Hey Glasgow! Your favourite boy band is back in town!
Australia’s finest, Five Seconds of Summer, performed at the OVO Hydro last night as part of their “Everyone’s a Star!” world tour. The band consists of Luke Hemmings (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Michael Clifford (lead guitar and vocals), Calum Hood (bass and vocals), and Ashton Irwin (drums and vocals).
Who are they? Formed in 2011, 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) are an Australian pop punk band known for their catchy songs and emotionally honest lyrics. The band features strong vocal harmonies and often explores themes such as love, youth, self-discovery, and personal growth. They gained popularity after posting cover songs online. The contributions of all members shape their dynamic, both in vocals and creative input. This collaboration is vital to their identity. It has significantly contributed to their success in the music industry.
Supported by US pop sensation Haiden Henderson and the alt-rock band South Arcade, this was set to be an unforgettable night. We had the chance to attend the show ourselves, so let’s see what all the hype is about, shall we?
Haiden Henderson
To kick off the night, we were treated to a special performance by rising U.S. sensation Haiden Henderson, who captivated the audience with his incredible talent. Haiden arrived in the UK fresh from his first-ever headline tour for his 2025 EP, “Tension.” This tour took him across the UK, Europe, and the U.S. I was especially excited to see him live again. He was set to support all the UK shows. The first time I saw him perform was when he opened for his friend Emei at King Tut’s last year. After this latest performance, I can confidently say that he improves with each show. Haiden’s stage presence is phenomenal; he commands everyone’s attention in the room with his engaging energy and charisma. However, it was his guitarist, Bella Perron, who truly stole the show; she completely blew me away!
Some highlights from his set included “Hell of a Good Time” and “SWEAT.” Of course, he also performed the title track from the EP, “TENSION.” A major standout was his surprise cover of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” which captivated the crowd in Glasgow. They were singing and jumping along from the very first note. Another memorable moment was the performance of “Lovesucker,” which is my personal favorite from his discography. This song was what initially drew me to him, and I can confidently say I was hooked instantly! He is undoubtedly one of the best emerging acts in the pop scene. I am excited to see how his career unfolds over the next few years.
Towards the end of his set, Haiden took a moment to share his journey with the audience. He expressed how 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) truly inspired him to pursue music. He learned to play guitar by watching clips of them online. He developed his songwriting skills by listening to their songs on repeat. Haiden explained that 5SOS motivated him to chase his dream of becoming a rockstar. Now, he has the incredible opportunity to support them on tour! It was heartwarming to witness his dreams come true; there’s nobody more deserving of this level of success. The next few years are looking promising for Haiden Henderson, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
His EP is a project you can listen to repeatedly. You won’t skip any tracks. This is a great indication of a promising future. Henderson has achieved over 100 million streams. He has performed at sold-out headline shows and support slots alongside artists like Landon Barker. He is increasingly recognized as part of a new wave of pop acts. These artists are redefining the genre through a blend of DIY spirit, digital-era virality, and ambitions suited for arena performances.
South Arcade
Next on the bill was one of my absolute favourite upcoming bands, South Arcade.
South Arcade is an emerging alternative rock band based in Oxford, UK. Since their formation in 2021, they have become one of the most talked-about new artists in the music scene. The band is led by vocalist Harmony Cavelle. It consists of four members: Ollie Green on bass, Harry Winks on guitar, and Cody Jones on drums. Together, they blend pop-punk, alt-rock, and nu-metal influences, drawing inspiration from early 2000s icons like Avril Lavigne and Linkin Park.
This was an excellent choice for support. They are one of the few acts that sound way better live than they do on the record. Frontwoman Harmony Cavelle is an absolute showstopper, and the rest of the band do a great job at matching that! Bassist Ollie Green is constantly engaging with the audience, pointing at people and making jokes throughout the set. The audience was in hysterics when they acknowledged a situation at the Dublin show a few nights ago. It was one of the most memorable moments of banter throughout the set. I won’t go into detail. However, if you have been on social media the past few days, you’ve surely heard about it!
