ZARA LARSSON BRINGS ‘VENUS’ TOUR TO GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY

★★★★★ (5/5)

ZARA LARSSON LIVE IN GLASGOW
PHOTOCREDIT: ROSS WARDROP

A few days after Valentine’s Day, Zara Larsson was feeling the love in Glasgow as she took to the city’s O2 Academy stage on Saturday, in the second show of her ‘VENUS’ tour, named after her recently released album.

The atmosphere was electric as fans eagerly gathered for an evening filled with the infectious energy from the Swedish-born pop star. The venue buzzed with anticipation, and the air was charged with excitement for a night featuring both new tracks from her latest album and timeless hits like ‘Symphony’ and ‘Never Forget You’.

Supporting Larsson was fellow Swede, Yaeger, who brought an energetic electropop set to open the evening - her Glasgow debut, showcasing her impressive stage presence in front of a filling crowd. She finished her support with love-focused bop, ‘Lupins in Blue’ - receiving a strong support from the audience as she concluded.

As the lights dimmed once more and the majestic stage setup came to life, Zara Larsson emerged to a wave of excitement. The performance kicked off with tracks from her 'VENUS' album, setting the tone for a high-energy set that would captivate the audience throughout the night. The setlist featured a perfect blend of new releases and fan-favourite classics, creating a musical journey through the 26-year-old’s stellar career so far.

Zara's stage presence was captivating, and her vocals as powerful as ever, showcasing her versatility as a performer - something Glasgow hasn’t seen since her last venture to the O2 Academy in 2017. The crowd enthusiastically joined in, singing along to every song - with Symphony proving to be a highlight, and everyone in the venue contributing to the warm atmosphere.

The effectiveness and impressiveness of the grand stage production complemented the mood of each song, creating a visually engaging experience within a sold-out O2 Academy. The set reached its peak with the crowd-pleasers during the encore, with ‘On My Love’ with David Guetta and ‘Lush Life’ - two of Larsson’s biggest hits - bringing the roof down. She finished with a fast-paced and energetic rendition of her latest international chart-topper, ‘Can’t Tame Her’, the lead track of ‘VENUS’.

From the first to final notes, Zara Larsson's performance at the O2 Academy Glasgow was a testament to her charisma, stage presence, and musical talents - reminding the city of her strong and diverse discography with her first show in 7 years. The ongoing 'VENUS' tour and album continues to solidify her status as a pop sensation - perhaps one of the biggest in the past decade.