Olly Murs at the Echo arena Liverpool
Travel
We travelled into town by car , we didn’t really hit traffic until we hit the strand. It was just a little slow moving as people turned into the Albert Dock and the car park at Liverpool One.
Parking
We parked at the Arena car park , we got there a little after 19:20 and had to park on level 5. We parked near the exit door so it was very easy to get straight into the lift. The lifts are really big so my wheelchair fitted in with no problems. The buttons were really easy to reach and a decent size too.
The cost of the car park was £6 . In Liverpool City centre that is a bargain, especially as using a wheelchair dictates where we park . We need to be near .
Arena staff
Our seats were Riverside which is at the back of the Arena facing the Mersey , unfortunately for us that meant a walk all the way to the back. Didn’t fancy that so the first assistant I saw I enquired if their was a disabled entrance, she just let us in the first door which meant we kept warm . Once we got to our row (row 11) I was asked if I needed help finding our seats . We arrived when the support act was on so the arena was dark. The disabled seats we had were on the same level we came in on . We were shown to our space , literally just a numbered space. This meant we had to ask for a chair for my daughter . We had a clear view of the stage . I can’t say anything about any of the merchandise staff or refreshments stands as my daughter used them alone . She didn’t report any issues . Just a big smile on her face with a tour tshirt coming out of a bag and straight on !
Disabled facilities
On the whole the arena was a positive experience. The only issues we had was the work happening from the car park to the arena , the place you need to walk through has been reduced so any build up of people ,makes it difficult to negotiate a wheelchair.
Once in the arena after being shown to our seats by a really friendly staff we had very little direct interaction with any other staff. As you go around the arena the walkway isn’t exactly huge so when you have a refreshment stand or merchandise stand , add to that the queueing people . Well you get that it makes it a little difficult to negotiate. Once the concert had finished the queue for the bathroom was huge , so I can’t comment on that .
The staff were all on a whole very friendly and happy to assist . The only criticism I can give and this will have a lot to do with our seats , is we had lots of staff around us all the time . I got the impression they were watching someone specific, it’s just very off putting trying to relax and enjoy yourself when you constantly have security or arena staff behind you . As I say this will be a lot to do with our seats . Once you entered the arena door through the small corridor is where we sat. Obviously this is where staff are constantly coming in and out and security are patrolling for our safety , I do get that . It just made me anxious that’s all .
What we bought
The staff on the merchandise stands are very happy and enthusiastic, which is great to see . We purchased a tour t shirt which was £20 , yes this is a lot of money for a T shirt but this was our first night out together and she does do everything for me . So yes I caved , she got an autographed photo too a4 size and reproduced think it was £5 can’t be sure .
We also purchased a large bottle of Pepsi max which cost £2 . Again over inflated prices but this sort of treat for us is very rare . This was the first night out I have had in 4 years .
Olly Murs
This was the first time I had been out in such a long time and I am so glad I made the effort . Yes I am really suffering for it today . The pain is off the chart . Not from drinking , I take such a lot of very strong medication that it would be a very silly thing to do.
Ok Olly. Like thousands of others we fell in love with Olly on his very first X Factor audition, his charisma just shone through and we shouted at the TV a lot when he didn’t win.
His warm up act was fantastic . Ella Eyre , I hope I have spelt that correctly .
Olly burst onto the stage and his energy was electric . His interactions with the crowd drew you in further in loving this cheeky Essex boy . The stage was set up with screens showing graphics that changed through the show and showed Olly to give people a better view .
He performed non stop and never once let the energy drop.
Olly has a fantastic team and you can see they have a very strong bond , which came across in the whole performance. Every single member of his band and backing singers brought their A game to Liverpool. Olly has 2 male backing singers and every time I have seen them perform on TV , I am just mesmerised . I love them , the look , the moves , amazing vocals , their timing . You can really see just how polished the whole show is as Olly was able to pick up a routine or move and pick it up to be in exactly the right place , down to the beat , left have , right hand they have it on Point.
Olly spoke to the crowd like a friend , you can see and hear just how much he appreciates what he has and has not for one moment , forgot how he got to be standing on that stage .
Olly moved me talking about his family , he had a photo montage on the big screen that included his nephew . Adorable. He then asked his camera man to show his ear piece to the audience, his little nephew was on them . Sweet touch . Before singing Dear Darling , Olly talked about how things have changed and led to him singing the song in a different way , he talked openly about the loss of his Nan recently and how much it has affected him and the whole family . You really got to see that Olly holds no airs or graces , his family , his friends and the whole team really do mean so much to him.
To me Olly just comes across as the most genuine , honest , cheeky chappy. Bringing John Bishop on stage with him reinforces just how strong the bonds he makes go .
He mentioned the X Factor and I think that is a great move for the show . For the first time in forever , I am looking forward to the start of X Factor and seeing Mr Murs on our TV every week . Woo hoo
If I was scoring out of 10 , I would give 11 . His songs are catchy and the way he performs he really does give his all to the show. Next time he tours I will make sure me and my baby girl have another night out . He was just amazing .
Set list
In all honest I can not remember the whole set list .
The highlight for me was Dear Darling, you can really hear the emotion in his voice . You can tell that song and the lyrics to this day still hurt . The song can be interpreted differently but to me I will always think of it as a song for a lost love .
He done a medley of his earlier songs around a piano with all of his backing singer around him . He really shows he has got vocal range .
His version of Uptown Funk really got an already pumped up crowd really ready for a Saturday night .
John Bishop coming on in a small boys T shirt singing Troublemaker was comedy gold . I love the relationship they have . They really do just bounce off each other .
I can’t really pick a favourite , I will say this … I live my life bedbound with an illness which has taken my independence, my life is unrecognisable to the life I used to live . Yet to see my beautiful angel dancing and singing along to her absolute favourite artist , every part of my body that has caused me pain today , the brain fog , it has been worth it . My daughter sacrificed her teenage years to care for me , I would walk to the end of the earth for her .
Thankyou Olly for a truly unforgettable night x x