HARRY HITS A WINNER FOR THE HOME TEAM
LIVE: Harry Styles (Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester) Verdict: Emotional homecoming ★★★★★
WITH the release of his third solo album last month, Harry Styles showed how well he’s making the transition from teenybop idol to grown-up star. On the evidence of this emotional homecoming gig in Manchester, he’s now pulling off the move from indoor arenas into the biggest stadiums with equal aplomb.
The former One Direction singer grew up in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, and was clearly moved by the reaction of a largely female crowd who had come in their pink stetsons, feather boas and glitter on a perfect summer evening. ‘Some of the happiest times of my life have been just around the corner from here,’ enthused Harry.
Backed by a mixed-gender, six-piece band, all clad in blue, he skipped around the stage. He sang some numbers while strumming a guitar and others from a walkway that led to a smaller B-stage. He even picked out his primary school teacher, Mrs Vernon, in the crowd: ‘Can you imagine dealing with me when I was four?’
After a patchy first solo album, he has settled on a sound that’s an agile blend of retro-R&B and Californian soft-rock, and this gig was dominated by recent material. Highlights included an ‘unplugged’ section in which he sang acoustic tracks Matilda and Boyfriend, both from his current Harry’s House album.
A sun-kissed crowd had also come to party, and Styles didn’t disappoint. Cramming as much music as he could into a fast-paced 90-minute set, he finished with ‘15 mins of dancing’ and even sang a rocked-up version of One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful. Now a huge solo star, he clearly hasn’t forgotten his roots.
■ Harry Styles plays Wembley Stadium tomorrow and Sunday (ticketmaster.co.uk).