McFly 21st Birthday Tour in London
9th October 2024 – The O2 Arena
McFly’s 21st Birthday tour in London hit the O2 Arena with a bang, and it was nothing short of a party from start to finish. The band, who have been a staple of the UK pop-rock scene for over two decades, gave fans a night packed with nostalgia, surprises and electrifying live performances.
The atmosphere in the sold-out O2 was electric, with fans, many of whom had grown up with the band, ready to celebrate this milestone with their musical heroes. Kicking off the night with confetti, colour and energy, McFly launched into their debut single Five Colours in Her Hair, setting the tone for an evening full of throwbacks and fan-favourites. They followed up with That Girl and other hits from their debut album, Room on the Third Floor, which first put them on the map back in 2004.
The setlist largely followed a chronological journey through their discography, although the band threw in a few surprises to keep fans on their toes.
Danny Jones was in fine form, belting out strong, gravelly vocals that reminded everyone why McFly’s sound has stood the test of time. A standout moment came when he performed Red from The Lost Songs album in atmospheric red lighting on a stage in the middle of the arena with the crowd hanging onto every note. He even treated the audience with his cover of It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, a nod to his time on The Masked Singer.
Tom Fletcher’s versatility shone throughout the night, as he switched effortlessly between vocals, guitar, piano and even ukulele. His voice sounded beautiful during Sorry’s Not Good Enough and paired beautifully with Danny’s throughout. Their harmonies, particularly during slower tracks were a reminder of the strong musicianship that has always been at the core of McFly.
Dougie Poynter was a fan-favourite as always, bringing the house down when he took over lead vocals on Transylvania. His playful banter with the crowd and confident stage presence made it clear that he was having just as much fun as everyone in the audience. And let’s not forget Harry Judd, who kept the energy sky-high all night with his relentless drumming. The camera caught him grinning from ear to ear every time, clearly loving every minute of the performance.
While McFly’s recorded sound leans more towards pop, their live show has a much rockier edge. Each member showed off their instrumental chops, proving they’ve only got better with time. The whopping, almost three-hour set was filled with hits from across their career, from the early 2000s albums like Wonderland and Motion in the Ocean to more recent tracks from Radio:Active, Young Dumb Thrills and Power to Play.
Songs like Obviously, All About You, Star Girl and Party Girl got the loudest audience sing-alongs but the energy never dipped throughout the night. McFly live tours are a real treat, knowing exactly what to deliver to their audience.
One of the biggest surprises came when Busted, McFly’s long-time friends and collaborators, took to the stage. Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne stormed the arena, bantering with McFly and engaging in a playful on-stage rivalry. The exchange even resulted in a broken guitar and plenty of WWE Smackdown-style jokes, much to the amusement of the crowd. And the cherry on top was the announcement of a McFly versus Busted tour in 2025, sending the audience into a frenzy.
The band closed the night with Memory Lane, All About You and The Heart Never Lies, a fitting end to a show that felt like a love letter to the fans who have stuck with them for 21 years. McFly’s chemistry was undeniable and the joy they felt performing together was evident in every moment.
The staging and special effects were dazzling and fun, though never distracting from the music, and logos from each McFly era were displayed, adding a nice dollop of nostalgia.
It’s clear that, even after two decades, McFly are still at the top of their game, and this show at the O2 was a testament to their lasting appeal. The energy, musicianship and sheer fun on display made it impossible not to smile.
McFly live review – 5 stars
McFly Setlist for London
- 5 Colours in Her Hair
- That Girl
- Surfer Babe
- Brocolli
- I Wanna Hold You
- I’ll Be OK
- Ultraviolet
- I’ve Got You
- Star Girl
- Transylvania
- Sorry’s Not Good Enough
- Bubblewrap
- Lies
- One for the Radio
- Everybody Knows
- Falling in Love
- Party Girl
- If U C Kate
- Shine a Light
- Love is Easy
- Happiness
- It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
- Red
- Walk in the Sun
- Mashup: Love is on the Radio / Touch the Rain / Too Close for Comfort / She Left Me / Tonight is the Night
- Room on the Third Floor
- Obviously
- Where Did All the Guitars Go
- Forever’s Not Enough
- Honey I’m Home
- Memory Lane
- All About You
- The Heart Never Lies
All image credits: The Brighton Bucket List
The Brighton Bucket List 