ShareJames Arthur performing his The Pisces World Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Monday 23rd February 2026.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
A far cry from his X Factor beginnings, James Arthur packed the Motorpoint Arena on Monday night for his rearranged show which was full of thousands of adoring fans.
Touring to promote his sixth studio album, Pisces, he opened with new song Water. Well hidden behind his pulled down cap and his album inspired guitar he delivered a set list that was more than just music. There were heartfelt and emotional songs that reflected his well documented personal battles with the likes of Can I Be Him and Empty Space.
There was a particularly poignant interaction with the crowd as he spoke about his own struggles with his mental health before launching into ADHD. The powerful and very emotional version of Rewrite The Stars from The Greatest Showman was mesmerising with backing vocalist Yasmin Green and the sensational blending of harmonies.
The band comprising five musicians and three backing singers have been with Arthur for over ten years and he said that he now considers them to be his best friends. With boundless energy he walked through the crowd singing a mash up of Certain Things, Safe Inside, Quite Miss Home and A Year Ago, which kept the crowd on their feet singing along.
The energy levels were slowed down with the introduction of Embers, but things soon picked up again with Bitter Sweet Love. He brought the main set to a close with the lovely ballad Train Wreck but his rendition of A Thousand Years had the whole crowd on their feet again before it led seamlessly into the now classic song Impossible which saw the crowd singing along to every word bringing the house down with rapturous applause and chants for an encore.
Duly obliging with new song Yeah No and an absolutely storming version of Lasting Lover, he completed the set with the now over two billion streamed Say You Won’t Go.
Arthur seems to have done what few former singing competition singers have managed and that is to last the test of time and more importantly remain credible. It’s easy to see why because he has an infectious stage presence, an incredible voice, great songs and a huge mixed age fan base.
