The brand new year, 2019, is here; and, in the spirit of the celebration, we’ve decided to take a look back on the Events that we attended in 2018. We’ve been to quite a few of them during those 12 months and even wrote up reviews of the events we’ve seen for you to read.
In some cases, it was our first time seeing this artist, production, or show; and in other cases it was our hundredth time – or so we like to think. Here are the 2018 events that we attended which made an impression on us.
Britney Spears: Piece Of Me Tour (UK Birmingham’s Genting Arena) / Chosen by Jonathan Currinn (CelebMix Editor)
“I have been a life-long fan of Britney Spears, to the extent where “…Baby One More Time” was the first ever music video I ever saw on a music channel; and so, as soon as I found out she was coming to the UK, I was ready to buy tickets, but the first London show sold out straight away – luckily, demand was so high, she announced extra shows including my hometown, Birmingham. I previously saw her at Brighton Pride, and she was amazing, but the atmosphere at her own gig was electrifying, with her dancing on point and the crowd singing every song including the album tracks from Glory, which didn’t happen at Brighton Pride – I was the only one singing during ‘Clumsy’, ‘Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortés)’, and ‘Do You Wanna Come Over?’. Also, Pitbull was the support act, and he was amazing; I wasn’t expecting much from him, but he blew me away – I’d totally see him again.”
Rip It Up (UK London’s The Palladium) / Chosen by Katrina Rees (CelebMix Editor)
“I went to Rip It Up the 50’s in 2017, so was super excited to see the 60’s edition in 2018. The show was so high energy, full of fun and truly captured the essence of the era. From the songs and dances to the costumes, every element was nailed perfectly. I also got to meet Aston Merrygold, Louis Smith, and Harry Judd before the show which was a bonus. I can’t wait for when Rip It Up the 60’s makes its way to London’s West End this year.”
BTS World Tour: Love Yourself (US New York City’s Citi Field) / Chosen by Michele Mendez (CelebMix Editor)
“Attending BTS’ ‘Love Yourself’ tour was definitely a highlight of 2018. I originally bought tickets for two of their shows, but I couldn’t help myself from attending a third. Their stage presence is so mesmerizing and if you ask any fan, the whole show felt like a dream. With no opening act, BTS put on a nearly three-hour long performance filled with intense choreography and vocals. Their Citi Field concert was especially memorable because it gathered thousands of fans for the group’s first-ever U.S. stadium concert. The most special part of the tour, however, was BTS’ message for their fans to learn how to love themselves.”
Claire Richards: My Wildest Dreams Tour (UK London’s Union Chapel) / Chosen by Kelly McFarland (CelebMix Editor)
“Claire’s first solo show was everything fans had been waiting for. It was an amazing, breathtaking and emotional show, which truly showcased Claire’s phenomenal vocal talent.”
Elsie Fest (US New York City’s Central Park) / Chosen by Evelin Mercedes (CelebMix Writer)
“Seeing Elsie Fest for the first time in Central Park was awesome. I volunteer with an org that creates the concerts over the summer in Central Park and I got to see Elsie Fest which features many huge names. The biggest surprise of the night was Nick Jonas. I had never seen him live in concert so I completely freaked out! It was definitely one of the greatest shows I’ve seen in 2018.”
Heathers The Musical (UK London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket) / Chosen by Charlotte Freeman-Coates (CelebMix Writer)
“The UK finally got a version of Heathers the musical in 2018, something many fans of the musical (including me) have been waiting years for. Not only did the UK version capture it perfectly the new songs for this version was perfect but what really made it was the cast. Carrie Fletcher and Jamie muscato in the lead roles lead an equally talented cast through both the off west end and west end run and I can’t imagine more perfect people for the roles.”
Lovebox Festival (UK London’s Gunnersbury Park) / Chosen by Byaregal (CelebMix Writer)
“Lovebox Festival was the event of 2018. Where else would I be able to watch performances from Childish Gambino, Anderson Paak, Dave, Big Boi, Wu Tang Clan, N.E.R.D all in one weekend.”
