Pure musical joy from start to finish
Harry Styles at Meltdown Festival | Royal Festival Hall | ★★★★★
There are certain gigs you know you'll be talking about for years afterwards. Harry Styles' headline show at Meltdown Festival was one of them. Okay, being real, I talk about Harry Styles 80% of the time anyway, but I'll be upping that to a solid 92% after this incredible evening!
On paper, it already sounded special. Here was one of the biggest artists on the planet, an artist in the middle of a monumental world tour that includes an incredible 12 nights at Wembley Stadium, choosing to spend an evening at the Royal Festival Hall with Jules Buckley and his orchestra. In reality, it somehow exceeded every expectation and showcased Styles and his music in an incredibly special way.
Harry himself mentioned that he's currently in the midst of such a career highlight, and if the hoards of fans waving their torches to Keep Driving at Wembley and screaming along to every word isn't enough proof of that, this evening made it undeniable. What a joy to watch an artist completely at home in his craft, confident enough to strip everything back and let the music do the talking.
There's something wonderfully surreal about seeing somebody who routinely performs to 90,000 people a night standing on the Royal Festival Hall stage. The intimacy of the venue transformed the experience entirely. Instead of giant screens, fireworks and huge production moments, the focus was entirely on Harry as a musician, songwriter and vocalist. It felt almost reminiscent of his debut solo album era.
The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, and Harry seemed genuinely delighted to be there, alongside Jules Buckley. There was an ease to the whole evening that made it feel as though we were all simply spending time together rather than attending a major event.
Stripped-back orchestral arrangements have a habit of exposing every tiny imperfection, but Harry didn't have any reason to hide. His voice has matured so beautifully over the years. It felt rich, warm and full of emotion. You could hear every inflection, every breath and every subtle choice he made as a performer. Stadium tours don't always allow space for those quieter moments to shine, but this performance put everything in the open.
One of my favourite things about the evening was just how refreshing the setlist was. It would've been easy to simply play the biggest hits. Instead, we were treated to some throwbacks, covers and instrumental pieces. Hearing Two Ghosts was a complete joy and reminded me just how timeless that first album really is. Boyfriends was equally beautiful and somehow even more emotional in this setting. We also heard some of the more lowkey songs from Kiss all the Time, Disco Occasionally, including, Carla's Song and Paint By Numbers, which were both delightful in every way and particularly benefited from the orchestral arrangements.
Actually, that's true of the entire evening- the music felt transformed. Songs we'd all heard countless times suddenly had a completely new identity. Some became more emotional, others more cinematic, and some even felt hopeful in ways they hadn't before. It was a masterclass in rearranging a catalogue without losing what makes it special in the first place.
And then there was Fine Line. I genuinely don't know how to describe this moment without sounding dramatic, but it was breathtaking. Already one of his greatest songs, hearing it performed with a full orchestra was an entirely different experience altogether. The room erupted into a standing ovation after the final notes. "Should've saved that for the end," Harry joked. But the end brought us another highlight with Harry's rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was a perfect way to wrap up a perfect evening. Bringing together the vocals, artistry, orchestration and lighting, it was pure joy.
Of course, Harry wasn't the only star of the evening. Jules Buckley and his orchestra were absolutely sensational. The arrangements were stunning from beginning to end and elevated every song they touched. The orchestra were also given moments entirely to themselves with performances of some of Jules' own compositions. These moments felt incredibly emotive and allowed everyone to simply sit and appreciate the sheer talent in front of them. The acoustics inside the Royal Festival Hall only enhanced the experience further, as did the wonderful lighting display which tied the whole thing together to create an evening which felt perfectly cohesive.
What struck me most throughout the evening was just how comfortable Harry seems with himself. He doesn't have anything to prove; he's already conquered stadiums, won awards and established himself as one of the defining artists of his generation, yet somehow he still feels curious. He still wants to experiment; he still wants to challenge himself and his audience. That's perhaps why his career continues to grow in the way that it does. There's an authenticity there that audiences connect with, and at no point does any of it feel manufactured; it simply feels like somebody who deeply loves music.
Walking out of the Southbank Centre, there was a tangible feeling amongst the audience that we'd all experienced something incredibly rare. A celebration of artistry, musicianship and the joy of hearing songs reimagined. Fingers crossed we'll eventually get a recording because this is the type of performance that deserves to live on (and become number one in my Spotify Wrapped!)
Until then, it'll remain one of those evenings that people who were there will continue to talk about for years. The entire evening felt like a gift, both for Harry and for the audience lucky enough to be there. 10/10 I love Harry Styles xxx
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