Olly Murs with special guests Blue performing his 15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025 Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Tuesday 6th May 2025.

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Olly Murs immediately offered an evening of up tempo entertainment combined with his trademark cheeky chappie charisma and confidence at the Motorpoint Arena on Tuesday night, and had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the start.

But it was British vocal quartet Blue, known for their early 2000s R & B tinged pop hits that started the evening and with a line-up that has remained constant all these years with Antony Costa, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Lee Ryan and save for a hiatus from 2005 to 2011 the foursome never really went away.

Delivering a set list that was essentially a Best of Blue compilation they started with their 2001 hit that kick started their music career, All Rise, which had the crowd immediately on their feet. Fly By and U Make Me Wanna had the crowd dancing, before the lovely Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word encouraged a mass sing along.

Towards the end of their ten song set they delivered a stirring rendition of Breathe Easy, which provided another opportunity for Lee Ryan to stun the crowd with his powerful, captivating vocals that have stood the test of time flawlessly over the past two decades.

Finishing with American R & B group Next’s Too Close, they left the stage to well earned rapturous applause clearing the way for Olly Murs to take over.

Descending a staircase to reach the stage, Murs kicked off his highly anticipated 15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025 tour with Troublemaker. Following up with Right Place Right Time he showed that he still has the voice, the looks and he certainly has the moves. He is a born entertainer who has a genuine charm and appreciation for his loyal fans. He is everything that a pop star should be which is why this Arena tour has been a sell out.

There were a couple of songs from his self titled debut album, Please Don’t Let Me Go and Thinking Of Me which captivated the crowd with his soulful voice and impressive dance moves. With stellar support from his band and backing singers whose harmonies and dancing really lifted the crowd as they were treated to a mash up of songs from his 2022 album Marry Me which included Die Of A Broken Heart, I Found Her, Dancing On Cars and the very emotional I Hate You When You’re Drunk.

Behaving like a boisterous naughty schoolboy who flirted with the audience throughout his set, he delivered songs such as Kiss Me, Hand On Heart and Never Been Better before Dear Darlin’ had the crowd singing along. The excitement was at fever pitch when he treated them to a medley of covers which included Wham’s I’m Your Man, Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer before he finished it with a superb version of The Pointer Sister’s I’m So Excited.

The night concluded with Mur’s chart topping hits, leaving the crowd on a high note. From Heart Skips A Beat, Wrapped Up and main set closer, Save Me, he had delivered a set that was filled with nostalgia.

Back on for Dance With Me Tonight which showcased the depth and range of his musical talent, it is hard not to like him and be absorbed into the absolute joy he has for his craft.

Blue performing their Colours Of Blue Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Saturday 4^th April 2015

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Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

With a career that saw boy band, Blue sell over 15 million records; disbanding to pursue solo careers, reforming to represent Great Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest, and joining the Big Reunion Boy Band Tour, this well polished band are back on tour to promote their latest album, Colours.

Supported by Norwegian mum of four, Ksyran, whose numbers included Heartless, You Don’t Love Me Anymore, and the title track from her new album, Intimacy, this audience knew that they were in for a treat.

When Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, and Antony Costa came on to the stage of a packed Royal Concert Hall they were greeted by a hail of screams befitting any band. In sharp and sophisticated attire, the quartet opened with a track from their new album, King Of The World, which showed that they can still belt out a tune. Other new tracks, Special, You’re The Only One, and a cover of Rod Stewart’s I Don’t Wanna Talk About It, were all very well received by a mostly female audience who hung on their every word.

They sang hits from their huge back catalogue as well as an array of old school covers. Between hits Welcome Talk, Too Close, If You Come Back and a medley of Get Down On It and Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, they amused the crowd with their banter and stories, even blowing kisses to the delighted crowd. With each of them taking the opportunity to sing a solo section, it was clear that they still had that magic which made them the stars they were fifteen years ago. Each was as powerful as the other and all four men clearly loved the fact that their appeal has stood the test of time.

Throughout their entire set, these crooners showed that they are now having endless fun together on stage. Their huge hits, All Rise and One Love induced mass sing-a-longs before they finished the set with their cover of the Johnny Bristol classic, Hang On In Their Baby.

An encore of their duet with Sir Elton John, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word brought to an end a concert which had been fun filled with memories. It is unfortunate that their talents have been unfairly overtaken by unsavoury headlines, but on this showing, I don’t think it will be too long before an arena tour beckons.

They were amusing, entertaining and clearly enjoying themselves. Being able to express themselves with their own individual projects, such as Simon Webbe’s first panto appearance here at our very own Theatre Royal, may mean that hopefully they will be around for a long time.