On their first arena tour with the original lineup since reuniting, the Sugababes delivered a slick career-spanning show at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham. Having seen the group several times before, I can confidently say this was the best I’ve ever seen them.
From the very start, Mutya, Keisha, and Siobhán looked and sounded incredible. Their harmonies were tight, their vocals stronger than ever, and there was a real sense of confidence and ease in their presence that made the entire performance feel elevated. They’ve clearly grown into this moment, and the show reflected that.
I had the chance to attend the VIP soundcheck, where I was chosen to ask a question - and when I introduced myself, the girls actually remembered me! One fun behind-the-scenes note they shared was about the catwalk that extended from the stage. They mentioned that while it adds great visuals for the audience, it’s tricky for them in-ear monitor-wise. Once they step out onto it, they start to hear competing beats and echoes, so they’re constantly having to recalibrate while performing on it. Yet watching them live, you’d never know - they handled it like pros.
The setlist leaned into their greatest hits, with all the major singles from "Overload" to "About You Now", while also weaving in fan-favorites like "No Regrets" (my personal favorite moment of the night) and a medley from their debut album, accompanied by adorable throwback rehearsal footage of the girls as teens.
They also included their new singles, Jungle"" and "Weeds" - a strong reminder that the Sugababes remain not only relevant, but fully capable of delivering music that feels right at home in today’s pop landscape. It’s been a long time coming, but knowing a new album is finally on the way made these moments feel extra special.
There’s been some criticism online - particularly on TikTok - about the pacing and energy of the show, with some pointing to a string of slower songs in the middle of the set. And honestly, I get that. If I were reordering things slightly, I’d suggest moving "Flowers" and "Round Round" earlier in the set - possibly before or after the "One Touch" medley - to break up the ballads and give the flow a little more variety. That said, as a diehard fan who knew every lyric, I was locked in the whole time and loved every minute.
One noticeable change at the Birmingham show was the absence of "Flatline", which had been part of the set at earlier stops. The reason wasn’t mentioned, but it was definitely missed.
Still, this tour made it clear: the Sugababes are not only back, they’re in full command of their legacy - and their future. And with a new album finally on the horizon, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.
Setlist:
Overload
Hole In The Head
In The Middle
Red Dress
Ugly
No Regrets
Shape
Run For Cover / Lush Life / One Touch
Weeds
Too Lost In You
Stronger
Flowers
Round Round
Jungle
Freak Like Me
Push The Button
About You Now
Concert Review: FLO - Access All Areas Tour - Brooklyn Paramount, NYC
I saw FLO live at the Brooklyn Paramount for one of their two sold-out nights on the Access All Areas Tour - and as someone who had seen th...
Concert Review: NAO - Jupiter Tour - Terminal 5, NYC
A few weeks after the show, I’m still thinking about NAO’s Jupiter Tour stop at Terminal 5 in New York City . It was one of those rare nigh...
Concert Review: Kelly Clarkson - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, Atlantic City (2025)
On Mother's Day weekend 2025, Kelly Clarkson returned to the stage with a full concert at the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic Cit...
Concert Review: ONEW - ONEW THE LIVE: Connection Tour - The Town Hall, NYC
On April 24, 2025, Onew performed his first solo concert in New York City as part of his Connection Tour , taking over The Town Hall for a ...
Concert Review: Sugababes - '25 Tour - bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
On their first arena tour with the original lineup since reuniting, the Sugababes delivered a slick career-spanning show at BP Pulse LIVE i...
Concert Review: JoJo - Too Much To Say Tour - Terminal 5, NYC
On March 27, JoJo brought her Too Much To Say Tour to Terminal 5 in New York City , and even in a venue known for its acoustical challenges...
Concert Review: HWASA - TWITS Live Tour - Brooklyn Paramount, NYC
On a sold-out night at Brooklyn Paramount, Hwasa brought the house down with a solo concert that was equal parts powerhouse vocals, fierce ...
Concert Review: Diana Ross - Celebrating Timeless Classics Tour - Kings Theatre, NYC
Concert Review: Diana Ross - Celebrating Timeless Classics Tour - Kings Theatre, NYC On March 1, I had the absolute privilege of seeing Dia...
