Aurora at OVO Wembley Arena Review

“Somewhere, up there,” is the seat instruction from a steward with little to do but less advice to give. You get there eventually, the steep steps and alphabet ending in W for the outdated seats will keep you in place for what is likely one of the best shows the arena will see for some time. Aurora’s devout and growing fanbase is deserved after the colossal, spirited work heard on What Happened to the Heart?. This is the makings of a sensation, and Aurora proves as much in an outstanding show where the finer detail of her stage design does not overwhelm one of the most unique voices in music. Not just her writing, but her vocal range and the charming ability she has, which so few do, to make a cold arena feel like a home. In her only UK arena show this year, Aurora proves there is an unfulfilled, long-lasting demand for her music.  

On a minimalist stage decorated only with black uniforms for the backing singers, “fat bastard” maggots, and a screen displaying everything from the opening of Dune to a dancing, howling Aurora, there is much to love. Deep dives into the early years of the discography are not done just out of fanfare but because the strength of the message, the power of the words at hand, are still relevant. Between some hilarious and charming chats with the crowd, from the bugs on stage to the childhood influences on one song or another, is a phenomenal performer who leaves plenty of room for the lyrical and instrumental effectiveness. At a time when a gig must be both a stimulating social experience and a profile of an artist as a person and provocateur, Aurora transcends expectation. It is one of the finest live experiences you can see, nothing less. 

Part of that comes from the thrill of being in the presence of an artist with such phenomenal vocal ability. Classics like Cure for Me and Giving in to the Love are thrills because of how exciting they remain after the release of The Gods We Can Touch, while contemporary material like A Soul With No King warms the crowd. Starvation remains the true highlight, a perfect overlap of the natural world, those desires to be in touch with the beauty surrounding us, and the freedom of explosive dance thrills. Aurora maintains a pure heart with an honest stage presence. These are songs of self-love and respect for one another, performed to those who take Aurora and her message into their lives. They reciprocate the love with love, and that breeds such a delightful environment for both artist and audience.  

Communal spirit is the very core of these performances, the sincerity and joy which comes from the act of creating. OVO Wembley Arena takes to Aurora with the same joy that the artist on stage takes to her audience. Little anecdotes of sweetness, performances of such volatility. This is the magnificent blur Aurora brings on her albums, the studio material translates to the stage with such strength. Aurora is as genuine as it gets for live performance. The hope of creating a safe space for all those in attendance is admirable, and such a feeling of friendship, of connection with the beautiful, natural world, is staggering. Not just is it a wonderful experience to be in, but it is an extraordinary, vividly realised and well-performed showcase. Not a step wrong, except for those accidental heels to the alarming number of maggots which line the OVO Wembley Arena stage.