Lollapalooza Berlin is bringing another diverse line-up to the city this summer. This July 18 and 19 the hottest artists of the moment will take over Berlin. From global pop stars and chart-topping icons to exciting emerging talent, there is plenty to discover throughout the weekend. These are the five acts we are most excited to see at this year’s festival. Don West You can’t miss the charming Don West, who will be performing on Sunday at Lollapalooza Berlin. The Australian singer is making his only stop in Berlin this summer exclusively for the festival. Expect jazzy tunes, smooth vocals, and a performance that is just as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the ears. Lily Allen She turned her diary into everyone’s soundtrack of 2025 and delivered one of the most talked-about comebacks in recent years. It’s safe to say that Lily Allen is an act you won’t want to miss. The singer will perform her deeply personal album West End Girl live from front to back. We can’t wait to experience these songs in a festival setting. Zara Larsson She is the pop star of the moment and guaranteed to give you that never-ending summer feeling. Following her massive success, Zara Larsson is ready to take over the Lollapalooza stage. You simply have to be there to witness the show in person before the festival’s inevitable ‘Lush Life’ dance moment takes over social media. Lovefoxy Among all the major international names on the line-up, we’re especially happy to see Berlin’s very own Lovefoxy included. The DJ is guaranteed to get the party started and will have the crowd moving from the very first track. We always love seeing a taste of Berlin represented at an international festival like this. Anitta No matter the weather, Anitta will make sure the sun shines over Berlin. Her sun-soaked music is guaranteed to heat up the stage. The singer recently announced her world tour in support of her latest album EQUILIBRIVM. While the rest of the world is still waiting to experience the new music live, Lollapalooza visitors will get the chance to witness it first.
NOTION Magazine announced their live concert series BLOOM, a new European artist development tour designed to support emerging artists at key moments in their live careers. A beautiful initiative to give talented artists a little push in the right direction. And even though their first headlining artist was already doing just fine on her own, we are happy to see NOTION acknowledging the undeniable talent that is Nectar Woode. The UK singer made her final tour stop in Berlin, Mikropol. This time around she gathered three talented ladies to form the band joining her on stage, creating a beautiful intimate live setting. The night promised a trip down memory lane through her amazing discography while also treating the crowd to brand new, exclusive live renditions of songs from her upcoming project Naturally. The show opened with ‘Head Above Water’ from her critically acclaimed project of the same name. Nectar immediately got to show off her pitch-perfect voice, setting the tone for the night. The live rendition of the song made clear it was a brilliant idea to bring together a band for this tour. The ladies brought that extra energy and harmonies that gave the music such a beautiful extra layer. The whole visual of all the elements melting together clearly worked its charm on the crowd, who were two-stepping away to the soulful music. Nectar played her brand new release ‘Rivers End’ and, to her surprise, fans could already sing along to the gorgeous song. “If you can sing along to the words already I’ll give you a firm handshake, it’s only been out for a week!” Here at Clean we’re usually not massive fans of comparing artists, but we couldn’t help seeing a beautiful comparison between Olivia Dean and Nectar Woode after seeing both talented singers live within such a short period of time. And honestly, if Olivia’s success is any indication of what’s to come for Nectar, we’re sure she can handle it. The upcoming project is promising to be incredible. The neo-soul songs she performed for us tonight were each a treat to the ears. Obviously the title track ‘Naturally’ is a force and the beautiful unreleased ‘Roses In The Dark’ once again showed off her vocal range. It was however the powerful ‘Lights Off’ that excited us the most. The song, written about struggles within the music industry, brought a different energy into the room. The more up-tempo production came with an almost chanting chorus that demanded attention towards the singer. We were not just there to enjoy a beautiful show, we had to play our part and join the singer as her choir. Nectar brought her sister Ama on stage to sing along to the song written for her, ‘Ama Said’. Besides Ama being on stage, we all got to sing along too. While Ama stood there smiling, the crowd loudly sang her name together. Another perfect sing-along moment came during our favorite song ‘How It’s Gotta Be’. And trust us, the crowd was loud for this one in the most beautiful way possible. We were in for yet another exclusive when Nectar Woode introduced her new song ‘Wine Into Water’. She explained the beautiful piano ballad only deserved the best of the best, so why not shoot your shot and send Elton John an email asking him to join the song. It should come as no surprise he stepped into the studio with her, as the legend is known for recognizing and supporting upcoming talent. The song is truly beautiful and we can’t wait to hear it again once it’s officially released. The night ended on a high with the funky ‘Stick Fight’. The perfect way to close the show with full energy. We all danced along while watching the evening slowly come to an end. As a final little treat we even got the chance to meet her in person afterwards. She’s everything you expect her to be: fun, elegant and kind-hearted. Nectar, your future is so bright.
