HARRY STYLES - LOVE ON TOUR

Tuesday

Collective Effervescence - a feeling of belonging and assimilation produced by collective ritual action (a term coined by Emile Durkheim).

This describes how I felt at Love On Tour when I was there because there were so many special moments that 70,000 people at Wembley Stadium were all experiencing together. Being in a room with that many people who are feeling joy at the same time over the same thing is really something magical.


We went to see Harry at Wembley on Night 2 (14th June) and were in the front standing section and the three of us who went collectively decided we weren't going to queue for ages and try to get to the front because it was 30 degrees and way too hot to be pressed up against other people. So, we were near the back of front standing, in the middle, and still managed to have an amazing view, while also having space to keep cool and dance.



We arrived just before the support act Wet Leg came on. I knew two of their songs and they were pretty good, but I was mainly interested in the main event - Harry.


I also have to mention the outfits because there were so many amazing ones and the majority of Harry fans came to SLAY. Props to them because it was too hot for me to wear my original outfit so I ended up wearing a top and shorts but there were still lots of cowboy hats, cowboy boots, feather boas, and leather trousers even in the 30-degree heat.


Harry came on at around 8:30pm and started off with Daydreaming (full setlist to follow). Because we were so close and had such a good view it was even more surreal.


To our excitement as One Direction fans back in the day, Harry played not one, but two One Direction songs - Stockholm Syndrome, and their debut, What Makes You Beautiful.


It was the most fun concert I've been to, there was a gender reveal (it's a girl!) many conga lines, and my personal highlight was the incredible firework display during Sign of the Times.


I feel like being standing meant that we were more part of the magic and I'm so glad we got front standing.


The Setlist

1. Daydreaming

2. Golden

3. Adore You

4. Keep Driving 

5. Stockholm Syndrome

6. She

7. Matilda

8. Love of my life (bonus song)

9. Satellite

10. Late Night Talking

11. Cinema

12. Music for a Sushi Restaurant

13. Treat People with Kindness

14. What Makes You Beautiful

15. Grapejuice

16. Watermelon Sugar

17. Fine Line

18. Sign of the Times

19. Kiwi

20. As It Was


Overall, it is one of the best concerts I have been to (if not the best) up there with Beyonce who I saw in the same month?! They were both so different but amazing. I understand why the tour is called Love On Tour because while I was there and after leaving my heart just felt so full.

Related: Beyonce - The Renaissance Tour

Harry was right when he said his shows are like group therapy. If £115 is the price I have to pay for a great view, an amazing show with a bit of therapy thrown in there then that is money well spent!


Who's the best person you've seen live?

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BEYONCE - THE RENAISSANCE TOUR

Friday

Everybody say "hey Mrs Carter!"


I was lucky enough to secure tickets to Beyonce's Renaissance Tour in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and when I tell you I ugly cried ...


Our seats were actually in the very back row in our section. We were in section 525 which had a side view of the stage and row 29, which was the furthest row there was. Because we had a side view, it meant that we were closer to the stage than those who were straight on.


I quite enjoy getting seated tickets at concerts because you can turn up without queuing and I just find it all round more comfortable. Doors opened at 5pm but we knew that Beyonce wasn't going to start performing until after 7:30pm so we arrived at 6:45pm which gave us time for a toilet and drink break before finding our seats.



The Show


Beyonce came up onto the stage from below at around 7:50pm and I have to admit I may have shed a tear or two when she opened with Dangerously in Love.

The rest of her set list at night 4 of the London shows is later on in the article. There were many clips of other songs in the intermissions. 

The whole show lasted for about 2 hours and 45 minutes and Beyonce managed to fit so many iconic songs in that time, with amazing dancing and visuals.

I found myself being shook the whole time with the props and visuals on the stage for most of the show. There were robot arms on stage making a faux mirror around her while she was singing. I don't know how they worked but they were SERVING.

Similarly, she came out on a tank at one point and of course finished the show by flying out on a glittery disco horse. Why wouldn't you? It was so over the top in the best way.

When I talk about the Renaissance tour, I have to mention the outfits. There was an outfit change every 4-5 songs and they were all insane. She started off the show with some slower songs in a long black dress, then when she got to the more upbeat songs she changed her outfits to match, as did the dancers.

When My Power started playing, Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy came out and danced with her and she was amazing! (I did let out another couple of tears at this point). I couldn't believe that Blue is only 11 she was so professional. 

Everything was just 10/10 and I was so so grateful to be able to see Beyonce live. It was the best concert I have been to and if anyone needs me I will just be watching all the videos I took over and over again.


