At London’s Scala, The Wanted 2.0’s We’re Glad You Came Tour celebrated the enduring legacy of one of the 2010s’ most prominent pop acts, transforming the venue into a party fuelled by nostalgia, camaraderie and unapologetic pop abandon. With Max George and Siva Kaneswaran leading the current line-up, the duo took to the stage following a video montage, greeted by thunderous applause from a crowd ready to relive the hits that defined an era. Opening with ‘Lightning’ and ‘Lose My Mind’, they wasted little time setting the tone for the evening. The crowd was a genuine cross-section of generations, from long-time fans to groups of lads and twenty-somethings, all united by the same songs. It was heartening to see The Wanted’s music continue to reach beyond its original audience, with the room soon alive with singing, dancing and the kind of carefree energy that pop music does best.
Packed with the group’s biggest hits, the compact setlist moved at an exhilarating pace, giving fans little opportunity to catch their breath. ‘Chasing The Sun’ and ‘All Time Low’ were among the evening’s standout moments, while ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ sparked a full-room karaoke session, with lyrics projected onto the screens behind the duo and the audience enthusiastically singing along to every word. Yet for all the high-energy singalongs, the show also made room for something more tender. ‘Heart Vacancy’ offered a softer interlude, made all the more memorable when a fan was invited onstage to share the moment with George and Kaneswaran. Later, ‘Gold Forever’ carried an added emotional weight, its lyrics taking on a poignant resonance in the wake of the death of their bandmate Tom Parker. These moments gave the night an emotional depth that extended beyond the thrill of revisiting familiar hits, reminding everyone of the connections forged through music and the people who remain part of its story.
Much of the show’s appeal lay in the natural rapport between George and Kaneswaran, who appeared genuinely happy to be sharing the stage and revisiting the songs that helped define their careers. Their interactions felt relaxed and unforced, striking a balance between the polished delivery expected of pop veterans and the easy chemistry of friends enjoying themselves. They engaged warmly with the crowd, teasing that they had been in the studio working on new music, while also paying tribute to fellow bandmates Jay McGuinness, Nathan Sykes and the late Parker. It was a reminder that The Wanted’s legacy extends beyond the two men standing under the lights, with its story and enduring appeal still shaped by the five members who brought the group to life. While The Wanted 2.0 represents a new chapter, the spirit of the original band remains firmly intact, carried through the songs, the memories and the connection between performers and audience.
Sixteen years on, these songs still sound remarkably fresh, their hooks and choruses retaining the immediacy that made them pop staples in the first place. But the real magic of the Scala show was in what the music offered its audience: a chance to switch off from the pressures of everyday life, reconnect with a younger version of themselves and lose themselves in something familiar. Nostalgia may have brought the crowd together, but the enthusiasm in the room suggested this was about more than simply looking backwards. For a little while, everyone was free to sing too loudly, dance without inhibition and remember why they fell in love with these songs in the first place. Compact in format but never short on punch, energy or heart, the show proved that The Wanted 2.0 are doing more than revisiting a much-loved back catalogue. With conviction and warmth, they are keeping the spirit of the band alive – and reminding us that a great pop song never really goes away.
The We’re Glad You Came Tour stops off in Brighton 8 October; then tours UK until 19 November. Tickets for all remaining shows can be purchased online here.
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