On January 19th 2025, Joshua Bassett left O2 Forum Kentish Town in London buzzing after his biggest show yet on ‘The Golden Years’ headline tour. Fans in the packed stalls and balcony completely engrossed themselves in the festivities, ready for the night ahead. The energy started long before Joshua entered the stage and that was due to his opening act, Thomas Day. Thomas set the tone for the night ahead and built excitement for the main act.
As Thomas left the stage, I could feel the anticipation building and those in the crowd started chanting for Joshua 10 minutes before he was due onstage. And then, after the final song ‘What makes you beautiful’ by One Direction played, everybody knew it was time. From the minute he (quite literally) bounced onto the stage, his shimmering all-white outfit captivated me as it glistened in the spotlight. Fans ready to immerse themselves in the experience were accessorised with cowboy hats – which seems to be a running theme at shows nowadays. The set design was minimalistic with an orange ruched curtain behind the band, and it worked perfectly.
Joshua grabbed everyone’s attention immediately, oozing with confidence and passion. The night was a seamless blend of vulnerability and excitement, and his natural ease on stage was prominent. One segment of the show in particular caught my attention. During ‘Circles’, many fans lifted their posters into the air asking to dance with the star onstage. Out of the sea of posters, one caught his eye, which was that of a fan who had flown all the way from Australia for this show. He took to the piano as the ecstatic fan took to the stage. The fan line danced to ‘Circles’ as he sung, and eventually he got up to join in. The moment was heartwarming, witnessing what would likely be a lasting core memory for the fan.
Towards the end of the night after a few heartfelt speeches, Joshua showed once again his utmost gratitude and love for those who support him, but in a way people don’t usually see. During his song ‘Different’, Joshua walked towards the barricade of the stalls and then made his way into the crowd, shaking hands with and greeting everyone he could. This was a very genuine gesture that made his fans feel valued and broke down the barrier between the artist and the audience. This personal touch made fans, including myself, feel very involved. It made me feel connected to this artist that I had not before listened to. The impression that stayed with me is that Joshua sees his fans as a vital part of his show and come up as a new artist.
It was Joshua Bassett’s first headline tour across the pond, but with the atmosphere and fulfilling performance he put on, I have a strong feeling that it won’t be his last.
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