The main highlights from their performance were “2005” and, of course, “Stone Cold Summer.” These two songs went viral on social media, and I’m sure you’ve come across them at some point! Even if it was just Ollie unexpectedly belting in the second verse when he gets handed the mic! The vocal effects on their microphones make their set so fun to watch. You can definitely see why they’re so big in the alt scene!
5SOS
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. The clock struck 8:45 PM, and the introductory visuals began to play. From the start, I knew the show would be amazing. I could tell even before anyone stepped onto the stage! The introductory visuals were narrative-driven, featuring each band member sharing their thoughts on the past 15 years of their careers. The short clip ended with the words “Act I – The Peak.” This marked the first of many acts that made up the gig. It was incredibly well done.
The boys excitedly took to the stage to perform the first song of the night, “NOT OK.” Their entrance was impressive! They started by singing the first verse while seated inside a pink limousine. Then, the roof opened up, and the boys stepped out of the car. They paused briefly on stage. The boys made their way down to the main stage in the pitch black. Suddenly, a burst of energy filled the venue, and… BAM! They launched straight into the chorus, and the atmosphere in the hydro was unparalleled. This is one of the best songs in their discography, and I believe 12,000 others felt the same way. Not a single person was sat down! Everyone was up, jumping around, and screaming the chorus back to the boys!
This then led into “NO 1 OBSESSION.” It was another fan favourite from the new album. I am obsessed with the production of this song, and hearing it live felt so much better! The song somehow sounded even better than it does on record, and I was blown away!
These two songs made for the perfect introduction, but the third song certainly didn’t let us down! Next up was “TEETH,” one of the biggest singles from their 2020 album, “CALM.” By now, you’d think the crowd may need to sit down after the first two, but nope! The energy in the room just kept building even more by the second!
Then it was time for the second act of the night, “The Fall.” The boys began their performance with “Easier.” Michael and Calum were at either end on guitar. Luke hyped up the crowd, singing and dancing along the circular runway. Then we quickly transitioned into MORE. It’s one of the standout tracks from their critically acclaimed 2018 album “YOUNGBLOOD.” The album peaked at No 1 in Australia for eight consecutive weeks. It also hit No 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US.
We then dove straight into the next song, “Istillfeelthesame.” It’s not my personal favourite from the new album. However, it sounds much better live! Michael in particular, sounded excellent on this one; his voice is honestly made for this genre. He has the perfect pop-punk vocal, with all the signature vocal inflections and accents the genre is known for.
We then took a brief pause for another short interlude before the first fun moment of the night! The boys presented a slideshow on stage that showcased how to create the perfect rock show. They included nods to some iconic pop culture moments and references that resonate with their fan base. Ashton even gave us a little taste of his impression of a Scottish accent, and it was bang on! This section primarily focuses on the boys embracing the boy band label, something they have often rejected in the past. However, now that they are six albums in, I think they’ve come to accept it. The slideshow also featured a graph. It indicated that their older songs typically resonate more with their audience than the newer ones. They teased that they had a few surprises in store.
We jumped right into “She’s Kinda Hot.” This is one of their most beloved songs. Many of us didn’t expect to see it on the set this time. This is undoubtedly one of their most well-known tracks. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t removed to make room for some of their more recent songs! I was thrilled to see it included in the setlist. I grew up listening to that song. Experiencing it live was truly memorable. With this track, the boys established themselves as the world’s biggest and best boy band; their performance abilities are unmatched! From that moment on, I knew this would be one of my all-time favorite shows, and I was right!
The next moment was another highlight! The boys invited a fan onstage, and she presented them with the Boyband of the Year award. It was such a special experience to witness. This moment seamlessly transitioned into their performance of the synth-heavy track “Boyband.” The song is one of the more humorous ones on the new album, thanks to its quirky lyrics.
Following that, they played another new song, which had an incredible intro. Ashton Irwin rose up from the end of the catwalk, playing the drums. The rest of the band then joined him. This song was “Telephone Busy,” which has very quickly become a fan favorite from the new album. The live performance was fantastic, and the crowd absolutely loved it! Looking down from the balcony, I could see everyone standing, singing, and dancing; a truly amazing sight! It was refreshing to see so many people enjoying the concert without their phones.
