After the release of their album Wake Up in November 2015, The Vamps have spent much of their 2016 promoting their album across the globe but have managed to find time to do some very exciting things which have made 2016 their biggest year to date.
As we just mentioned the year was heavily dominated by The Vamps Wake Up World Tour. Kicking off in Sydney in January, it made its way through to Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo and Dubai in the first two months of the year. The main leg of the tour came in March and April as the quartet played 13 shows across the United Kingdom including two sold out shows at The O2 in London. This tour for many marked one of the biggest moments of The Vamps year as fans got a multitude of chances to see their favourite band. Thanks, guys, you made our year a little bit sweeter from the start.
Following from the UK leg, the guys made their way to Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam for a trio of shows. Touring dominated their 2016 with shows in South America in May before the tour wrapped up in Milan in November following Spain and Italian shows. Throw into the mix a performance at Wembley Stadium for Capital’s Summertime Ball, a performance at The Royal Albert Hall for Children in Need, their first live show in Poland before ending it with a series of Christmas shows in conjunction with radio stations including Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball. Anyone else feeling a little tired after reading about all the touring the guys have done?
Music release wise 2016 was one of the bands quieter years with two singles ‘I Found A Girl (Featuring OMI)’ released in April and ‘All Night (Featuring Matoma)’ was released in October taken from the bands yet to be announced new album. In conjunction with their trip to India, The Vamps teamed up with Indian sensation Vishal-Shekhar for the track ‘Beliya’. The Bollywood-inspired track is a combination of English and Hindi lyrics bringing together the two unique cultures. As the year began to draw to a close, The Vamps made a visit to Radio 1’s live lounge to perform a killer cover of Fifth Harmony’s ‘That’s My Girl’, who knew they had that much sass in them?
Two recognitions and awards The Vamps achieved this year which deserve a notable mention are their debut single Can We Dance going Gold in April, whilst in October along with performing at BBC’s Radio 1 Teen Awards also won the gong for Best British Group!
Thank you SO much to everyone that voted for us and to @BBCR1 you're amazing ? .. Sorry about the armpit hair.. pic.twitter.com/03jnQZPrXH
— Conor Bell (@TheVampsCon) October 23, 2016
Supporting good causes and surprising fans has been another task these guys have undertaken in 2016. From performing acoustic on the Trafalgar Square steps for #LondonIsOpen to surprising fans for BBC Lift Music to disguising themselves as rockers and taking on Waterloo Station for Busk In London. We love that the quartet regularly speaks out and support causes, there’s too many to list but notable ones include the likes of Princess Trust and Starlight UK.
This year saw The Vamps partaking in their second film soundtrack, this time recording ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ for the Kung Fu Panda 3 film. But this wasn’t where their film involvement ended as James and Connor lent their voices to animated geese in the film a first for the band signifying that this year was set to be the year of firsts for the band. One of the biggest firsts for the band came with their first book being released in November, the autobiography gives fans an insight into every aspect of the band’s career and those secrets we’ve always wondered about. Is there anything The Vamps can’t do? Sold out tours, books, voice-overs in films? Where can we get some of this talent?
As 2016 drew to a close, fans were provided following on from the release of single ‘All Night’ with Matoma, the bands 2017 world tour was announced. Eleven UK dates have been announced alongside support from New Hope Club, The Tide and Sabrina Carpenter with the promise of European, Asian, Japanese, Australian, American and New Zealand shows to follow. Whilst the guys have also announced they will make their first trip to South Africa in March next year. That’s what you call ending the year with a bang!
From us to you The Vamps, thank you for such a memorable 2016. Your journey has been one we and your fans have loved following. Here’s to a bright 2017 full of more touring, happiness and success.
What’s been your favourite part of The Vamps year? Tweet us @CelebMix to let us know.