The Confetti Tour
Tour by Little Mix | |
File:Little Mix - Confetti Tour Poster.jpg Tour poster released in February 2021, along with the announcement that dates were being postponed to 2022. | |
Location |
|
---|---|
Associated album | Confetti |
Start date | 9 April 2022 |
End date | 14 May 2022 |
Legs | 1 |
No. of shows | 28 |
Supporting act(s) |
|
Little Mix concert chronology |
The Confetti Tour is the seventh concert tour held by British girl group Little Mix, in support of their sixth studio album, Confetti (2020). The tour began on 9 April 2022 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, and will conclude on 14 May 2022 at The O2 Arena in London. The tour will consist of 28 shows across the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1] On 27 April 2022, the group announced they would be live streaming their final tour date at the O2 Arena, in London titled: Little Mix: The Last Show (For Now...).
The Confetti Tour was met with critical acclaim and is their first tour without former member Jesy Nelson, who departed from the group in 2020 and is set to be their last before their hiatus. The ticketing fees from the tour will be distributed between two charities, the Black Minds Matter UK and Nordoff–Robbins music therapy, while some of the proceeds from ticket sales for Little Mix: The Last Show (For Now...) are set to be donated to Child Poverty Action Group and 'Choose Love. Following the group's two dates at Glasgow, the OVO Hydro Arena announced that the group now hold the records for the most dates played at the area by a group, the highest all time ticket sales at the arena and also the "most tickets sold for a single all-seated show by a musical act" in the arena's history.
Background
The Confetti Tour was scheduled to take place from 28 April to 29 May 2021, in support of the group's sixth studio album Confetti.[2] Dates included cities across Ireland and the United Kingdom.[3] Tickets when on sale on 25 September 2020, with options of pre-sale tickets given to those who pre-ordered Confetti through the group's official website.[4] Pre-sale tickets were available for three days before tickets were opened up to the general public[5] On the 25 September, additional tour dates for Dublin, Belfast, London and Birmingham were announced which was followed by other dates in Nottingham and Liverpool being announced a month later.[5]
Following the conclusion of the group's reality TV competition Little Mix The Search in November 2020, the show's winners Since September were confirmed as the opening act for the Confetti Tour.[6] In February 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Little Mix announced that the Confetti Tour would be postponed to 2022 in light of the UK's coronavirus restrictions. The new tour dates started on 9 April 2022 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, and concluded with three dates at London's O2 Arena, the last of which was 14 May 2022. A new date at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, set for 3 May 2022, was also announced. Tickets went on sale on 12 February 2021.[7] In December the same year, Little Mix announced that they would be going on hiatus after releasing their greatest hits album Between Us and the Confetti Tour.[8] Later, American singer was announced as an additional opening act for the tour.[9] The ticketing fees from the tour will be shared between Black Minds Matter UK and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy. £1 of the ticketing fees (per ticket), or €1 in Ireland, would be distributed between the two causes.[2]
Critical reception
The Confetti Tour was met with positive reviews from critics. Simon Duke from The Chronicle, who attended the show at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, gave their performance a five star rating and named it "as their best performance in the city to date".[10]
Kath Hawthorne from The Guardian, gave them a five star rating for their performance at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. They added "Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Perrie Edwards, have carried the torch for campy girl power, and in Newcastle, the trio show why their "hiatus" feels so bittersweet. For two hours the group gave a lesson on the last 10 years of British pop. Bubblegum dance track "Move" is introduced as “a classic”, while other major hits are given a refresh like: reggae-pop track "Woman Like Me." It explodes into a rock and roll dance break filled with pyro and intensive hairography, and spiky "Salute," twists into Lil Nas X's hit "Industry Baby."
They added "It’s clear that Little Mix are joyfully taking control of their legacy. The set hinges on a transition from Between Us, a tribute to their endurance, and "Love (Sweet Love)," another new single that declares total independence. Their promise that Little Mix is forever (“2011 – always”) is teary and heartfelt. 2020 single "Sweet Melody," is the closer, and feels more like a triumphant beginning than an ending, and with the Newcastle's bars blaring it out as the crowd find their way home, and when Little Mix returns, there's going to be a party."[11]
Jess Flaherty from Liverpool Echo who attended their sold out show at M&S Bank Arena, gave them a five star rating. They added "The talented trio dominated the stage with explosion of confetti, laughter, tears, impeccable dance moves and more. Their power and tenacity in the music industry isn't just down to their singing power and ability to release a hit single, it's also down to the fact the group is just likeable. Pop music isn't my favourite genre yet I've rooted for Little Mix's success for the last decade."
They also added "Once their tour finishes in May, the British music industry will be incredibly different, with no major girl group to pick up their torch. This is why, despite the show's girly and camp fun, it became a bittersweet affair. The group kicked of the night off with an eruption of confetti before launching into "Shout Out to My Ex". Little Mix brought the audience along for the ride, encouraging singalongs to some of the track's most excellently acerbic lines. Between belting out hit after hit, each member got the chance to show off their incredible vocal range".