Why Don’t We: Europe Tour (UK London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo) / Chosen by Sofia Esposito (CelebMix Writer)
“The choreography and outfits were the highlight of the night. Singing some older and newer songs they left the crowd gobsmacked with their incredible harmonising vocals.”
BottleRock Napa Valley (US California’s Napa Valley Expo) / Chosen by Ashley Bulayo (CelebMix Writer)
“I was so happy and fortunate to cover BottleRock Napa Valley for CelebMix. 2018 was an extra special treat since Bruno Mars was headlining the day I went. Anyone who’s everyone that ever watched Bruno knows he’s an EXPERT at putting on a show. He could just be sitting and I’d think it’s the best thing ever. Wine? Music? Great weather? Perfect event.”
Twenty One Pilots: A Complete Diversion (UK London’s O2 Academy Brixton) / Chosen by Georgia Brown (CelebMix Writer)
“Twenty One Pilots’ A Complete Diversion was my favourite event of 2018 because it was their first show since releasing new music and I was finally able to see my favourite band live again after nearly 3 years! Being amongst the first crowd to hear brand new songs from the upcoming album, and being in the first crowd to have yellow confetti during the last song ‘Trees’, was really emotional. Seeing everyone dressed in yellow and camouflage was unreal. I haven’t seen fans become so invested in a band’s album aesthetic in a very long time. Twenty One Pilots mean a whole lot to me and I’m incredibly grateful for being able to experience the beginning of Trench, as well as some old favourites from Blurryface and Vessel.”
Apple Music Presents: Little Mix Live In London (UK London’s EartH) / Chosen by Nicola Craig (CelebMix Writer)
“Getting the opportunity to see one of the world’s biggest girl bands playing a stripped back set in a small venue just prior to the release of their fifth album was a really special highlight for me. Being a long term Little Mix fan and having seen them play arenas, stadiums, and sports halls abroad, getting to hear tracks both old and new with a live band was incredibly special. Vocally it was my favourite Little Mix show as there was nothing to hide behind and showed off beautiful in the simplest things; a great quartet supported by an all-female band. Performing new material for the first time notably; ‘Strip’ which from the moment I first heard it was destined to be one of my favourite songs especially as they teamed up with Sharaya J for the live debut. An unforgettable night!”
The Shires: Accidentally On Purpose (UK Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall) / Chosen by Lynn Macgillivray (CelebMix Writer)
“This was my first time seeing the duo although I had been a fan for a few years. Their performance was amazing and they came across as such genuine, lovely people as well. Andy Brown and Sinead Burgess who were the support acts for the night were also incredible and to top the night off I managed to meet Andy (dream come true!)”
Vans Warped Tour (Canada Toronto’s Budweiser Stage) / Chosen by Katherine Jiang (CelebMix Writer)
“Attending a stop of The Vans Warped Tour has always been on my bucket list, and finally being able to experience it was absolutely amazing. I got to see so many bands that I’d either grown up listening to or recently discovered, and it was so much fun from beginning to end! It was so great to finally see Sum 41, Mayday Parade, With Confidence and so many more bands live.”
Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour (US Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field) / Chosen by Brittany Sims (CelebMix Writer)
“The rep tour was one of my favorite moments of my life. Taylor swift is one of my idols. I loved the surprise songs every night.”
Dan And Phil Interactive Introverts (UK Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo) / Chosen by Kay Simpson (CelebMix Writer)
“Dan and Phil brought their second world tour last year and made it completely interactive for their fans, from creating their own ‘truth bombs’ to a Dan and Phil simulation game where the audience has complete control. I laughed and cried through the entire show, seeing how much the guys have changed and grown over the years was a real joy. Also, watching Phil’s diss track was a very special treat.”
BTS World Tour: Love Yourself (UK London’s The O2 Arena) / Chosen by Ellie Nicholas (CelebMix Writer)
“2018 brought me my first time seeing BTS and after supporting them for two years to the date, I was overcome with many emotions. It was surreal seeing them headlining The O2 arena to a sold-out crowd; I felt pride, I felt so much love and adoration. BTS were phenomenal and despite Jungkook’s injury he continued being as incredible as ever. This was by far my favourite concert of the year, and hopefully they’ll be returning very soon (after a good rest of course).”
Ben Haenow: The Rising Tour (UK Liverpool’s Arts Club) / Chosen by Mark Willis (CelebMix Writer)
“Over the course of 2018, I attended more than 30 concerts but no one impressed me more than Ben Haenow did with his Rising Tour. It was so good, in fact, that I couldn’t resist going more than once. With outstanding live vocals and a perfect mixture of songs, Ben had the audience in the palm of his hand. The born showman really can bring a crowd to life like no other. Hearing everyone sing along to ‘Make It Back To Me’ gave me chills and the energy in the room reached a whole new level when Ben performed his rocked-up rendition of ‘Always On My Mind’ by Elvis Presley. As someone who has been to all three of Ben’s headline tours, I can safely say that The Rising Tour was his best to date. Even when it doesn’t seem possible, the platinum-selling artist continues to get better and better. Bring on his acoustic tour in April 2019.”
Paramore: After Laughter Tour (UK London’s The O2 Arena) / Chosen by Isla Williams (CelebMix Writer)
“Paramore performed a set of UK tour dates in January in support of their fifth studio album, After Laughter, and everyone in the audience was in for a real treat. The band put on an incredible show at the London date, held at the O2 Arena, in which the band showcased the immense talents of lead singer Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. The band performed songs from After Laughter as well as older hits such as ‘Still Into You’ and ‘Misery Business’, also showcasing Zac’s side project HalfNoise’s single ‘French Class’.”
Wicked (Canada Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre) / Chosen by Annemarie Cutruzzola (CelebMix Writer)
“I went to see the Toronto run of Wicked the Musical this summer, and it was a total blast! As a longtime fan of The Wizard of Oz, I loved seeing a brand new take on the beloved characters from the original movie. I had listened to a few songs from the soundtrack before, so it was great to finally see them performed live. It was a very talented cast and a great atmosphere in the theatre – I’d definitely recommend it!”
Shania Twain: Now Tour (UK London’s The O2 Arena) / Chosen by Laura Klonowski (CelebMix Writer)
“After waiting 15 years to see Shania live it was a dream come true seeing her two nights in a row back in October. She was everything and so much more than I ever hoped. She put on a spectacular show that was the greatest live event I have ever been to.
Taylor Swift’s The reputation Stadium Tour (UK London’s Wembley Stadium) / Chosen by Toby Bryant (CelebMix Writer)
“I could hardly claim to be a part of the Swifties fandom, reputation left no huge impact on me after its release in 2017. Nonetheless, the personality and prestige that Taylor Swift has (and a Charli XCX support act slot) found me under the Wembley Stadium arch on the 23rd June. I was in for a treat. Not a penny was spared on what was the most jaw-dropping show production I have ever seen and Swift’s live vocals were incredible as she made a 90,000 capacity stadium feel like an intimate venue. Topping things off, Robbie Williams was brought out for an ‘Angels’ duet with Swift. Hate her or love her, only Taylor Swift could pull off what happened at Wembley Stadium that night.”
Harry Styles: Live On Tour (US Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center) / Chosen By Ashley Gale (CelebMix Writer)
“I was lucky enough to see Harry twice in 2018 and it was really unforgettable. Harry really knows how to put on a great show and shows off great outfits for each show.”
The CelebMix Team have been to some incredible events during 2018, and we’re in awe of the ones we’ve been invited to. We are super excited for the gigs, shows, musicals, tours, and more that we’ll all be going to in 2019. We hope you enjoyed reading about our favourite events of 2018, and maybe you were in the crowd with one of us at one or more of these events. Check out our 2018 favourite Albums, EPs, Singles, Music Videos, Debut Artists, Films, TV Series‘, YouTube Videos, Celebrity Moments, Memories, Success Stories and CelebMix Articles; all chosen by our writers.