The Prospect Building, Bristol, 13th July 2025
The day after Bristol got together to celebrate Pride, over 1300 people still got up in the heat to congregate at the Prospect Building for the much-anticipated Yungblud intimate show.
The queue of fans soon packs itself into the swelteringly hot venue, patiently waiting for the show to start. At 8 PM on the dot, Doncaster-based Dominic Harrison, aka Yungblud, and his band, all dressed in their signature smart black outfits, step onto the stage alongside deafening fans’ cheers. Even though the temperature in the venue had now reached over 36 degrees, Harrison steps onto the stage with a cheeky grin and immediately opens with the powerful ‘Hello, Heaven, Hello’.
The whole band is focused, the sound in the venue is incredible, and Harrison seems to be singing with the power and intensity of someone performing their final show before retiring. His incredible stage presence, energy and vocals leave fans in a trance within seconds. The band takes us through the whopping 9 minutes of cinematic music with ease and precision, captivating everyone as if it were a 2-minute jingle.
After a long, powerful cheer from the crowd, Harrison takes a quick minute to express his excitement over being in Bristol. Knowing that he had to cancel the two previous shows of the tour because of medical issues, you can’t help but smile at his genuine and palpable passion for being on stage in front of his adoring fans. The band then go into their heartfelt rendition of ‘Idols, Pt 1’, offering the crowd a moment of vulnerability that perfectly balances the loud-and-proud power ballad just gone. Harrison plays acoustic guitar and trades the jittery dancing for a moment of stillness and reflection, which further allows the crowd to connect with him, as if he’s talking to them directly. This connection is deeply felt by the fans, with over half of the front row crying by the start of the song. At the end of the song, Harrison takes a moment to thank the fans for being there with him, reminding them that this is a space where they belong, that he is here for them, and that they are the reason he can pursue his dream. Considering how famous Harrison is by now, this statement could easily feel stale and rehearsed, but it’s not the case. It feels poignant, heartfelt, and honest. Everyone in the crowd seems connected in that moment, and Harrison smiles, contemplating the legacy he has built and what the four years of hard work leading up to the album’s release have amounted to.
After the emotional thank yous, the band swiftly remind the audience what they came here for, by starting their swagger-injected rock anthem, ‘Lovesick Lullaby’. The band and Harrison sound remarkably close to the record, which is a testament to how well-written and intentional this entire album is. It’s real music, played by real people, for real people, and you can really feel it in the room.
The crowd is jumping, seemingly forgetting about the heat for a few minutes. Harrison is running across the stage, shaking his microphone around, playfully interacting with the crowd and singing with them with ease and glee. The song finishes seemingly as quickly as it started. After another poignant speech dedicated to his fans, the band take a break from their powerful rock-and-roll energy to make space for the next song, the sorrowful ‘Zombie’. Harrison’s vocal performance during this song is mindblowing. The sheer power and theatrical delivery he displays make you question how it’s even possible that he had to cancel his two previous shows to rest his voice. Perhaps the most impactful moment of the entire show happens during the second chorus of the song, where Harrison points his microphone towards the audience, letting the fans carry the song for him. Every single mouth in the audience shouts the sorrowful chorus in unison, making the 1300 capacity venue sound like a stadium. After an emotional cheer from the crowd, and another few minutes taken to thank the fans from the bottom of his heart, Harrison brings the energy in the room back up with the passionate and raw ‘Fire’.
Everybody is quickly woken up from the mournful previous song, thrust into the powerful ’70s energy of ‘Fire’. The band, although they were all sitting, sounded tight and driven, giving Harrison the space to deliver the best vocal performance of the show so far. His powerful stance, high-pitched soaring screams, and sexy strut are reminiscent of his many rock-and-roll predecessors, with a modern and somewhat emo twist. Although it may feel slightly unoriginal, his performance is so full of confidence and genuineness that you cannot help but smile, going on the song’s journey with him.
Things are then once again slowed down, with the start of another familiar ballad, ‘Change’. The song feels like something you would’ve heard your parents play on the radio in the ’80s. It’s dramatic and loud, but with a soft and vulnerable edge. The audience is hanging on to every word, singing proudly, with each person putting their own meaning behind the lyrics, creating a powerful shared moment. With each song that goes by, Harrison’s vocals seem to get more dramatic and powerful, leaving the audience in awe after every powerful high note.
Finally, the band start their last song of the short yet jam-packed set, ‘Ghosts’. The crowd screams louder than they ever seem to have, putting the final reminder of their energy into letting their idol know that they are here for him. The song’s powerful melodies and grandiose instrumental outro have the audience in a trance for the whole 6 minutes. Harrison’s emotional vulnerability reaches its peak and is channelled through a final, roof-tearing vocal performance that leaves everyone in awe. The band hits the final chord, and Harrison thanks the crowd, letting them know that they will take a moment to go outside and meet everyone after the show finishes.
Although the show only lasts 30 minutes, with no opening act, the crowd exit the venue in absolute glee, feeling like they got to connect with their idol in a way that is rare and mostly out of reach in today’s musical landscape. Getting to see this stadium-worthy artist in such an intimate setting is an experience that the fans likely won’t forget anytime soon.
Words and image: Louis-Rene Veillon
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