Harry Styles brought the house down at London's Royal Festival Hall last night as part of his Meltdown Festival extravaganza – a truly unforgettable experience that left fans beaming with delight. Teamed up with the Jules Buckley Orchestra and the House Gospel Choir, this was more than just another gig; it was a masterclass in reimagining his own material for a new audience.
The sold-out crowd was treated to an intimate show, with Styles switching seamlessly between piano and guitar as he explored orchestral reinterpretations of his biggest hits – alongside some rare gems and carefully chosen covers. It's fair to say that this was a night to remember, with Styles visibly moved by the opportunity to curate the Southbank Centre's prestigious festival: "It's an honour, to be honest," he gushed, crediting the institution for putting its faith in him – a sentiment that clearly meant the world.
The setlist was a masterclass in variety, featuring fan-favourites from his latest albums 'Harry's House' and 'Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally', alongside some deeper cuts like 'The Waiting Game', 'Carla’s Song', and 'Boyfriends'. But it wasn't all about the big guns – Styles also wove in orchestral magic courtesy of Buckley's 'Matter Red' and 'Hummingbird', as well as Patrick Watson's hauntingly beautiful 'Hommage', a nod to the Canadian musician's significant influence on his work.
Earlier career highlights like 'Two Ghosts' and 'Fine Line' got a welcome return, with Styles revealing that it was a "strange" but wonderful feeling to be performing in what he described as the "middle of my career highlight". And if you thought he was just going through the motions, think again – the reworked version of 'Carla’s Song' was preceded by an anecdote about his friend's first listen to Simon & Garfunkel's timeless classic 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', a poignant reminder of the power music has to bring people together.
The evening reached its climax with Styles delivering a spine-tingling rendition of that very song, earning a well-deserved standing ovation from the packed 2,700-capacity crowd. As he took his final bow, he paid heartfelt tribute to the musicians and conductor Buckley, acknowledging his own musical limitations while praising the welcoming atmosphere created by the ensemble – it was truly a night to cherish.