At The O2 Arena, 5 Seconds of Summer delivered more than a concert, shaping a space that felt immersive, expansive, and constantly alive. It carried the weight of their 15 year journey, while still feeling like something in motion.
They opened with a cinematic visual of the band in a limousine projected beneath Ashton Irwin’s drum kit, before rising to the stage and launching straight into ‘Not Okay.’ As the chorus hit, star shaped confetti burst into the air, immediately shifting the arena into something electric. From that moment, it was clear this would not settle into anything predictable.
The atmosphere felt almost overwhelming, in the best way. The lighting flickered between harsh strobes and bright flashes of colour, creating a constant sense of movement that never quite let the audience relax. It wasn’t just loud, but immersive and the bass seemed to travel through the floor, while the crowd’s reaction blurred into the music itself. At times, it felt less like watching a performance and more like being inside it, caught in something shared and uncontrollable.
What stood out early on was how seamlessly the band blended performance with personality. Between songs, skits and segments named ‘Act I’ and ‘Act II,’ etc giving everything a sense of progression about their journey as a band. This broke up the set but never slowed it down and the structure of the night made it feel even more immersive. They were genuinely funny, and the crowd did not just watch, they also joined in. One of the most memorable moments came during a segment about when they “won” a Best Boyband award and invited a fan on stage to present it. The band leaned fully into the bit, jumping around in exaggerated excitement, turning a simple interaction into something chaotic, joyful and something that fan would never forget. This ended up being the perfect Segway into the song ‘Boyband’ which is on their newest album.
The atmosphere kept evolving. Older tracks like ‘English Love Affair’ triggered an instant, collective response, voices filling the space with something nostalgic and loud. Newer songs from EVERYONE’S A STAR introduced a different kind of energy, equally powerful, showing how their audience has expanded rather than shifted. Throughout it all, confetti drifted constantly, turning the air into something celebratory and slightly surreal.
There was also a sense of anticipation that never fully disappeared, even between songs. Each pause felt charged, as though something unexpected could happen at any moment, and that unpredictability became part of the atmosphere itself. Rather than settling, the energy kept building, creating a feeling that the night was always on the edge of becoming something bigger. What stood out most was the balance between scale and closeness. The production felt huge and everything was carefully curated, not just to move from song to song, but to build an experience that held together from beginning to end.
There were fans who have followed 5SOS for over 15 years, standing alongside those who discovered them more recently. Instead of feeling divided, the audience felt united. By the end, the line between performance and experience had completely disappeared. It did not feel like watching a band on stage. It felt like being inside their world, surrounded by fans past and present, all caught in the same moment together.
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Words & Photography: Chloe Redman