James Bay at Wembley Arena

Known for his humble demeanour and signature wide-brim fedora, rock artist James Bay first put himself on the map after the release of 2014 single, Hold Back the River, which was certified platinum. Fast forward to now, he’s a globally recognised rockstar with four studio albums under his belt, including the 2024 release Changes All the Time. Bay took to OVO Arena Wembley for his biggest headliner show yet and was supported by Irish folk-rock band, Kingfshr. An awe-inspiring evening, Bay created a night to remember.

Support band Kingfshr set the stage with their soothing folk-rock sound, keeping their rich Irish accents at the forefront, a feature they are known for and one that fans adore. Their performance created a smooth introduction to Bay’s mix of folk-rock vocals. 

Bay’s stage setup was relatively simple, with a backdrop of multiple square screens, which flashed throughout the show. Exhilaration filled the room as the lights dimmed and the artist made his entrance. Donning his signature fit of skinny black jeans and the well-known fedora, he wasted no time in diving straight into the opener, Up All Night. A euphoric, playful number, this was a strong choice to get the crowd up on their feet.

Although the transition between each track was relatively speedy, Bay ensured interaction was high by taking the time to share his story with attendees. Mentioning that it had been a 12-year journey to get to this point at OVO Arena Wembley, it was evident that he was no stranger to the stage and strode across it with a charming confidence of someone who felt right at home.

Bay played many from his latest album, Changes All the Time, including big hits Hope and Talk. He also included latest single, Sunshine In the Room. Upon announcing this, the crowd erupted with cheers and began swinging along to its funky beat and soulful riffs. With a charming grin, Bay promised he wouldn’t only be playing the newbies. On this, a glittering disco ball lowered down and, much to the delight of the audience, Bay introduced his “old friend” to the stage, pop artist Myles Smith, to perform fan favourite Let It Go. The two’s voices blended well together in this gentle, storytelling number. With its rich tone and smooth, melt-in-the-ear vocal runs, it was certainly a memorable hair-raiser of the evening.

The energy was brought back up again with Wild Love, a track filled with an electrifying guitar solo that shook the room. Bay repeated this again in the final number, Best Fake Smile, in which he sank to his knees and leaned back into the guitar solo, captivating fans and leaving the room in awe.

At times, however, there was so much going on that it was difficult to focus on just one thing – the sound was incredibly loud, and it could be difficult to pick out individual members of the band. The stage lights were very bright as they jumped across the room and, paired with the cranked-up sound, could be deemed overwhelming or doing too much. Bay came out best in his performance of quieter songs when one could make out each layer of the group more clearly.

A magical moment was captured for the heart-wrenching Scars. Beginning with a snippet of Can’t Help Falling In Love, the room became illuminated with hundreds of phone lights which rocked in unison to this slow, sweet moment.

The artist returned to the stage for the encore to perform two final hits, closing the show on his most well-known track and the one which catapulted his career to fame, Hold Back the River. The room’s energy reached a new peak as people belted along, arms wrapped around one another and dancing to its famous riff.

Bay held the hearts of many that evening. With continuous thanks given to fans, both old and new, the love in his eyes as he looked out across the packed venue told us he has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Emily Downie
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit James Bay’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Let It Go here: