Tonight we are headed to Oxford’s O2 Academy for a large dose of 2010s nostalgia as Max George and Siva Kaneswaran are here with The Wanted 2.0 – a much-anticipated revival of one of the UK’s biggest ever pop bands. They are supported here tonight by viral TikTok singing sensation Liv Harland.
A stark contrast to the headline act in terms of genres, Liv Harland opens the evening quietly yet powerfully. Drawing on years of experience as a street performer, her set is completely no-nonsense. It is just her and the keyboardist on the stage crafting a beautiful atmosphere with their haunting melodies and her sweet and emotion filled vocals. Nothing else is needed; the talent speaks for itself. The songs themselves are of a slower pace and extremely heartfelt. Liv explains that she draws on her own life experiences when writing her songs and the emotion contained within them really reflects that.
Whilst not everyone in here knows her name, the setlist she has chosen beautifully showcases her spectacular vocal range and versatility. She begins her set with her most well-known material, including “Oceans” and “Dancing in the Sky” which immediately captures the attention of the audience. You can sense the sudden click and enhanced attention from crowd as they recognise the song – “Ohh she is the one who sings THAT.” She then moves into some newer material, including some unreleased songs in the hope that “by this time next year you can say you saw it here first.” A rousing cover of Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” has many in the crowd singing along; and many others just staring open mouthed in admiration.
By the end of the set the crowd are well and truly under her spell and as the duo exit the stage I think we can all sense that we have just witnessed a very special performance. I don’t think it will be long before we are seeing Liv Harland’s name regularly in a more mainstream capacity, and I don’t think we will be seeing her play in venues of this size for much longer either.
During changeover, the atmosphere really ramps up a notch and the excitement is palpable. As the lights dim, Max and Siva burst onto the stage beaming amid a storm of applause and deafening screams from the crowd. You can sense both how happy they are to be back and how much the crowd have been waiting for this. The room is absolutely packed and the atmosphere is electric; everyone is screaming, singing and dancing from the get-go.
When “Heart Vacancy” starts to play and Oxfords competition winner Olivia takes to the stage (a heart vacancy girl is chosen in every city on the tour; a highly coveted Instagram prize) there is a beautiful togetherness that fills in room; you can sense that despite how many people wish they were up there instead, everyone is extremely happy for her and they waste no time in singing along, and it’s just a really beautiful, meaningful moment.
As the set progresses, we are taken down memory lane and are treated to a fantastic set list of all the biggest hits from The Wanted, including “Walks Like Rihanna”, “All Time Low” and “Chasing the Sun”. Throughout the show it is clear how much it means to Max and Siva that despite the tragedy that struck the band following the death of Tom Parker in 2022, that they are back and carrying on the legacy of what they all created together. They are clearly extremely emotional to be performing these songs again and it is heartwarming to see the reception they receive and how much the crowd are enjoying the evening; there is genuinely a smile on every face.
Tonight really has been all about the good vibes. There is dancing, singing, and happy tears – the full range of emotions. It is easy to forget just how popular this band were in its original incarnation, and just how many hits are in their catalogue. Everyone is just so here for the bittersweet nostalgia that hearing these songs again has provided. The crowd show no sign of slowing down for the duration of the show, even requesting to hear one of the songs again (“All Time Low” – to which the band actually obliges).
Ending their set with “Glad You Came”, the night draws to a close. Despite a stacked setlist and an incredibly decent set time, people just don’t want it to end. The lights come on and the doors open, but the crowd lingers before leaving, keen to try to stay in the bubble for a few more minutes. The Wanted 2.0 have truly succeeded in both a revival and a rebirth and it is clear that the fans love this new era just as much the original one.
Words & images: Kate Elfström
