Sugababes at Siren Presents

Posted on: 2024-08-05

Our rating:

There was a festival-type feel around the place

As the sun warmed the cobbles at Bristol’s impressive amphitheatre, the audience grew in number and anticipation as they waited for the Sugababes: (OG lineup).  The food and drink options were plentiful, and the queues were what you’d expect.  The woodfired pizza was a real hit with my gang.

 

There was a festival-type feel around the place.

 

As they alluded to on stage, the three original ‘babes became a group in their tweens / early teens.  They hit our airwaves in 2000 – 2001 and through the following decade, created their own style of pop music against a backdrop of girl power. The band went through a period of change, with Heidi, Amelie and Jade replacing all three of the founding members. The three got back together and produced music for several years before re-owning the Sugababes name in 2019.

The support acts were good, they added to the good vibes.  However, it was when Mutya, Siobhan and Keisha took to the stage that the crowd really came to life. With six number-one singles in the UK (the only British girl group to boast more is the Spice Girls) the set list promised to be a crowd-pleaser. The girls didn’t disappoint.

 

Opening with a cover of Adina Howard’s Freak Like Me which works so well with the great Gary Numan tune Are ‘Friends’ Electric; the girls oozed ‘cool’.  Their no-frills approach to their live performances is a stark contrast to those female superstars boasting a plethora of outfit changes. The girls rocked this more laid-back attitude and belted out their opening tune.

 

They followed on with Red Dress, an up-tempo pop tune and certainly a popular choice with the Bristol fans. The audience was dancing and clearly enjoying the show.  Next up was my personal fave – Hole In The Head.  This is an anger-fueled break-up track made for dancing to and not grieving to. So that, is just what I did.

The slower tunes followed – with Ugly and Too Lost in You (think of the work party scene from Love Actually when Alan Rickman dances with Mia and poor Emma Thompson is watching)

 

Around halfway through and the Sugababes belted out the pop classic ‘Flowers’ which was originally a hit for Sweet Female Attitude back in 2001 but stands the test of time well and will always fill a dance floor. Definitely a highlight of the gig until the ante was upped for their encore.

 

With three of their number-one hits played back to back to finish the night off, the girls left us on a high.  Push The Button, Round Round and About You Now wrapped up a great night in a great city.  And just in case you’re interested in cover versions – the popular Irish rock/pop band The Saw Doctors do a cracking rendition of this last track...

 

 

Super venue (with a little help from the weather)? yes.

 

Girl power grown up and with a bit of edginess? yes.

 

Worth the ticket price? definitely.

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Article by:

Kate O'Malley

Kate O’Malley is Bristol-based Recruitment Manager and Irish Dance teacher who enjoys writing about live music and interesting eateries. Hailing from Manchester, Kate set up home in Bristol over 20 years ago and fell in love with this city, despite its lack of top flight football. She has two teenage boys and a lab/springer cross. You can find more about her dance school here www.omalleyirishdance.co.uk.