Live Report: James Arthur belts out ballads and brings fans to tears

Stepping into the the 3Arena for James Arthur's concert, the room was a loud, vast sea of energy, dominated by screaming girls and their mothers, all vying for a spot closest to the stage.

A consistent theme of honesty marked Arthur's performance. After the first song, he candidly apologised to the audience for his vocals, explaining he was "under the weather", and therefore not performing to his usual standard. The devoted crowd, who were screaming the lyrics back at him, likely wouldn't have noticed.

“It’s difficult being up here in front of so many people and not having the one thing I’m usually good at," Arthur said "I’m gonna be really honest again. I’m at a point where I don’t know if anything is gonna come out when I sing this next song, so I have two options. I can either walk off this stage and say goodnight right now and save myself the embarrassment on TikTok, or we can all sing it together.”

While the audience was less familiar with some of his newer tracks, Arthur's sheer vocal power made the performance compelling. He was supported masterfully by his gospel-like backup vocalists -  Yasmin Green especially stunned the crowd with her rendition of 'Rewrite the Stars' from The Greatest Showman. The concert as much about the band as a unit as it was a one-person show; the musicians and vocalists added intricacy, elevating the sound and making the songs all the more powerful.

The overall atmosphere was like a gospel performance. Arthur's live renditions transcended his recordings, enriched by a powerful choir and the use of the organ. Emotional songs felt like moments of prayer or a sermon, with Arthur leading his fans to feel the music deeply, moving across the stage and encouraging the audience to clap along. For one of his last songs, 'Train Wreck,' audience members sang parts in unison, giving the show a real sense of community.

He further engaged the crowd, asking, “If you believe in god, in the universe, put your hands up.”

James Arthur at 3Arena on February 1st, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/ hotpress.com

Throughout the evening, Arthur also opened up about his ongoing struggles with mental health.

“When I was sad, and I would always write songs, but that wasn’t working anymore, and I realised I needed to speak about my mental health, but nothing felt scarier than doing that," said Arthur "Because I grew up in a place where talking your mental head wasn’t a thing, really. I grew up in a culture where that made you weak. But I want to let anyone here know that nothing could be further from the truth, and if you talk about your mental health, it’s the bravest thing you could do.”

The songs resonated deeply with Arthur's dedicated fans, many of whom were brought to tears by ballads like 'Cars Outside' and 'Naked.' The emotional peak came when Arthur descended into the crowd to hug, crying, screaming fans, and take selfies, creating a memorable, cathartic moment.

‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ elicited a similar emotional reaction: the intimate ballad prompted couples to slow-dance and embrace, creating a collective, tender moment. For his song 'Karaoke' Arthur brought five lucky fans on stage, guiding them through the song while audiences were filmed and projected on the big screens. This interactive moment highlighted the sense of community in the arena, making the venue feel small and intimate.

Arthur ended his set with a dramatic finale, with his final few songs featuring fireworks, immediately followed by a deluge of confetti raining from the ceiling, concluding the concert on an energetic high.

James Arthur's performance showcased a compelling duality, balancing his trademark emotional ballads with humorous, light-hearted jokes. This blend injected personality into the show, suggesting Arthur is keen to move in a new artistic direction where growth and authenticity will be more prominent in his work. 

James Arthur at 3Arena on February 1st, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/ hotpress.com