Niall Horan Puts On A Memorable Show In Melbourne!
Photographs by Christian Tierney
After One Direction’s split nearly a decade ago, the world was curious about where each member would go. Now on his third album and second world tour, there is no doubt that Niall Horan is here to stay. His soft rock/pop approach with a real old-school love for music has allowed Horan to find his sound and fans aren’t disappointed.
Upon arriving at Rod Laver Arena, it was surprising to find hundreds of fans lined up, some had been camping for more than 24 hours, just to get up close and personal with the singer/songwriter when he hit the stage. Taking in this dedicated community before me was interesting, especially not having seen Horan live since 2018, but it just shows how loyal and excited fans were to see their favourite star live again.
One thing that I loved about this tour, was that Niall had not made a set list that was set-in-stone for the whole tour. Before tonight’s show, I deep-dived into TikTok to try and get a gauge of how fans felt about this, and safe to say, it caused hysteria, predicting what covers and songs he’d perform left fans more eager to see Horan live.
First up was the incredibly talented Birdy. The pairing of Niall and Birdy was nothing but perfection. Her smooth dreamy vocals had the crowd captivated. Performing her #1 hit ‘Skinny Love’ and a special cover of ‘Stick Season’ by Noah Kahan, the singer/songwriter has nothing but talent.
Parts of me felt like I was at ‘Love On Tour’ again. Fans decked out in orange and green clothing celebrating Niall’s Irish background, bringing their old One Direction dolls and even dressing up as Teletubbies. The crowd filled the room with nothing but love and joy which made the evening even better.
Niall’s performance was just the cherry on top. The singer/songwriter has emphasised many times just how much he loves visiting Australia and you could tell he was happy to be here. He even could pass as one of us, talking to a bridal party visiting the show from Sydney to celebrate he suggested they go to “Chapel Street” after the show to keep celebrating.
Aside from the chit-chat with fans, Niall honoured both of his records released since the ‘Flicker’ tour in Australia. Performing hits from ‘Flicker’ (2017) ‘Heartbreak Weather’ (2020) and ‘The Show’ (2023) fans got to revisit all of Niall’s eras. The stage was also incredible, inspired by old art-deco ballrooms and theatres and bright neon lights paying homage to his old-school roots.
Opening the show with the hit ‘Nice To Meet Ya’, the rock-fuelled track solidified that we were in for an incredible night of music. His sweet vocals combined with his incredibly talented band worked so well. It was one of those shows that you knew they loved music and what they did. The crowd roared after the opening track, and Horan soaked it all in while he continued with the setlist. Performing more rock hits like ‘Small Talk’ and a special cover of One Direction’s ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ (and yes, everyone went wild), along with some more pop tunes like ‘On The Loose’, ‘On A Night Like Tonight’ and ‘Heartbreak Weather’.
In between songs, Niall ensured he had a chat with the room to see how everyone was doing and to have some fun. Anytime Niall was talking, the whole place was filled with signs in the air, with fans desperately wanting to catch Niall’s attention. He has surely gotten more comfortable as a performer over the years, where he isn’t afraid to be dorky and have a laugh with the crowd. He even loves to do a few little dance moves throughout performances similar to Harry’s last tour and fans couldn’t get enough.
Despite many One Direction-coded outfits, feather boas, and glittery signs, Niall has solidified his rock-star status. Since the band has gone their separate ways, Niall has grown so much as an artist and a human. His solo career is only upwards from here.
