2013)
This Tour:The Girls Aloud Show
(2024)

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."

Background

Girls Aloud — composed of Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, Cheryl and Kimberley Walsh — was formed on reality TV show 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 ; 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 Independents 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]

Set list

This set list is from the 17 May 2024 concert in Dublin.[18]

  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

Date (2024)! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenue
17 MayDublinIreland3Arena
18 May
20 MayBelfastNorthern IrelandSSE Arena
21 May
23 MayManchesterEnglandAO Arena
24 May
25 May
27 MayCardiffWalesUtilita Arena
28 MaySheffieldEnglandUtilita Arena
31 MayNewcastleUtilita Arena
1 June
2 June
4 JuneAberdeenScotlandP&J Live
8 JuneGlasgowOVO Hydro
9 June
10 June
12 JuneNottinghamEnglandMotorpoint Arena
13 June
15 JuneLeedsFirst Direct Arena
16 June
18 JuneBirminghamResorts World Arena
19 June
20 June
22 JuneLondonThe O2 Arena
23 June
25 June
26 June
27 June
29 JuneLiverpoolM&S Bank Arena
30 June

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Girls Aloud's reunion tour is 'biggest arena tour of 2024' so far . Rayo . Alex Ross . 5 July 2024 . Bauer Media . 7 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714010647/https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/entertainment/music/girls-aloud-tour-2024/ . 14 July 2024 . live .
  2. News: Guardian music . Girls Aloud split after final UK show . 24 November 2023 . . 21 March 2013 . United Kingdom . 1756-3224 . 60623878.
  3. Aniftos . Rania . Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding Reveals She's 'Fighting' Breast Cancer . . . 23 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124022059/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/girls-aloud-sarah-harding-breast-cancer-9440555/ . 24 November 2023 . United States . 0006-2510 . 27 August 2020 . live.
  4. News: Wright . Katie . Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding dies aged 39 . 24 November 2023 . . 5 September 2021 . United Kingdom.
  5. Parker . Ryan . Sarah Harding, Girls Aloud Singer, Dies at 39 . . . 23 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124022916/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/sarah-harding-girls-aloud-singer-dies-cancer-age-39-1235008824/ . 24 November 2023 . United States . 0018-3660 . 5 September 2021 . live.
  6. News: Barr . Sabrina . Girls Aloud stars reunite at ball in honour of late band member Sarah Harding . 24 November 2023 . . 8 October 2022 . United Kingdom . en.
  7. News: Brazier . Tori . Kimberley Walsh: Girls Aloud 'tighter than ever' following Sarah Harding's death . 24 November 2023 . . 9 April 2023 . United Kingdom . en.
  8. Aniftos . Rania . Girls Aloud Announce 2024 Reunion Tour In Memory of Sarah Harding . . . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231123143041/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/girls-aloud-2024-reunion-tour-1235509767/ . 23 November 2023 . United States . 0006-2510 . 22 November 2023 . live.
  9. Aubrey . Elizabeth . 30 November 2023 . Girls Aloud add extra shows to 2024 UK reunion arena tour . live . . United Kingdom . 0028-6362 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130124431/https://www.nme.com/news/music/girls-aloud-add-extra-shows-to-2024-uk-reunion-arena-tour-3551279 . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023.
  10. News: Spence . Niamh . Girls Aloud add another date to tour after selling 200,000 tickets in minutes . 12 December 2023 . . . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212154425/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/girls-aloud-add-another-date-31649247 . 12 December 2023 . United Kingdom . en.
  11. Web site: "It's Gonna Be The Nostalgia Of Your Life": Girls Aloud Tells Vogue Why The Time Is Right For A Reunion Tour . . . 23 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124024901/https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/girls-aloud-reunion-tour . 24 November 2023 . United Kingdom . 22 November 2023 . live.
  12. Web site: Virgin Radio . Virgin Radio . Girls Aloud stars Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh announce 2024 tour in memory of Sarah Harding . . 23 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124025855/https://virginradio.co.uk/music/127389/girls-aloud-2024-uk-arena-tour-memory-sarah-harding . 24 November 2023 . United Kingdom . en . 23 November 2023 . live.
  13. Web site: Zara. Hedderman. Girls Aloud review – a glorious pop institution still calling the shots. The Guardian. 18 May 2024. 21 May 2024.
  14. Web site: Neil . McCormick . Girls Aloud make a spectacular comeback with this moving, celebratory tribute to their late bandmate. The Daily Telegraph. 18 May 2024. 21 May 2024.
  15. Web site: Ed. Power . Girls Aloud review: ferociously enjoyable, and a heartfelt tribute. The Times. 18 May 2024. 21 May 2024.
  16. News: Una . Mullally. Girls Aloud review: nostalgia and fun fills the air but show is also act of remembrance. The Irish Times. 18 May 2024. 21 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240518103622/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/review/2024/05/18/girls-aloud-review-nostalgia-and-fun-fills-the-air-but-show-is-also-act-of-remembrance/. 18 May 2024.
  17. Web site: Barry . Egan . Barry Egan review: Girls Aloud give the crowd exactly what they want, hit after hit with nothing but brilliance. Irish Independent. 18 May 2024. 21 May 2024.
  18. Web site: Smith . Carl . The Girls Aloud Show tour setlist: deep cuts and songs they're 'dead against' . . 18 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518215203/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girls-aloud-show-tour-setlist-2024-songs-stage-time-tickets/ . 18 May 2024 . United Kingdom . en . 18 May 2024 . live.