Night 3:
James Arthur
Venus Grrrls
Wednesday 26th March: James Arthur paid tribute to a friend he lost to cancer as he headlined Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday.
The superstar performed hits including ‘Say You Won’t Let Me Know’ and ‘Rewrite The Stars’ to an audience of adoring fans.
It was also a deeply personal night for singer GK of special guests Venus Grrrls, who herself was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust when she received treatment.
This year’s series of concerts runs from March 24-30, including The Who; The Corrs; a night of comedy hosted by Micky Flanagan; a special night by Erased Tapes featuring Penguin Cafe; and Frank Carter and Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols.
For James Arthur, the screams were deafening before he launched into ‘Bitter Sweet Love’, and fans around the hall were up and out of their seats.
The opening song over, the venue around him sank in: “I need to take this thing in for a minute, not just to see us but for this amazing cause.”
He then had everyone left in their seat up on their feet, and launched into ‘Sermon’.
Hits followed, including ‘Impossible’ and the recent single ‘Celebrate’.
“I’m going to take you right back to the very beginning with a song called ‘You’re Nobody Until Somebody Lives You’,” was met with delight before the squeal of guitar, big beats and a huge chorus bolstered by the considerable power of the backing singers.
“I just want to talk about something that’s very close to my heart: mental health,” he said, adding: “To be vulnerable is to be courageous. It does not make you weak to talk about mental health.”
Most of the room joined in with every confessional word of Trainwreck, before the piano at the start of ‘Thousand Years’ was accompanied by cries of “I love you, James” and the track became a communal singalong, phone lights held aloft.
He went on to pay tribute to his friend, Wayne, who was lost to cancer: “I don’t want to bring the mood down but we lost someone very close to us to cancer recently. He was a big part of our team. He drove me around for a long time, for many years. This is a song I wrote called ‘Car’s Outside’. That song was written about me always leaving my loved ones. I left the North East, I left all my family and friends chasing this dream. Whenever I used to get the text message ‘car’s outside’ from management or whoever it was always Wayne that was sitting outside, at all the hours you can imagine. He was the best guy ever and he was taken away from us suddenly through cancer. This song will always remind me of him.”
James Arthur has a new album, PISCES, coming out on April 25th, featuring recent songs including ‘ADHD’ and ‘Celebrate’, which offers an intimate, heart-rending exploration of James‘ journey from his difficult upbringing to a place of self-realization and growth.
Special guests Venus Grrrls are a spiritual, goth-grunge force-of-nature with rockers such as ‘Hex’, ‘Divine’ and recent single ‘Eighteen Crows’. They took to the grand old stage like they belonged.
Before the haunting ‘Glisten’, showcasing singer GK’s vocal power, she said: “This song is a love song and it is the only spell I will cast to make someone fall in love with me.”
GK herself was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust when she went on her own cancer journey, and she called on the audience to donate, saying: “Every young person deserves the same amazing care that I got.”
In a film of her story, screened at the concert, GK said: “Being diagnosed with cancer absolutely shatters the world as you know it, but it was absolutely my saving grace that Teenage Cancer Trust were so present in my cancer journey. They are a very special charity and I’m so grateful to them.”
After the interval, compere Gaby Logan told the audience: “Young people shouldn’t be worrying about cancer. They should be worrying about exams, about job interviews, about first dates, those things.
“Teenage Cancer Trust units are amazing places. They’re not like normal hospitals, they make the young people feel like themselves. It’s a community. It’s the most incredible place and you are all here tonight helping this amazing charity.”
To applause from around the auditorium, Gaby brought on young people supported by the charity, including Claudia, who said: “Teenage Cancer Trust supported me from when I was diagnosed with a rare type of sarcoma in January 2023. They supported me all throughout the treatment, when I lost my hair, and also after treatment when I needed it the most.”
Kate Collins, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are delighted that some of the biggest names from across the music, and entertainment industry are performing at this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at the Royal Albert Hall. We couldn’t be more grateful for their commitment to raising vital funds for young people with cancer.
“These concerts, brainchild of – and driven by – the legendary Roger Daltrey since 2000, have raised a phenomenal £34 million to fund Teenage Cancer Trust’s work across the UK – making our specialist support possible across the UK so that young people with cancer get the expert, individual care and support they need at this unique and critical stage of their lives.
“These gigs would not exist without Roger, who remains a tireless Honorary Patron for the charity and is unstoppable in his support for young people with cancer.
“Teenage Cancer Trust exists because cancer care wasn’t made for young people. Without us, a young person diagnosed with cancer today would find themselves lumped together with small children or much older adults. It’s only thanks to our supporters that we can continue to be there for every young person who needs us.
“We’re deeply thankful to everyone who is involved in making these concerts possible—from the artists and the teams to the people who buy tickets to the shows.”
Jamie Johnson, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “I see firsthand the incredible impact the music and entertainment industry can make when it rallies behind a cause. The Royal Albert Hall shows are a cornerstone of our charity’s work, and their success is only possible thanks to the unwavering support of artists, managers, agents, promoters, crew, and our generous audiences.
„To date, these concerts have raised millions to funding specialist care and transform the experience of cancer for young people at a critical time in their lives. But the need has never been greater. The support of the music and entertainment industry remains vital to ensuring we can continue this life-changing work.”
The Teenage Cancer Trust shows are also proudly supported by American Airlines, Metro, Absolute Radio, S.J.M. Concerts, Twickets, and the Royal Albert Hall.
Aldi, which has partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust since 2017, and raised over £11 million for the charity to date is the headline sponsor for this year’s Royal Albert Hall series. Domino’s,which has partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust for ten years and has raised £8 million for the charity, is the official sponsor of the Ultimate Backstage Experience.
Royal Albert Hall 2025 Show Dates:
Monday, March 24: Frank Carter and Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols plus special guests Kid Kapichi and The Molotovs
Tuesday, March 25: A night of comedy hosted by Micky Flanagan with Scott Bennett,
Finlay Christie, Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan, Jack Skipper + Josh Widdicombe
Wednesday, March 26: James Arthur plus special guests Venus Grrrls
Thursday, March 27: The Who plus special guests Level 42
Friday, March 28: The Corrs plus special guests Dea Matrona
Saturday, March 29: Erased Tapes featuring Penguin Cafe, Daniel Brandt, Douglas Dare and Hatis Noit
Sunday, March 30: The Who plus special guests Level 42
Tickets:
For line-up and ticketing information please visit:
