Myles Smith brings 'My Mess, My Heart, My Life' to Leeds
What became one of the most heart-warming shows I have ever attended, Myles Smith brought his first arena tour to Leeds, a city he knows well, and the crowd treated the occasion like a homecoming.
Before the band even appeared on stage, the arena was already being drawn into Myles' world. The screens came to life with messages from his friends, family and team, sharing memories of previous shows and reflecting on the journey that had led to this moment. It was a personal introduction to the evening, setting the tone for a show that was about to become much more than just a collection of songs.
As the lights finally went down, the band took to the stage and launched straight into 'My Mess', immediately throwing us into the deep end of what would become an evening filled with stories, memories and reflections on Smith's journey so far. There was an undeniable energy in the room, but beneath the excitement of his first arena tour was something much more intimate, with the set gradually unfolding into a look back at the experiences, people and moments that have shaped the person standing in front of us.
After a handful of songs, Myles disappeared from the main stage, only to reappear in the middle of the crowd on a rising platform. Stripping things back, he delivered a couple of acoustic performances which created a much more intimate atmosphere in an arena. It was here that some of the night's most memorable interactions took place, from a couple asking him to perform at their wedding to a gentleman who had missed his mum's Diwali dinner to be there. It was these little exchanges that made the evening feel so personal, reminding everyone that despite the scale of the production, Myles hadn't lost sight of the people who had helped get him there.
Heart-warming moments were scattered throughout the night. Some came through the screens, with family and friends sharing stories about his childhood, his career and the determination that has driven him to become the person he is today. Others came directly from Myles himself, who spoke openly about mental health and the importance of being honest about how we're feeling. There was a real sense of vulnerability to these moments, and rather than interrupting the flow of the show, they gave the songs an added weight and meaning.
One of my personal highlights came when Myles invited a few lucky audience members from the nosebleeds down to what he described as "the best seats in the house" the stage itself. After a couple of songs, a young mum and her daughter made their way up, getting to enjoy the next performance from a completely different perspective, surrounded by Myles and members of the band. Watching them take in the moment, while the band made a point of interacting with the pair, was another reminder of the generosity and warmth that ran through the entire evening.
For all the big moments that come with an arena show, it was these smaller, more personal interactions that made the night so special. Myles Smith has reached a point in his career where he can fill arenas, but make it feel like he's playing a venue which holds just a couple of hundred.
Musically, the evening was just as impressive. Myles' vocals were consistently strong throughout, carrying both the quieter, more vulnerable moments and the bigger, anthem parts of the set with ease. The band behind him were equally impressive, perfectly coordinated while never feeling too rehearsed. There was a genuine sense of enjoyment between them, constantly interacting with one another, sharing smiles and bringing the crowd into the fun. It was clear that everyone on stage was enjoying the moment just as much as those watching from the arena floor.
The night drew to a close with 'Stargazing', although not quite in the way anyone expected. After the first verse and chorus, Myles briefly left the stage with his guitarist joking that it was time to take things back to the good old days, before phones became a permanent fixture at concerts. When they returned, the message had clearly got through with the majority of phones no longer in the air and the crowd instead fully immersed in the moment and singing their hearts out as pyrotechnics lit up the stage. It was a beautiful way to end an incredibly sentimental and heart-warming show, leaving the arena with one final shared moment that felt all the more special for being experienced together.