OLLY MURS GETS ‘KNEES UP’ WITH AN EXCLUSIVE KENTISH TOWN CELEBRATION

LIVE REVIEW | OLLY MURS w/ Nick Howard | O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, LONDON | 9th December 2025 by Kevin O’Sullivan

Having released his brand new album ‘Knees Up’ just a few weeks earlier, pop sensation Olly Murs celebrated the release with an exclusive live show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town. As fans gathered in their thousands, Mr Murs and support artist, Nick Howard, delivered a night for the books!

Nick Howard

Nick Howard opened the evening with a set filled with warmth, clarity and a sense of personal significance. Before starting “Super Love,” he shared a memory tied directly to the venue: watching The Who here years ago with his dad, a night he still considers one of the greatest gigs he ever attended. With both of his parents having passed away around ten years ago, returning to Kentish Town clearly carried emotional weight. That sincerity added depth to a performance built on clean melodies and understated confidence.

Howard moved smoothly through “Follow” and “Can’t Break a Broken Heart,” both delivered with the polished songwriting that has seen his tracks find new visibility on shows such as Love Island, Temptation Island, Here Come the Kardashians, Pretty Little Liars and The Hills. “If I Told You” quietened the room, while “Unstoppable” introduced a welcome lift. He closed with “Dancing As One,” leaving the audience eased gently but decisively into the evening. It was a concise, well-balanced set from a talented performer whose work continues to find fresh audiences.

Olly Murs

Olly Murs followed with a noticeably different tone—lively, upbeat and immediately engaging. Opening with “Knees Up,” he established the atmosphere quickly, leaning into the energy of having a top-five new album and only one live show to support it. Backed by an impressive nine-piece band, Murs kept the pace high, and although he made no reference to a “tenth member,” the crowd made a case for themselves through sheer volume alone. The response—predominantly from a very enthusiastic female audience—was loud, constant and unmistakably supportive.

“Guilty,” “Bonkers” and “Love=Madness” continued the energetic start. “Honest,” which Murs introduced as his favourite track on the new album, stood out as one of the strongest moments of the night. Bright and rhythmic, it connected well with the audience and showcased the upbeat, personal tone of his latest material.

Midway through, Murs addressed press coverage of his 15-year anniversary tour, specifically criticism from the Daily Mail about his weight loss. He handled it with humour, referencing how the Mail said his fans seemed to prefer his “dad bod” regardless, before leading into “Yesterday’s News”—a track written in response. Playful and pointed, the song covers everything from media exaggeration to his fondness for mangoes, and the crowd reacted warmly to both the message and the performance.

His mid-set medley—featuring “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “Town Called Malice,” “It Must Be Love” and “One Step Beyond”—served as a tribute to the music that shaped him. Delivered with enthusiasm, it added a personal touch that broadened the tone of the set. From there, “Thinking of Me,” “Run This Town” and “Heart Skips a Beat” kept the audience fully engaged, with “Heart Skips a Beat” drawing one of the night’s most enthusiastic responses.

Murs also acknowledged long-time backing vocalists John and Darren, who have supported him since the beginning of his career. “Troublemaker,” “Wrapped Up” and “Dance With Me Tonight” followed, each prompting big singalongs and maintaining the high spirits in the room.

He closed the night with “Save Me,” moving straight into “Christmas Starts Tonight,” his collaboration with The Ordinary Boys and a contender for this year’s Christmas No. 1. It ended the show on a festive, upbeat note that suited the mood of the crowd.

Overall, the evening offered an appealing contrast: Nick Howard’s reflective, melodic opener followed by Olly Murs’ spirited, high-energy set. A lively Monday night in Kentish Town, marked by strong performances and a crowd that made itself thoroughly heard.