White curtains, a light oak wooden floor and an organically shaped stage. A beautifully clean decor sets the mood for The Art of Loving Live tour stop at Uber Arena. The crowd awaits a spectacular performance from one of the most loved singers of the moment. She has been dominating the global charts with singles from her latest album The Art of Loving and her collaboration with Sam Fender, ‘Rein Me In’. She’s the kind of singer that reaches every generation. Children, teenagers, parents and even grandparents all seem to adore her music. A true generational artist. Welcome to the stage… Olivia Dean! Backed by two beautifully talented backing singers and a big band, Olivia gracefully serenades the stage with the first three successful singles from her sophomore album. In quick tempo she makes sure the crowd is fully tuned in and reminds us we are here to have a great night and simply enjoy ourselves, just like she clearly enjoys singing these songs for us. It’s a beautiful feeling looking around and seeing every member of the crowd singing and dancing along to ‘Nice To Each Other’, ‘Lady Lady’ and ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’. Olivia has that rare kind of likeability that reaches everyone. Usually the partner who got dragged along to a concert sits still waiting for the night to end, but tonight even they are enjoying themselves to the fullest. Olivia Dean is a true charmer. She knows exactly how to mesmerise a crowd. No endless chit chat, no forced speeches, just honest words from the heart when needed. She introduces ‘Let Alone The One You Love’ by explaining what loving someone truly means to her. According to Olivia, love is a word we throw around too easily without really thinking about what it means. She realised that, to her, love means wanting to see the person you care about win and become the best version of themselves. That feeling led her to write the beautiful song. We were already in love with the track, but hearing her sing it live with these powerful vocals nearly brings tears to our eyes. What a moment. It’s time to strip things back for the next section of the night. The big band leaves the stage, leaving Olivia, her guitar and two guitarists to deliver some beautiful acoustic songs. Three songs from different stages of her career are brought to life in this intimate setting. We get ‘UFO’ from her debut album Messy, ‘Touching Toes’ from her EP With Love and ‘I’ve Seen It’ from her latest album. It’s a beautiful reminder that she is anything but an overnight success. Olivia has been making songs for years that all perfectly live together in the same musical world. We love that Olivia Dean grabs every opportunity she can to remind us of her powerful grandma. We saw her do it while accepting her Grammy win last year and couldn’t be happier seeing her do it again tonight. She wrote the song ‘Carmen’ for her grandma, telling her life story and thanking her for being so strong at the age of eighteen, making sure Olivia gets to live the dream she is living today. The room falls completely silent as we all take in the heartwarming moment. Hearing all these beautiful songs delivered with such elegance almost makes you wonder why rockstar Sam Fender invited her onto ‘Rein Me In’. Not for long though. Olivia quickly reminds us just how powerful her voice truly is with ‘Time’. The chorus of the non-album single nearly blows the roof off the arena. The big band gets to shine at its very best while Olivia sings louder and stronger than ever. We keep the energy powerful in a more emotional setting when ‘Hardest Part’ follows. It’s songs like this from her debut album that make you wonder why the world is only fully waking up to her talent now. What was everyone waiting for? Grab your dancing shoes and let the disco ball enter the arena, because it’s time for a huge disco moment. What better way to introduce the next section of the night than with ‘Baby Steps’? The funky, soulful tune has the entire crowd on their feet, swinging their hips from left to right. For a moment it feels like we’ve stepped into an old episode of Soul Train. Especially when a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’ follows next. Dressed in a sparkling disco gown, Olivia and the band bring nothing but good vibes to the Uber Arena, making sure there’s a smile on every face in the room. The night is coming to an end, but not before Olivia serenades us with two of her most loved songs. Messy’s biggest moment was of course ‘Dive’. The huge song sounds better than ever inside the massive arena. We are mesmerised by every single move she makes. Olivia Dean is everything you’d want to be: classy, elegant and effortlessly cool. No bullshit, just someone here to deliver great music while genuinely enjoying herself. She’s like a magician performing without props, because the real trick is simply her insane talent. We end the night on a high with ‘Man I Need’. Olivia leaves no doubt as to why this song will still be loved a hundred years from now. It’s simply timeless. No wonder it completely explodes in a live setting. What a night!
For his European leg of the CAOS Tour, Miguel makes a stop in Milan to celebrate his Italian fans. The singer who broke through with his smooth R&B tunes is ready to show us his organic evolution into the true rockstar he is today. The stage has a crashed car, upside down in the middle, adding another level to the set. Red lights shine bright through the smoke machines, truly setting the scene for what is awaiting us. Miguel and his band bring the energy from the moment they enter the stage. The singer climbs onto the car with his electric guitar and for a second you’d forget he was once considered one of the most promising R&B singers. Yet nothing feels staged or unnatural, it’s as if he was born with the guitar in his hands. The singer mentions: “I grew up in a punk town called San Pedro and my father was a massive Clash fan.” After hearing this, it all falls into place. Punk rock was part of his upbringing. Surprisingly enough, the songs from his critically acclaimed first and second albums don’t feel misplaced in the setlist at all. If anything, it shows that Miguel always had a good ear for which songs would sound perfect in a live band setting. The songs that once felt like they were competing in the landscape of Usher and Trey Songz now fall completely into their own lane. A lane that only Miguel walks with his R&B rock sound. We couldn’t be more happy to hear our favorites ‘Do You..’, ‘Coffee’ and ‘How Many Drinks?’ come to life. Especially the latter was a standout performance of the night. The singer charms his way through the song as he makes eye contact with the crowd, asking how many drinks it would take them to come home with him. The singer carries a certain anger with him tonight. He is mad at the world we live in and decides to write ‘Fuck war’ with spray paint on the car before speaking about the current state of America. The live rendition of ‘Candles in the Sun’ is perfectly placed after this honest and emotional moment. Things slow down for a bit as the singer expresses his hope in us and in the moment we find ourselves in. Usually it’s pretty easy to predict which songs will be the fan favorites of the night. Not tonight, though, as the crowd is at its loudest during ‘Girl With The Tattoo’. The short, slow song from his debut album is received with open arms. Yes, the song is beautiful and gives us a moment to breathe during the full-on show, yet it’s surprising that this seems to be the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Before the show, we weren’t too familiar with his latest album CAOS. We were pleasantly surprised hearing it live. The singer is ready to show us we’ve been missing out and should have been tuned in since day one. The title track ‘CAOS’ blends Spanish and English to perfection. It lands somewhere between rock and hip-hop, while also leaning into Spanish acoustic guitars and reggaeton. This blend is delicious and allows the band to show what they’re capable of. The almost anxious songs ‘Triggered’ and ‘RIP’ instantly become new favorites and will go straight into rotation from here on out. Both are full-energy rock songs, blending multiple genres at once. They demand your attention, both in the production and in his vocal delivery. Our personal favorite moment is, of course, one of R&B’s all-time best songs: ‘Adorn’. The song is timeless and fits right in with classics by artists like D’Angelo and Maxwell. Not only is the production one for the history books, Miguel’s vocal range is truly something else. It’s always the question how the live version compares to the original, but no worries here. He delivers a version that might even be better. The voice this man has is nothing short of breathtaking. The show ends with full energy thanks to ‘Sky Walker’ and ‘Sure Thing’. Two fan favorites that have the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. The audience is a mix of young and older fans, likely thanks to the ‘second life’ ‘Sure Thing’ received after going viral on TikTok. The song climbed back up the charts twelve years after its release. Recently, we’ve seen a lot of huge spectacle shows. Concerts with dancers, multiple outfit changes, transforming sets and even live orchestras. While we love all of that, it’s refreshing to see Miguel perform a full two-hour show without any of those tricks. Just pure love for live music.
A sun-soaked imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire sets the tone for the evening ahead. The medieval beauty that Cologne still holds intact creates the perfect décor to get us in the mood for ROSALÍA’s LUX Tour. The huge success of her experimental, classical-inspired album LUX has led her to a sold-out arena tour across the world. Tonight, it’s up to one of Germany’s biggest cities to welcome the Spanish superstar. Even before the curtains open, we know we are in for a good night as the orchestra makes their way to the middle of the arena. They take their seats and quietly begin playing to set the show in motion. As the curtains open, a wooden box is brought onto the stage. It comes as no surprise that ROSALÍA is hiding inside, dressed in a ballet outfit, ready to begin. Just like the album, we open with the beautiful ‘Sexo, Violencia y Llantas’. It’s simply the perfect way to start a show. It showcases the orchestra at its best and strikes the ideal balance between a slow burn and energetic outbursts. What a warm-up. Two of our personal LUX favorites appear early in the show. ‘Reliquia’ is clearly not just our favorite, as the entire crowd sings along to every word. Behind the singer, the dancers begin preparing the stage. They remove the curtains and sweep everything clean. It feels like watching a theatre piece come to life right in front of our eyes. After the clean-up, the dancers take center stage. Together with flowing white fabric, they create a stunning visual during the performance of the brilliant ‘Divinize’. From the moment ROSALÍA opens her mouth, we are in awe of her powerful voice. The control she has over her unique instrument is incredible. Her voice alone is impressive, but the emotion she channels through it is simply breathtaking. We don’t speak a word of Spanish, yet goosebumps take over our entire bodies. To our surprise, ‘Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti’ becomes one of the highlights of the evening. While we might skip it on the album (sorry!), we completely fall in love with it in this live setting. After an outfit change, it’s time to shift the energy in the building. The curtains open and ‘Berghain’ begins. A loud cheer erupts from the crowd, exactly as expected. We can’t believe we are witnessing this performance live. Every detail has been carefully thought out. From the orchestra delivering the production flawlessly, to the stunning outfit, the breathtaking choreography, and the inclusion of the famous BRIT Awards remix, everything clicks. We couldn’t have asked for more. As much as we love the LUX world, we were secretly hoping for some throwbacks to MOTOMAMI. Thankfully, ROSALÍA doesn’t forget her earlier hits. It’s time to bring that era to life on stage. We hear ‘SAOKO’, ‘LA FAMA’, and ‘LA COMBI VERSACE’. We wondered how these songs would fit sonically into the show, but surprisingly, it works perfectly. It ignites an imaginary fire on stage that almost feels real, fueled by the powerful performance of ROSALÍA and her dancers. Some of our favorite “day-one” ROSALÍA songs don’t make the setlist, making room for a cover of Frankie Valli’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. What might seem out of place at first works beautifully within the show. The stage transforms into a living painting as ROSALÍA serenades us like a modern-day Mona Lisa. Even with many Spanish-speaking fans in the crowd, this moment allows international fans to sing along with confidence. We can only imagine how much the parents accompanying their kids to the show enjoyed the song played by a beautiful orchestra in ROSALÍA’s cheeky rendition. It’s confession time. ROSALÍA steps into the role of a priest and invites a fan into her confession booth. We hear an actual confession, something about blood in the bolognese (you really had to be there). This moment leads into one of the biggest fan favorites of the night. ‘La Perla’ follows, bringing another piece of live art. The dancers are dressed entirely in black, except for their arms, which are covered in bright white gloves. Their hands become part of the stage design, moving around ROSALÍA in a playful, almost surreal way. It’s simple, yet incredibly effective, even in this huge arena setting. Another outfit change follows. A baroque-inspired dress and headpiece frame the singer beautifully as she walks toward the orchestra to greet them in person. All eyes shift to the center of the arena as ROSALÍA joins her musicians. With the orchestra now fully in focus, you might expect another classical moment. Instead, we get the complete opposite. ‘CUUUUuuuuuute’ from MOTOMAMI is transformed into an explosive, all-out performance. Goosebumps, big smiles, and disbelief take over. Sensational. As we approach the end, we get a blend of MOTOMAMI and LUX. First, we dance to ‘BIZCOCHITO’ and ‘DESPECHA’ before moving into songs from her Complete Works version of her latest album. The night closes with a heavenly rendition of ‘Magnolias’. Once again, she proves her voice is a force of nature. Her range is incredible, truly out of this world. She showcases both her classical and flamenco training. A bright light shines behind her as she slowly disappears into it, quite literally like the goddess she is. This wasn’t just a pop concert. It was an indescribable experience where multiple worlds came together. While some performers claim opera, ballet, and the dancefloor are dead, we are grateful to have artists like ROSALÍA who continue to honor them. She pays tribute to the greats across genres while pushing things forward. It was a dance performance, a classical concert, a pop superstar spectacle, and an art exhibition all in one. ROSALÍA, you are truly one of a kind.
A sunny, warm spring day sets the perfect scene for Leigh-Anne’s final stop on her My Ego Told Me To Tour. It marks her first tour since stepping into her solo era after Little Mix — and Berlin is in for a treat. Tonight, she’s here to prove she doesn’t need to share the stage to own it. The show opens with the singer dancing her ass off to the beats of the album opener ‘Look Into My Eyes’. Her signature long braids cover her face as she moves wildly to the drums. As soon as she starts singing, we’re in for a surprise… Leigh-Anne is standing behind us on the balcony. For the first few minutes, we had been watching a lookalike on stage, completely fooled into thinking it was her. Genius. Hands down one of the best concert openings we’ve ever witnessed. We waste no time diving into ‘Dead and Gone’. Together with her almost identical-looking dancer, she moves energetically across the stage. The two often mirror each other, as if she’s looking at her own ego. Every detail of the night ties into the album’s theme — from the red and green lighting, to the coordinated outfits, to the carefully styled stage design. Leigh-Anne takes a moment to reflect on the journey that led her here. The road to her debut album wasn’t easy. She began under a major label before being dropped and ultimately continuing independently. The first song she wrote for the album, ‘Revival’, is clearly a fan favorite, with the crowd singing along to every word. From there, we move straight into her debut solo single ‘Don’t Say Love’. It’s always been a strong debut if you ask us, and finally hearing it live feels like a full-circle moment. Even though it sits slightly outside the reggae and R&B palette of the night, it still earns its place in the setlist. Next, it’s time to shine a light on her EP No Hard Feelings. Released during that in-between phase between the record label drama and the debut album, tracks like ‘OMG’ and ‘Stealin’ Love’ sound fresh and more than worthy of a live moment. Leigh-Anne jokes that ‘Stealin’ Love’ was her most-played song on Spotify that year — we love a self-aware queen. After a run of high-energy tracks, we get a breather with ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Me Minus U’, both delivered with stunning, stripped-back vocals that feel intimate and grounding. For ‘Tight Up Skirt’, a fan favorite of the album, Leigh-Anne invites fans on stage to show off their dance moves. She carefully selects five people from the crowd, and the moment feels genuine rather than staged. It becomes a real highlight — not just because of the dancing, but because of how connected it feels to her audience. And the fans on stage delivered! The moments we’ve been waiting for all night finally arrive. First up is ‘Talk To Me Nice’, an uptempo standout that gets the big moment it deserves. Leigh-Anne delivers some of her strongest vocals of the night to the incredible song. She keeps that momentum going with ‘Goodbye Goodmorning’, another undeniable fan favorite that has the crowd at its loudest we’ve heard them throughout the night. Honestly — can we please give one of these the official single treatment? She deserves a global smash, and either track could be it. Before the encore, the room erupts into one of the longest applause moments we’ve experienced. It’s clear this is a crowd of true fans, fully invested in her solo journey. The love in the room is undeniable. Recharged by the energy, Leigh-Anne returns to close the night with ‘My Love’. The smash hit lands perfectly as a finale, ending the show on a high. This concert was one for the books. Watching Leigh-Anne perform with such hunger and determination is genuinely inspiring. It feels like she has something to prove — not out of pressure, but out of passion. That drive never feels forced; instead, it comes across as honest and powerful. We leave the venue feeling inspired to go after what we want, unapologetically. Leigh-Anne truly deserves her flowers.
