By Kyle Horne
The Vamps – the well-known British boyband – first exploded onto the music scene in 2012, and quickly gained popularity through posting covers of songs onto YouTube, which then turned into a record deal, and, eventually, a platinum-certified debut album: ‘Meet the Vamps’.
The album was released on the 11th of April 2014 – and here they are in 2024, still killing it, dabbling in and out of the band, and their solo projects. Currently, they are touring the UK for the 10th anniversary of this album, proving their long-lasting appeal among fans.
I was lucky enough to be able to review and photograph one of the stops on their tour – night one of two, at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, in London. With a queue outside a mile long before doors had even opened – the stage was set for a perfect night.
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The support acts of this tour are two stand-out rising stars. The first is SOAP, one of this generation’s freshest, but most promising boybands, destined to follow in the footsteps of The Vamps and One Direction, with energetic performances and an instant connection with their audience. The second act is pop sensation, Talia Mar, whose catchy hooks have made her one to watch.
Soon after doors opened, SOAP, comprised of lead singer Ryan, instantly recognisable with his signature green hair; guitarist Josh; bassist Cooper; and drummer Noah, burst onto the stage. Their energy, charisma and enthusiasm was infectious as they performed a series of original songs. They then treated the audience to a cover of ABBA’s legendary ‘S.O.S’ – rock and roll style.
A swarm of phones flew right up in the air, as concert-goers wanted to capture this moment – because when do you ever hear an alternative rock version of S.O.S?!
Despite the genre shift, it worked surprisingly well! I have since found out, while writing, that this cover is currently their most popular track on Spotify. I’m off to add it to my playlist. Now!
Their down-to-earth and friendly vibe makes SOAP the type of band you’d happily introduce to your parents, showing that they’re not ‘just another boyband’ – but genuinely relatable and fun.
As SOAP left the stage, the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The energy had been set, and now the audience eagerly awaited the next surprise of the night.
When it was time for the second support act, fans expected to see Talia Mar, who had been opening for The Vamps throughout the tour. Instead, they were treated to an unexpected appearance from Henry Moodie, London-based heartthrob.
His presence brought a sense of nostalgia, as he had previously opened for The Vamps on their last tour, making the moment feel even more special. There was such a real sense of connection in the air as fans sang along to the songs he performed, including his 2023 hit, Drunk Text, and a couple of tracks from his recently released EP, titled ‘good old days’, which released Friday 27th September via indie label, Robots & Humans.
The excitement was real by the time Henry exited the stage, and the crowd could sense that the main event was imminent. When the lights dimmed and The Vamps prepared to take the stage, the atmosphere was electric. Fans cheered in excitement as the opening bars of ‘Wild Heart’ began to play.
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The entire show was an immersive experience. Tristan, the drummer, was sporting a pair of light-up drumsticks, which added a visual spectacle to each beat he played.
There were huge screens behind the band, with stunning graphics, and even pyrotechnics during particularly energetic songs. What more could a fan ask for?!
It was more than just a ‘gig’, but an experience for fans to cherish forevermore.
After the third song, Hurricane, all of us photographers were escorted out the back door by security, before they actually realised we had tickets to review this night! While this meant I missed a song or two, it seems I came back at exactly the right time, as Brad was encouraging fans to do the conga!
Brad has been likened to Harry Styles (One Direction) and Luke Hemmings (5 Seconds of Summer) in the past, but it could be that it’s simply refreshing to see a guy owning it in music; not taking things too seriously and acting cheekily playful around his fans – simply having fun with it!
Fans laughed as he told them he had lost two safety pins from his jacket… the same jacket that had nothing underneath. He insinuated that ‘no one’ wanted to see it falling off, to which fans began to chant ‘TAKE IT OFF!’ in true Masked Singer style.
This genuine humorous moment (among the irresistible choruses!) gives the band such a family vibe about it, that both teens and their parents can appreciate. What really stood out to me was when Brad asked if anyone had been to a Vamps gig before, and it looked like everyone had raised their hands… but then when he asked how many people’s first Vamps gig this was, the same number of hands shot up too.
This tour is stretching generations: there’s the fans who have loved and supported them since the very beginning and remember the album when it first became available on iTunes, and there’s new fans of the quartet who have discovered them through their latest musical offerings.
Sometimes, with bands, you can notice immediately who’s the ‘leader’, or the ‘famous one’, but this doesn’t happen with The Vamps – they have combatted this by giving each band member their own chance to shine.
There were a number of songs where singing transferred between Bradley and the rest, and the drummer was given his very own song, Chemicals, which all the band members left the stage to let him hammer it out.
After this, acoustic guitarist, James McVey, sang ‘Move My Way’, a song from their debut album.
I think this was a brilliant decision, so no one is left out, and everyone is given their moment.
Overall, this night was one of the most entertaining, most enthralling shows I’ve been to – and I don’t say that lightly! The tour has been carefully designed, with both older and younger fans best interests at heart – allowing them to connect through the music – and make memories they can keep forevermore. This was more than a ‘concert’, rather an experience – and if you haven’t experienced it yet, what are you waiting for?!
Chloe Morris 
Alisha Lawton 
Tyler Whiting