The Setlist 


1. Dangerously in Love
2. Flaws and All
3. 1+1
4. I Care
5. River Deep Mountain High (Tina Turner)
6. I'M THAT GIRL
7. COZY
8. ALIEN SUPERSTAR (remixed with Sweet Dreams)
9. Lift Off
10. 7/11
11. CUFF IT
12. ENERGY
13. BREAK MY SOUL
14. Formation
15. Diva
16. Run the World (Girls)
17. MY POWER
18. Alright (Kendrick Lamar)
19. BLACK PARADE
20. Savage Remix
21. Partition
22. CHURCH GIRL
23. Get Me Bodied
24. Before I Let Go
25. Rather Die Young
26. Love on Top
27. Crazy in Love
28. Green Light
29. Virgo's Groove
30. MOVE
31. HEATED
32. ALREADY
33. AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM
34. PURE/HONEY (with Blow in the mix)
35. SUMMER RENAISSANCE
Who was the best musician you've seen live?
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A WEEK IN CROATIA

Wednesday

I think Split and Hvar in Croatia are two of my new favourite places. I feel like I say this every time I get back from travelling somewhere but it's happened yet again! I'm writing this with severe holiday blues.


I recently went on a week-long holiday to Split in Croatia with five of my friends and we had such an amazing time. We stayed in an Airbnb villa a short taxi ride away from Split with a pool.


We flew from Gatwick to Split and the flight was only around two and a half hours which went really quickly.



What we got up to


Instead of writing the details day by day like I usually do, I thought I'd just write the highlights of what we got up to under one heading and food under another. Spoiler alert: the food was so amazing it deserves its own spot in this post.


Exploring Split



So aside from chilling by the pool in the villa, our first activity was exploring the town of Split. Split is a very historical place with beauty around each corner. Cars and taxis can only reach certain areas of Split, because when you go into the city centre, it is walking only which is one of the things that made it so unique. 

The centre of Split is a bit like a maze and I would still find it difficult to find my way around without maps even after staying there for a week.

For me, our holiday was a perfect mix of everything because we stayed in a villa with a pool, but you could actually travel to Split as a city break as well. It has great nightlife and lots of amazing restaurants.

Krka National Park



Before travelling to Split, we had pre-booked a trip to Krka National Park which is about 1 hour - 1:30 hours drive away. The park is known for its waterfalls and it was like nothing I'd ever seen before. I'd definitely recommend visiting. There was a lot of walking up and down steep hills which I wasn't totally aware of before the trip so wear comfy shoes and pack lots of water!

On our trip, we got to visit the waterfalls, go to a nearby town for a dip in the lakes and finish off the day with wine tasting at a local, family-run winery. All of this cost just short of £35 which I think was definitely worth it.


Unfortunately, the usual part of Krka that you go to on the tour was closed due to flooding so we had to go to another part of the park. But it was still just as beautiful and didn't ruin the trip at all.

Hvar for the day




Hvar is an island about 1 hour away from Split by boat. For a return ferry, it was a little expensive - around the £40-£45 mark, but it was so worth it.

I feel like Hvar is quite a luxury place. One, because they go there on Made in Chelsea, and two, because there are lots of exclusive beach clubs where you have to pay for entry. You could easily spend a lot here but there are still lots of bars and restaurants that are a similar price to Split and there are areas of the beach where it is free to go and sit.

Hvar is one of the most stunning places I've ever been to and I would 100% recommend visiting there if you travel to Split. You can, of course, stay in Hvar too but it would cost you a pretty penny. Also, I felt like there was less to do there than in Split.

Boat Party Split



Around Split, there were lots of people selling tickets to boat parties and in principle, it sounded like a lot of fun so we went. It cost around 40 euros and you are pretty much out all day. The ticket also gets you free entry to a club later on.

Now I did have fun, but the weather turned really bad while we were on the boat and it got quite choppy which wasn't as enjoyable. Especially with drunk people slipping around and drinks flying everywhere. I never thought I got seasick until going on this boat.

I'm sure it's usually fine when the weather is good but I'd recommend checking the weather and booking it for a sunny calm day. Other than that, it was quite fun and we made friends with other people who had travelled to Split. This is probably the activity I'd recommend the least but if it's your thing and a clear day, you will probably enjoy it.

Talent Show


One good thing about staying in a villa with friends is that you can be as weird as you want because it's just you. In light of that, we decided to do a talent show one night before dinner which went down a treat. If you are planning on going away to a villa with friends or family I'd definitely recommend organising one, I've never laughed so much.

My talent was a roast and we had a good range of others like the recorder and a magic mike number.

The Food


Now for the bit you've been waiting for ... I didn't realise that Split was going to be such a foodie destination but every meal we had was 10/10. Usually, when you go away you get at least one kind of below-average meal but each meal we had was stunning, it was just so easy to find amazing restaurants.

Here are some of the amazing meals I had and where to find them




... but not your ordinary burger and chips. I don't know how they did it but it was just so elevated and the location was amazing. The owner was very chatty and enthusiastic about the restaurant and he told us about the history of the building. It's mainly Mexican food and I'm fussy so of course, I ordered the burger but we all equally enjoyed our meals. The burger cost me 15 euros.