For the last stop of his European leg of the The Shows That Saved Us tour, Odeal is visiting Berlin. He saved the best for last — this stop must feel like coming home for the German-born singer. We are excited for an evening packed with his Nigerian-inspired music with that South London touch to it. He has been paving the way for himself, creating his own lane with his perfectly genre-bending sound. The night promises to be sun-soaked, soulful and packed with R&B perfection. A simple stage setting with some neon light stands, a drummer and a piano player shares the stage with the star of the night, Odeal. Simplicity is key to make sure his music shines to its fullest. We open the night with ‘Free Me’ and the Juls collaboration ‘Hold You Down’. Two perfect tracks to set the tone for the next hour and a half awaiting us. Nigerian-inspired beats paired with soulful, smooth vocals. Odeal reminds us he was born in Germany and therefore expects us to be at our most energetic throughout the night to welcome him back home. In return, we get a tour exclusive as he sings ‘Modern Day Suicide’ just for his Berlin stop. The energy in the room quickly shifts when we’re treated to ‘SHOWBIZ’. The neon lights decorating the stage start flickering to match the energetic production. Unfortunately, the song is cut short — a shame, as it’s hands down our favorite song by Odeal. Luckily, we have no time to dwell on it, as the moment is followed by two more favorites — ‘Blur’ and ‘Molotov’. Both tracks seem to put a spell on the crowd; we are locked in and ready to dance with the singer. A chair is brought to the stage and real fans know exactly what time it is. It can be no other than ‘In The Chair’ awaiting us next. Odeal takes a seat to make sure his actions align with his lyrics. The moment easily becomes one of the sexiest of the night. Near the end of the song, the band slows down, allowing the singer to invite two women from the crowd onto the stage for a dance battle. We can’t help but feel a bit awkward — is it really needed for a famous guy to sit on a chair while two women dance for his attention in front of the whole crowd? We are definitely not fans of this moment, but hey, we don’t judge — let’s move on. The absolute highlight of the evening has to be ‘Soh-Soh’. Everyone in the audience is moving their hips and singing along to the catchy lyrics. Odeal shows off some moves while smoothly making his way across the stage with minimal, but charming choreography. After all that movement, it’s time to slow things down. The duet with Summer Walker, ‘You’re Stuck’, and ‘Temptress’ are up next. Both songs beautifully showcase the vocal range of the singer. We love how his silky smooth voice serenades the entire room. We have no time to waste as the show is nearing its end. Time to bring some energy back — ‘Be Easy’ takes on that responsibility and doesn’t disappoint. We feel the crowd light up and it’s clear we are not ready for the show to end just yet. With ‘London Summers’, the singer quite literally brings us a piece of South London. He sings about summers back home and we sing along, as if for a moment we are right there with him in the UK. For the final track, the singer has his biggest hit to date lined up — ‘Miami’. We tapped out after the high of ‘London Summers’ and, honestly, couldn’t care less about the Leon Thomas-assisted, more ballad-like ending of the show (sorry!).
Night two of the That’s Showbiz Baby! tour is a fact for Clean. This time we do it all over again at Columbiahalle, Berlin. Don’t worry, we won’t give you the same concert review twice. Enough happened during this concert to move on to the songs that were not discussed yet in our Fabrique, Milan review. JADE made sure to perform each and every song from her debut album and proves they’re all worthy of a live performance! Before we dive into the night with the former Little Mix star, we get to dance with DJ Adam Theo. The DJ doesn’t have to warm us up alone. For the last few songs, JADE’s boyfriend and Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens comes out to dance along and hype up the crowd for his girlfriend. Can you think of a more supportive boyfriend? The show is packed with big pop songs, references to showbiz and odes to the greatest pop stars. It’s no wonder that JADE chose to include her cover of pop queen Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ in the setlist. The song fits right in with all her own music and has the crowd going wild. Ever since the release of the cover it has become a fan favorite and has everyone singing along at their loudest to every word. Near the end of the song it transforms into a trance remix, urging everyone in the room to jump and dance along. During her interactions with fans she checks in with us about what our favorite songs from the album are. The Berlin crowd seems to unanimously share the love for ‘Use Me’. One fan screams the song title and the room goes crazy. The song is not included in the setlist, so JADE decides to treat Berlin to an improvised a cappella moment. Clean has previously shared our love for the album cut and couldn’t be happier to hear we’re not alone. After the cute moment another fan screams their favorite is ‘Glitch’, which leads us into the next song of the show. Lights are flickering and JADE shows us her dance skills together with her two dancers. She is ready to prove the song is underrated for no good reason. The theatrical, dramatic