Olly Murs took to the Lincoln Castle stage to deliver a night to remember for both fans, old and new, as he invited us all to celebrate 15 years of his hits.
The night began with 'Absnt Mind', an electric 5-piece boyband, who warmed up the castle's stage with ultimate pop vibes to get the night started. With a mix of their own songs, throwbacks, and current chart hits, there really was something for everyone in this set! Next on stage was 'Lemar'- who brought the energy ahead of the headline- and the crowd loved it.
But soon enough, it was time for the main man, Olly Murs and his band to take to the stage! I've been somewhat of a fan of Olly since my childhood, and this show took me right back to the days of "Right Place Right Time" and listening to the CD in the back of the car, and for the first time seeing him live, I was absolutely enthralled! The set starts with an impressive video background of Olly smashing through a decade and a half before entering the stage and going into "Troublemaker"- giving me an overwhelming sense of excitement. Judging by the crowd's noise, I wasn't the only one! The impressive visuals at the start set a high bar for the show, and Olly Murs did not disappoint!
The show featured hits from every point of his career- there was something for everyone, reinforced by both adults and children singing and dancing along, creating a multi-generational celebration of pop music! It was truly a trip down memory lane as he took us on his career journey- even featuring a return from the iconic trilby hat we all remember from the early days of Olly Murs. Notably, Olly's stage presence was on point, making the most of the space and busting out all the shapes (if people didn't love him before, they certainly would after some of the moves he was pulling). We were even taken on a trip to the 80s with Murs bringing out a mashup of iconic 80s songs, a turn I did not expect but one I thoroughly enjoyed! Even the people who had clearly been dragged along by their family and friends were singing and dancing along!
A standout moment for me was the tribute to the late Caroline Flack, with "Dear Darlin'" dedicated to her and anybody in the crowd missing anyone. The addition of the rain made it a very touching and beautiful moment in the show. I don't think the castle had a dry eye. This quiet moment was a great addition to a fast-paced show and gave the crowd a chance to catch their breath before Olly closed with his iconic hits "Heart Skips a Beat" and "Dance with Me Tonight", and the crowd certainly did dance with him!
Olly Murs at Lincoln Castle was certainly a show to remember, showing Lincoln what a great showman is, bringing the nostalgia, the excitement, the moves, and ultimately, the tunes! I won't forget this show quickly, and I don't think anyone else in the crowd will either!
Review by: Elle Harper