Concert Review: TAEMIN - Ephemeral Gaze Tour - Kings Theatre, NYC
Concert Review: TAEMIN - Ephemeral Gaze Tour - Kings Theatre, NYC
On April 19th, Webster Hall was filled with “FLO Lifers” eagerly awaiting the UK girl group FLO who are currently embarking on their “FLO Live” tour. Formed 2019, FLO consists of Jorja Douglas, Renee Downer, & Stella Quaresma. The group’s style distinctly derives from R&B and Hip-Hop from the 1990’s and early 2000s. For a more in-depth analysis FLO’s sound and trajectory watch here (https://youtu.be/i18hpBoW4EU)/ <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i18hpBoW4EU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Before FLO took the stage, Samaria, an Oakland R&B singer, opened the show. Samaria started with a simple backdrop featuring her name, keys, and drums. The audience seemed familiar with her music and if they were not, they were supportive and living in the moment. Samaria interacted with the audience well and related to them on the basis of terrible ex's and a journey through a toxic relationship. Samaria’s songs had interesting cadences, but what was missing for us was backing vocals on the track to delineate verses from choruses. After doing some research we found that the “Out of the Way” singer has a sound also inspired by 00s R&B, with a some tracks tracks full of fun guitar licks and drum patterns reminiscent of Timbaland, but none of those instruments were present in her performance. Her backline consisted of a keyboardist and a drummer. Although Samaria sounded good, at times the keyboard’s volume was overpowering. She worked the stage, nonetheless and good job. 7.5 out of 10 ! ()SCORE
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVI-FMictlA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://www.instagram.com/samaria/?hl=en
Next up was the much-anticipated FLO, and the girls opened with "Not My Job." They were all dressed in black with cute cutouts, and their outfits were shimmery (I love sparkle!) which was a welcome change from their wardrobe at the MOBO awards. Their faces were beat (we love a “natural glam”),
their vocals were tight, and their choreography was utilized well to highlight grooves. The chemistry between the girls was undeniable, and their vocal blend was seamless— absolutely chill-inducing. Jorja's thick vocal tone took the songs to a soulful place, and Stella's airy delivery allowed her to float at the top of the group's harmonies. Renee's smooth, warm alto voice added a coolness to their sound and gained a lot more stability in live singing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention FLO’s band! The band consisted of some past schoolmates, which added another layer of charm to the whole set!
The absolute highlight of the show was "Losing You” In this live arrangement, the girls emoted and connected with the audience on a deeper level. Chris loved harmonized adlibs, brand new bridge and extra outdo including a guitar solo. As a special treat, FLO performed a cover of Jamelia's version of "Superstar" by Christine Militon. Even though a majority of the NYC crowd had no clue who Jamelia was and didn't know the song, the girls did teach the chorus before singing the song, so some fans were able to follow along. Chris and I certainly knew the song and even received compliments on synchronized impromptu choreography.
Speaking of choreo…
The girls' choreography was something we were curious to see, and they did not disappoint. They danced well, and they were given grooves as opposed to sharp movements that really complemented each member's personal style. In terms of technique, they aren’t K-pop idols so we weren’t expecting crazy formations and “point dances,” but you can tell they put in the work to provide another layer of entrainment to the experience. There was even some chair-ography for their performance of "Change," a new track about a lover's inability to "do the work" necessary to improve the condition of the relationship.
The girls did perform their latest single, "Fly Girl" ft Missy Elliot, and although Missy Elliot was present in the audience, she did not join the performance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/flolikethis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@flolikethis</a> big up to Flo out here in the states on the road working hard! Keep doing yall thizzzzle!!!🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flygirl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flygirl</a>💇🏾♀️💃🏾💅🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Qtgr2f2KBl">pic.twitter.com/Qtgr2f2KBl</a></p>— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/MissyElliott/status/1649101483621728272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fans (the FLO Lifers) were absolutely living their best lives! They knew all the words to FLO’s songs—the BGV's and the ad-libs. It was a room full of genuine love and screams! FLO closed the night with their debut single, "Cardboard Box," and this performance featured a heavenly bridge section.
Overall, the show was good, and for this to be the group's first headlining tour, we were impressed with the girls’ improvement from performances like the MOBO Awards, where nerves played a noticeable factor. FLO is worth the hype for sure, and we cannot wait to see the new era of girl groups being led by FLO. For their NYC debut, we rate them a 9 out of 10! FLO Lifers left Webster Hall with unforgettable memories and high expectations for FLO's future performances.