pop show is nearly coming to an end when JADE treats us to more fan favorites. She is seen riding her dancers as they serve as her horse for ‘Midnight Cowboy’. The song is undeniably one of our favorite tracks released by JADE. In a live setting it shows just how big it can get, as the whole crowd claps along exactly where it’s needed. The beat of the song perfectly lends itself to a little “justice-for-Wasabi” moment. The singer makes sure each Little Mix fan is happy by treating us to at least one throwback to her girl group days. ‘Wasabi’ is the perfect choice. Not only does it fit perfectly within her solo music, it’s also a fan favorite — something we can clearly hear in the room. A phone rings and fans know exactly what this means. The ringing phone is a reference to the video she did for her collaboration with Confidence Man. We get to hear the summer hit ‘Gossip’. The song puts us in the mood to go out and party. Before our encore moment we hear the Berlin crowd at its loudest all night. We all love to sing along to ‘IT Girl’. During the song JADE struts down the stage with full enthusiasm and sass. It confirms she truly is that IT girl within pop music today. ‘Church’ serves as the second-to-last song of the night. Unfortunately a fan becomes unwell during the performance, urging JADE to kindly stop the show temporarily to make sure the fan is safely escorted outside before continuing. She shows that during her concerts it’s a safe space for everyone and that we take care of one another. Restarting the song has JADE jokingly wondering where to pick up the performance, as she feels awkward starting it all over again due to the dramatic slow walk-in entrance. The night obviously closes with her biggest hit to date — the song that put her on the map as a main pop girl and proves she can do this on her own just as well, if not better, than with the band. Her vocals are unmistakably some of the biggest in the industry right now as she gets to show on ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. Yes, she is a pop girl, but she can absolutely hold a note and blow the roof off the room. We clearly didn’t need any further proof of why JADE is going to be one of the biggest international pop stars out here, yet we were given plenty of reasons to confirm it during a night of That’s Showbiz Baby!.
We’ve been living up to this moment since the release of That’s Showbiz Baby! back in September. After having our first taste of what was to come during JADE’s performance at Mighty Hoopla last summer in London, we knew we were in for a pop-packed mega performance. The pop star is unmistakably one of the most exciting acts in today’s pop music landscape. The way the former Little Mix member studies pop music and executes it in the best way possible undeniably shines through in everything she does. We gear up for a show filled with pop-tastic moments, dramatic theatre references and vocals ready to blow the roof off tonight’s venue, Fabrique, Milan. A small theatre curtain appears on stage. It’s so tiny and camp that this object alone sets the tone for the evening. The opener of the night is ‘FUFN (Fuck You For Now)’. JADE’s beautiful voice comes through the curtain, but the big reveal of the pop star still awaits. She makes sure no one passes out from shock and takes it step by step. First we get a glimpse of her arm, then her legs follow — and there she is, the main event of the night. Everyone familiar with the single knows the show is off to a powerful start: huge vocals, an even louder crowd and arms chanting in the air. As soon as we hear a loud alarm ringing through the building, we know what’s coming next. The tempo stays high as we dive straight into a favorite of Clean — one of the most underrated album tracks — ‘Headache’. The singer is bursting with energy and it’s clear she is here to give us the night of our lives. She knows very well that we spent our money to see a show, and that is exactly what she delivers. Hearing the crowd sing every single word to this deep-cut album track proves that tonight’s room is packed with true fans. JADE then puts on a silver tinsel coat and gives a shout-out to her idol Diana Ross before diving into the next section of the night. First up is ‘Before You Break My Heart’, which samples The Supremes, followed by our favorite single ‘Fantasy’. The song about sexual liberation sounds as beautiful as ever. She urges us to live as our purest selves and not limit ourselves because of others’ expectations. After this glamorous disco moment she becomes more serious as she introduces the next song. ‘Unconditional’ was written for her mum, who has been in and out of the hospital due to her battle with Lupus. Emotions run high as she scream-sings the pre-chorus over loud drums and guitar riffs. Her mum would be incredibly proud hearing this sung back to her by every audience member. For the next song the crowd gets a special job: acting as her backing vocalists. During the ending of the beautiful ‘Self Saboteur’ we take on the responsibility of singing the “Aah ha ah” section. It comes as no surprise that we take this job very seriously. While we chant along, JADE belts out the stunning final notes of the song and sounds as angelic as ever. Just like on the album, the concert smoothly transitions into ‘Lip Service’. The flirty and playful track seems to be a fan favourite, as loud screams introduce the song. One of the moments we have been waiting for