On the last Saturday of July, over 7,000 dedicated, rain poncho-wearing pop fans descended on Swansea’s Singleton Park to sing and dance the night away to Anne-Marie’s hits. The open-air live gig was just one of the Essex singer-songwriter’s worldwide concert tour taking place this year.
Lined with food and drink trucks and a pop-up bar, giving all the festival vibes, the arena at Singleton Park is a great venue for a summer music event – providing the Welsh weather acts in favour, which unfortunately it didn’t for Anne-Marie. Nevertheless, concertgoers were in high spirits as they flooded into the park, with pressplaywithstacey’s lively DJ set preceding the live performers. The headliner was supported by rising star Gracey and musical TikToker Mimi Webb – who both put on energetic performances showcasing their chart-topping songs, to an excitable reception.
With experience in the West End, Anne-Marie certainly knows how to put on a show. Her music seamlessly blends pop, garage, and grime, bringing together a mixed audience of a variety of ages. The energy she brought to the stage to lift the crowd’s mood throughout the soggy evening was admirable.
Anne-Marie’s setlist in Swansea comprised pop sensations, heartbreak anthems, and lesser-known slow-moving tunes, including brand new single Psycho. She kicked off with her first top 10 solo hit, Ciao Adios; dance moves picked up with Alarm and emotions peaked with Perfect To Me – whether from the rain or tears, mascara-stained cheeks filled the park.
Other well-received songs included Rockabye, Kiss My (Uh-Oh) and 2002, respectively collaborations with fellow contemporary pop idols Clean Bandit, Little Mix, and Ed Sheeran. The show closed with 2018’s Friends – the fifth single from Anne-Marie’s debut studio album Speak Your Mind – as the soaked crowd was covered, in true festival style, with pink confetti.
Rain, girl power anthems, snippets of inspiration from the headliner, and pints of wine made it the perfect concert for any heartbroken young girls to pour out their emotions and lift themselves up with friends. Anne-Marie said she “didn’t want it to end” and most of the Swansea crowd seemed to feel likewise.
Anne-Marie, Singleton Park, Swansea, Sat 30 July
words EVE DAVIES photos TIM ALBAN
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