Audience members reportedly cried when the trio sang the ballad "Secret Love Song"; Thirlwall said: "We are so unbelievably grateful and we'd like to give a special shout out to our LGBTQ+ community." The singer became emotional when talking that they hope they have given a safe space to the community - sentiments echoed by the crowd who raised sheets of paper which read: "Thank you for being our safe space". Little Mix manage to make the audience feel like more than just fans, they make you feel like you're an honorary member of the band. As the show came to a close, Jade said: "Honestly, we're so, so grateful and we can't believe it's been over a decade of Little Mix and we've stood the test of time thanks to you." Proving that all good things must come to an end, the band bowed out with Sweet Melody, with the crowd united in joy and tears. They promise that Little Mix is forever and I, and thousands of others, will surely be counting down the days until they return.[1]
Graham Clark from The Yorkshire Times commented "Following the announcement that the group would be taking a break, the concert at the Leeds Arena was destined to be a celebration of their past rather than a fond farewell. With the catalogue of hits they have there was never any doubt that the evening would be anything other than joyful and uplifting". He added: "As another small suspended stage slowly transported them over the audience the vocals on No More Sad Songs were heartfelt and touching. The final notes on the song always give me goosebumps and tonight was no exception. If this tour was to be their last performance for the time being then pop music has lost one of its best girl groups leading the gates wide open to fill what will be a huge and duller empty space".[12]
Accolades
Following the first of their two shows at Glasgow's OVO Hydro Arena, Little Mix were commended and awarded a framed plaque to commemorate them becoming the band that has played the most dates and the group with the highest all-time ticket sales at the arena.[13] After their second show, the Ovo Hydro Arena tweeted that Little Mix also now held the record for the "most tickets sold for a single all-seated show by a musical act" at the venue.[14]
Set list
This set list is as posted by the Official Charts Company on 11 April 2022. It is not intended to represent all shows from the tour.[15]
- "Shout Out to My Ex"
- "Heartbreak Anthem"
- "Break Up Song"
- "Wings"
- "Power” / “Gloves Up”
- "Move”
- "Secret Love Song, Pt II"
- "Woman Like Me" (rock version) (contains elements of "Free Your Mind" by En Vogue)
- "Happiness"
- "No More Sad Songs"
- "Love Me or Leave Me"
- "Between Us"
- "Love (Sweet Love)"
- "Reggaetón Lento (Remix)"
- "Wasabi"
- "Black Magic"
- "Salute" (contains elements of "Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X)
- "Touch"
- "Only You"
- "No Time for Tears"
- "Confetti"
Encore
- "Sweet Melody"
Notes
- During the opening night in Belfast, "No" was performed between "Power/Gloves Up" and "Secret Love Song".[16]
- During the opening night in Belfast, "Move" was performed in between "Break Up Song" and "Wings". After opening night it was moved after "Wings".[16]
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue | Supporting acts |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 April 2022 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | SSE Arena | Denis Coleman[b] Since September |
10 April 2022 | ||||
12 April 2022 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena | |
13 April 2022 | ||||
15 April 2022 | Newcastle | England | Utilita Arena Newcastle | |
16 April 2022[c] | ||||
18 April 2022 | Liverpool | M&S Bank Arena | ||
19 April 2022 | Sheffield | Utilita Sheffield Arena | ||
21 April 2022 | Birmingham | Resorts World Arena | ||
22 April 2022 | ||||
23 April 2022[c] | ||||
26 April 2022 | Liverpool | M&S Bank Arena | ||
27 April 2022 | Glasgow | Scotland | OVO Hydro | |
28 April 2022 | ||||
30 April 2022 | Leeds | England | First Direct Arena | |
2 May 2022 | Cardiff | Wales | Motorpoint Arena Cardiff | |
3 May 2022 | ||||
4 May 2022 | ||||
6 May 2022 | Manchester | England | AO Arena | |
7 May 2022[c] | ||||
9 May 2022 | Nottingham | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham | ||
10 May 2022 | ||||
12 May 2022 | London | The O2 Arena | ||
13 May 2022 | ||||
14 May 2022 |
Notes
Little Mix: The Last Show (For Now...)
On April 26, 2022, Little Mix announced they would be live streaming their final tour date at the O2 Arena, in London. The stream is titled Little Mix: The Last Show (For Now...) and was available to both stream live and for a limited cinema release on 14 May 2022. Tickets were made available alongside merchandise on 27 April, with a portion of proceeds will be donated to two charities: Child Poverty Action Group and Choose Love.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Little Mix's agent John Giddings: 'Pop acts work much harder than rock bands'". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- ^ a b "Little Mix announce 'Confetti' album and arena tour". Sony Music UK. 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ a b "Little Mix announce 2021 UK arena tour - here's how to get tickets". 2020-10-20. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "Gigs And Tours News". Gigs and Tours. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ a b "Little Mix have added extra dates for their Confetti tour in Liverpool - The Guide Liverpool". 2020-10-20. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "BBC One - Little Mix The Search, Series 1, The Final". BBC. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ Duke, Simon (2021-02-08). "Little Mix's new tour dates in full as Confetti tour postponed". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "Little Mix taking break after '10 amazing years'". BBC News. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Denis Coleman Shares Gritty New Single 'Healing The Process'". CelebMix. 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ Duke, Simon (2022-04-15). "Little Mix fire on all cylinders as Confetti tour wows Newcastle". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ "Little Mix review – pop trio bow out with joyful hit rundown". The Guardian. 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ Times, Yorkshire. "Little Mix - Go Out In A Blaze Of Glory On The Confetti Tour". Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ^ "Girl group Little Mix awarded for their record-breaking shows in Glasgow". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
- ^ "The records just keep on tumbling!". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
- ^ "Little Mix's Confetti Tour setlist in full". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ a b Shutler, Ali (10 April 2022). "Watch Little Mix give multiple songs their live debut as they kick off farewell tour". NME. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Live Events". Little Mix. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix The Confetti Tour 2021: UK Dates, Venues & Ticket Information". Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Stickler, Jon. "Little Mix Share Nathan Dawe Collaboration No Time For Tears - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ Duke, Simon (8 February 2021). "Little Mix's Confetti tour dates for Newcastle and more as shows postponed until 2022". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Little Mix add mid-afternoon matinee show in Manchester to massive UK tour". Manchester Evening News. 2021-07-13. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-15.