James Bay - O2 Academy, Edinburgh 2/02/2025

The sensation returns

The second month of 2025 is already underway and the sensation returns to the Scottish capital, James Bay dropped by to perform a memorial set at Edinburghs O2 Academy.

The show opened with Up All Night - James made his way down the risers to the beat and the crowd drawn into ever note struck. The crowd joined in with the songs, and He said thats why he keeps returning to epic Edinburgh.



To the audiences delight, James weaved No Scotland, No Party throughout the show. He demonstrated his insane talent with frequent solo guitar moments and teasing the crowd by whispering the nights catchphrase. The crowd went wild after one song, ending with "Glasgow Who? Its all Edinburgh!".

James moved the song to his timeless hit, Let It Go. The audience erupts. Every moment captured from front to back in the sea of phones ? every word sung with heartfelt emotion. James takes a break from singing, indulging the room with extra guitar solos. The solos are closely followed by Cant help falling in love, leading to his next hits, Scars and a new flavour of Best Fake Smile.




James does an acoustic set for his encore Dont look back in anger - the crowd responding with screams and shouts? James delighted to scream back "This is our song now".

The crowd clapped together, voices raised in unison as the show ended with Can we stop for a minute and then an epic rendition of Hold Back The River.

Throughout, the show was packed with songs old and new, with something for everyone to enjoy. James Bay is one of those artists with the natural talent and charisma to take his own song, strip it back, and change it every time he performs. If anyone was standing in the crowd theyll know for sure when I say "goosebumps from the whole show".



Sensational, and such a crowd-pleasing performance.

Review and photography by Laura Somerville.

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