By Chloe Morris
Photo Credit: Ellena Reece (provided)
Everyone’s favourite boyband have officially made their touring return!
Australian pop outfit 5 Seconds of Summer have kicked off their EVERYONE’S A STAR! world tour with a bang, making a stop in Birmingham last week.
Upon entering the arena, I was instantly greeted by fans dressed head to toe in star-themed outfits. Everyone had clearly ‘understood the assignment’, and they looked incredible. The stage set-up perfectly matched the EVERYONE’S A STAR! era: a pink limo took centre stage, accompanied by old Hollywood-style lights, while a rounded walkway stretched out into the crowd, leaving no seat in the arena with a bad view.
First to take to the stage and warm up the crowd was the remarkable Haiden Henderson, who had me hooked on his addictive beats and grungy guitar riffs. His set struck a great balance between pop and rock, making him an ideal opener for 5 Seconds of Summer. A standout track for me was Sweat – I couldn’t get the catchy chorus out of my head all evening, which just goes to show his impact. I’m sure he’ll soon snowball into the mainstream.
The second support act was the much-loved Brit band South Arcade, who continue to go from strength to strength. The four-piece delivered an energetic performance infused with early 2000s rock nostalgia. Their Y2K pop-punk sound is infectious and instantly got the crowd moving. They have also just announced their biggest headline show for February 2027, and after seeing this performance, I’ll certainly be trying to grab a ticket.
As the lights dimmed for the third time, it was finally time for the highly anticipated 5 Seconds of Summer to set the stage ablaze. As the four members emerged from the limo, they launched straight into lead single NOT OK. Confetti instantly rained down and you couldn’t help but get to your feet and dance. Although there seemed to be some slight sound issues at the beginning, the eruption of noise from the audience more than made up for it.
The band’s setlist celebrated a mix old and new songs. Classics such as No Shame, English Love Affair and More filled the arena with their recognisable pop-rock sound. Including these in the setlist long after their release continues to create a strong sense of nostalgia and will always remain fan favourites. However, the four-piece never disappoint when it comes to putting on a show. Tracks like Telephone Busy, No.1 Obsession and istillfeelthesame from their latest album helped showcase their ability to keep the energy alive from the first note to the final bow. I’ve always admired 5 Seconds of Summer for their impeccable lyricism, and this new synth-pop rock direction is only elevated further in a live setting.
Taking a brief pause to address the audience, they presented a PowerPoint (yes, complete with animated slides!) outlining what the evening would entail. They also took a moment to reference things unique to Birmingham, thanking the crowd for Cadbury chocolate and joking about getting lost in the Balti Triangle. Their playful, light-hearted approach and ability to have fun on stage make each show feel unique, creating plenty of funny and memorable moments.
As the performance continued, each member took a moment to showcase their solo work, which was a welcomed surprise. Each of them brought something different: Luke blew the roof off with his powerful vocals, Ashton got everyone moving with his drumming, Calum had the crowd deep in their feelings, and Michael had fans echoing the lyrics straight back at him.
Before the show ended, the band threw a curveball at the crowd by starting their encore from the back of the arena. Slowly walking through the audience to the echoing intro of Everyone’s A Star, it created that untouchable boyband atmosphere and was a brilliant surprise for fans at the back. Wrapping up with the much-loved Youngblood, they took a final bow before disappearing off stage.
Overall, 5 Seconds of Summer are simply incapable of putting on a bad show. With their incredible discography, likeable and humorous personalities, and ability to keep you captivated from start to finish, they will leave you craving for another bite of the apple.
Photography Copyright 2026 © Chloe Morris/ADRENALINE Magazine, except 5SOS images – Copyright reserved to its rightful owners as credited within the article.
Text Copyright 2026 © Chloe Morris/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Kyle Horne 
Alisha Lawton