Next up was another new song called “Evolve.” This track features some powerful bass and has become quite addictive! I didn’t enjoy it initially when I first listened to the album. However, it has definitely grown on me. I would now say it ranks in my top five, maybe even my top three!
Then it was time for Act Three, “The Yearning.” This was my favourite section of the show. It featured my top three 5SOS songs back to back. The set began with “Bad Omens.” The energy in the Hydro surged back to the intensity we felt during the first few songs. This is my favourite song in their discography, and experiencing it live was so much fun! Unfortunately, there was a small issue during this part of the performance. During the last half, the timing was slightly off. Luke was out of sync. This made it one of the weaker moments of the night. This was particularly noticeable since Michael was belting out the vocals while Luke was a few seconds behind. However, they more than made up for it in the next few songs.
The next part of the night was the most emotional moment. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience. It was, of course, the beautiful ballad “Ghost of You.” The crowd transformed into a sea of phone lights, and the sight was truly breathtaking. I absolutely love this song, yet I found myself tearing up quite a bit. I don’t usually cry at shows. Beyoncé is one of the only artists who has brought me to tears. This moment felt like a perfect endorsement for me. It was such a special moment
The boys concluded the fourth act with my top-streamed song from their new album, “I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again.” Their performance moved me to tears yet again. The chorus of this song is incredibly beautiful. When combined with the glow of phone lights in the audience, it created a deeply emotional moment. This made the show truly unforgettable.
Now it’s time for another major surprise! Act 4 of the show was titled “The Breakup.” We were treated to each of the boys performing one of their solo songs. It began with Luke performing “Starting Line.” Next, Ashton sang “Have You Found What You’re Looking For.” Then, Calum performed “Don’t Forget You Love Me.” Finally, Michael took the stage with “Enough.” I did not expect this at all! I absolutely loved Luke’s solo project but sadly missed his show at Barrowlands back in 2024. I truly never expected to hear “Starting Line” live, and the tears were not held back once again. I was an absolute mess for the rest of the show, but they were happy tears, of course!
I grew up with this band, right from their first album. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to see them live until now. I was hearing all my favourites from my childhood live for the first time. They were also performing their solo songs right in front of me!
Then it was time for the last part of the show. As expected, this segment was filled with all of their hits! It featured the pop-punk ballad “Jet Black Heart” and the infectious “Voodoo Doll.” This part of the show was easily the loudest of the night! Every single song was a throwback, and the audience was on their feet! My favorite moment from this section was definitely “She Looks So Perfect.” It’s one of my all-time top-streamed songs. I used to belt it out in my room all the time, dancing along. Now, I have finally heard it live! It’s safe to say it’s even better at their shows! Another highlight was “Amnesia,” one of their slower songs. All four members stood right at the end of the circular catwalk. They faced the nearly sold-out crowd. Singing was fully stripped back with just their voices and guitars. No backing tracks were involved.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and we thought we had reached the end of the show. However, the boys surprised the crowd. They brought out special guest Cammy Barnes. He began playing the bagpipes as he walked through the sea of fans. Following closely behind him, 5 Seconds of Summer started singing the introduction to the first track of the encore. The track is titled “Everyone’s a Star.” This title is also the name of the full tour.
The boys returned to the catwalk to rock out for the final song. They performed “Youngblood” one last time that night. “Youngblood” is the title track from their 2018 album. This made for the perfect ending to an incredible evening. As confetti rained down during the last section, the crowd sang their hearts out. While it isn’t my favourite song by any means, it was so much fun to experience live! The song started off slowly and then built up to an energetic finale. It was an excellent way to close out the show. The finale was in a vibrant, synth-pop style. There was lots of singing and dancing one last time!
That brings us to the end! In conclusion, 5 Seconds of Summer have solidified their status as the best boy band. They achieved this recognition with this tour. From the very beginning, I knew we were in for a great night. The experience absolutely blew me away. This was one of the best shows I have ever attended. I highly recommend getting a ticket for one of the upcoming UK shows. Consider attending any stop on the rest of the tour! You are in for an excellent experience! You’ll have the time of your life. It’s an ideal trip down memory lane for all of us 2000s babies.
5 STARS!
All words by Kyan Gilfillan
T H E S O N G B I R D 