Brum Shots

At risk of sounding like Simon Cowell, if you needed to describe Lola Young in as few words as possible, you could say that’s she’s got ‘it.’ The voice? Obviously! Intoxicating charisma and confidence? Check. The ability to strut and dance around a stage to entertain thousands of adoring fans? Nailed it! She even throws in the ability to relate to fans with a touching, authentic delve into her career difficulties and wobbles.

And if you need to describe Lola Young’s fanbase in as few words as possible, you could say they are passionate and loud. Screams and chants of her name fill the venue within a second of the lights going down. The o2 Academy Birmingham could easily be renamed The Church of Lola for the night. It’s only appropriate.

Her set starts with SAD SOB STORY! 🙂 and d£aler, favourites from her latest album I’m Only F**king Myself. With this tour originally scheduled for last October, tonight’s show has been a long time coming. But the audience’s excitement only seems to have grown as they gleefully scream every word.

After (correctly) identifying the Brummie accent as the UK’s most sexy (she better not have said that at the last show in Manchester), she launches into hit after hit from her last two albums. Almost expertly, Young’s ability to stir the young crowd into a frenzy for each track demonstrates that the love is mutual.

The phone lights come out for the slower hits like You Noticed and why do i feel better when i hurt you?, but every other second is a dance party. Pop anthem Not Like That Anymore closes the set before the encore, featuring breakthrough single Messy. With the entire room on their feet, it’s clear that we don’t need ITV talent shows to find the next big thing. She’s right in front of us.