The Weeknd continues to be a world-class centrepiece in the entertainment industry following his role in HBO series The Idol. The singer’s most recent celebrated albums like Dawn FM and After Hours reflect on escapism and identity through themes like heartbreak, overindulgence, regret and acceptance. The Weeknd’s distinct dark-pop sound brings these themes to life through his unique ability to resonate with millions of fans of all ages around the world. The universal allure and mystery of The Weeknd was on full show at The London Stadium on Friday 7 July.
The Weeknd took the audience to a transcendent sonic realm, with the crowd staying unified in high energy from the start of the show till the end. The concert atmosphere was curated to match the artist’s multifaceted persona, with the stage’s twilight cityscape set reminiscent of a dusky transition scene from an ‘80s mob movie. Hits like Crew Love brought the nostalgic crowd into a pure state of euphoria and the magic didn’t stop there. The Weeknd’s record perfect vocals matched the cinematic, dreamy and dark production throughout the show with slightly cultic choreography that added to the show’s theatrics.
The Weeknd being no stranger to range, was able to capture the mood of all of his genres from pop songs like Blinding Lights and I Feel It Coming to R&B hits like After Hours and Popular. He transported fans into a tempting serenade that could not be resisted with Less Than Zero, a song that reflects on the artist’s romantic life. Lastly, The Weeknd took the audience “to outer space” with his final song Moth To A Flame, a perfect ending with the set brightly illuminated by a hyper-realistic moon that took viewers straight into space and awe. The After Hours Till Dawn tour is not one to miss with electric opening acts like Mike Dean and Kaytranada ushering a lively crowd into one of the top live shows of the year.
photography. Samir Hussein
words. Esosa Aiworo