The Second Best Sandwich of my Life


The first best sandwich I've had was in Milan, but this proscuitto, mozzarella and tomato masterpiece was a close second. Annoyingly, I can't remember the name of the place where we got it but it was along the front of the harbour where the palm trees are and it cost around 10 euros. Go along that row and look for a place that does both pizza slices and sandwiches. Perfect for lunch.




Cuttlefish Risotto is something I saw on quite a few menus while we were in Split so it must be a pretty popular dish and the one I had at this restaurant was stunning. I was a little put off at first by the ink making it black but it was so delicious.

The restaurant is really cute too, you go through a little cove to get to it (great for pictures if you are a little early to dinner). They also had lots of other nice dishes on the menu. I'd recommend it here if you want food that you can't really get anywhere else.



I am a big pizza lover and this was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Perfect Italian base and the fact that we were on a rooftop just made the whole thing even more special. They also had blankets for if it was cold. Comfort food at its finest.

Fritto Misto in Hvar


Once again I can't remember the name of the restaurant (I'm a terrible blogger when I go on holiday and I was too hungry to think when I arrived here) but it was on the main square by the ferry port in Hvar. We were enticed in by being offered 15% discount because we were in a group, RESULT!

Due to the area we were eating in, this could have easily been a tourist trap but we ended up having a lovely meal and we were given free Limoncello shots and a free bottle of wine to share. Also, I loved my squid and prawns. All of the chips I had in Croatia were unreal too, they just know how to do dining over there.



Once again, another amazing dish in Split. By this point, I was comfortable knowing that everything I had was going to be delicious and my proscuitto gnocchi was no exception.






I would come to this restaurant just for the views, honestly someone could propose there it was so nice, especially if you go when the sun is setting. The food being stunning was just a plus. It was right on the seafront and you can watch boats going by.

Maddie and I couldn't decide whether to get the Adriatic steak dish or the monkfish so we had half of each which was the best decision ever. We also got complimentary bread before our meal and we Brits love free stuff.

It was the perfect restaurant for our final night and because I hadn't actually spent all my euros (don't know how) I got a pudding - Snickers Bomb, which was amazing but so so sweet.

Would I recommend travelling to Croatia?


Yes yes yes! I can only comment on Split, Hvar and Krka and I would definitely recommend visiting all three. As soon as I left I wanted to go back and I don't get that with every place that I go to (albeit most). It's also made me want to explore more of Croatia like Dubrovnik and Zadar. 

We all had the best time and it was amazing to go away with my friends and just have so much fun together.
Have you ever been to Croatia?
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THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL REVIEW

Thursday

A few weeks ago my friend Ellie and I went to watch The Spongebob Musical at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.


We honestly had such a good time, so I must tell you about it. I grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants and have always enjoyed it since. Yes, 24-year-olds can still enjoy Spongebob into adulthood.


I saw The Spongebob Musical being advertised on Instagram and it was quite a reasonable price so getting tickets was a no-brainer.


It was made even more exciting because Divina De Campo, a drag queen who featured on RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 1, played Plankton. Everyone who knows me knows about my obsession with Drag Race. 


Also, the person who played Plankton's wife, Karen, was Hannah Lowther. Hannah is a TikToker I have followed since she was working in Tesco during the pandemic when theatre shows weren't on, so it was great to see her perform live as Karen.

Related: 9 to 5 The Musical Review

The show


The spongebob musical mayflower southampton

Before the show, we weren't too sure what to expect. Spongebob is a family show so we weren't sure whether it was going to be mainly aimed at children, but it definitely exceeded expectations and had something for everyone to enjoy.

The plot of the show was that there was going to be a volcanic eruption that was going to wipe out Bikini Bottom and the citizens of Bikini Bottom had to work together to stop that from happening.

Spongebob and Sandy set out to save the day, while Plankton was conspiring an evil plan. Alongside that, the main characters all had individual musical numbers.

The singing and dancing were 10/10 but our favourite thing about the show is that it was SO funny and cleverly so.

We were so impressed by the attention to detail which made the show that much better and gave it a special edge. Things like someone playing the maracas while Mr. Krabs walked side to side, and Squidward having another set of legs sewn onto the back of his.

The show was just so much fun that I think people would have no choice but to enjoy it. Before going to watch Spongebob, I had a lot of people laughing about it because they were saying it was for children. It's funny because who's the one who had a great Saturday and saw what was probably one of my favourite shows? Me!

Spongebob decorations at the mayflower theatre

If you get a chance to watch The Spongebob Musical I'd definitely recommend it. Whether you are planning to go as a family, or not, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
What's your favourite musical?
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