most is hearing ‘Natural at Disaster’ live. After her Amazon exclusive live performance of the song, it became the track we were most excited to hear in person. We do miss the incredible choir that joined her in that recording, but it quickly becomes clear that JADE can more than hold her own. Big vocals fill the room and nearly blow the roof off Fabrique. The mic was on! The show nearly comes to an end, but JADE reassures us that a 15-minute encore is still waiting. The encore begins with a goosebump-inducing moment. The entire crowd is asked to turn around as JADE walks over to perform ‘Silent Disco’ right next to the sound engineer. Suddenly the singer is up close and personal, and we can’t believe how stunning she looks. Dressed in a red theatre-curtain dress, she has the perfect moment to showcase her vocal abilities. She hits high whistle notes reminiscent of Mariah Carey, serenading us while the room watches in complete silence. She then returns to the stage to perform the first single from the deluxe version of her debut album. Church bells ring while a gloomy red light fills the stage — it’s time for ‘Church’. The song celebrates her fanbase and welcomes everyone exactly as they are. Tonight perfectly reflects the safe space the singer has built for her fans: we are all one, singing the same words throughout the night. The evening can only end with one song — the smash hit ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. We thought we had already heard the crowd at its loudest, but we were clearly wrong. The moment the song begins, we scream our lungs out. During the third section of the track, the singer fully embraces camp: her dress becomes decorated with arrows, fake glittery blood and massive angel wings. These are the pop moments we live for. JADE proves she is a true student of pop music — and that she is the IT girl. Every moment of the show feels camp, pop and carefully thought out. It feels like just a glimpse of what the future holds for JADE. We had the time of our lives — so much so that we get to do it all over again tomorrow in Berlin.
It’s a gloomy Tuesday evening in Amsterdam. The sky has been packed with grey clouds and rain has accompanied us pretty much all day long. The city is in desperate need of some sunshine to lighten the mood and brighten the day. Luckily we have just the right recipe lined up for our evening: we’re about to see Naïka live in concert. The singer grew up all over the world. Due to her dad’s job, the family lived everywhere — from Kenya to Paris. She sings in English, French and Haitian Creole. The latter comes from her mum, who is from Haiti with Lebanese and Syrian-Palestinian roots. Her dad is French and was raised in Madagascar. This multicultural upbringing clearly reflects in her music. The singer calls her genre “world pop”, as it blends influences from all the places and sounds she encountered growing up. As soon as the spotlights hit the stage it becomes clear we’re in for a celebration of sun-soaked music. Plants decorate the stage, creating the perfect background for the singer kicking off the night. She opens the show with ‘WELCOME TO ECLESIA’. The song feels like an invitation into her world, especially when she sings, “If you feel like you don’t belong, we’ll take you in with open arms.” It quickly becomes clear to the audience that this space within these four walls is a safe place. We’re in for a treat with Naïka’s music. Each track invites us to swing our hips from left to right. The singer uses her strong pop vocals to fill the room with love and joy. Fan favourite ‘Ma Chérie’ has the audience singing at the top of their lungs. The backdrop transforms into glistening water, allowing for a dreamy acoustic start to the beloved song. It’s a delight hearing her sing in French — it almost feels as if she sounds even better in the language of love. We are then treated to a special intro for the next song. A personal video appears showing Naïka’s uncle whistling beautiful melodies. His whistle was unique because he had lost his front teeth, which gave it a distinctive tone that almost sounded like an instrument. This exact whistle was used in the song ‘For Gerard’ to honour her late uncle Gérard. The song is beautiful and feels like a warm hug during the night. As much as we are enjoying dancing to each track, we do start to feel that some songs sound quite similar. Luckily the show takes a turn when red lights start flickering to lead us into ‘MATADOR’. The song blasts fresh energy into the room. It almost sounds like something by ROSALÍA, and we instantly love hearing it live for the first time. As soon as we hear “Eh mpaka lage mpaka lage” we know we’re in for a big sing-along moment. The whole crowd joins in for her hit ‘African Sun’, creating a beautiful sense of togetherness in the room. This joyful atmosphere continues with two more highlights of the show. The crowd goes wild during ‘ONE TRACK MIND’, especially during the “Zo-bo-do-bo-do” part of the song. The same happens during ‘F.I.S.H’, with everyone singing loudly and proudly. Near the end of the show we reach our personal highlight of the night with ‘WHAT A DAY!’. The track shows a less commercial side of the singer, allowing her to showcase not only her creativity but also her songwriting skills. We love the depth of the lyrics, reflecting on how we all continue living life as if the world is not burning around us. When we reach the line “What a day for crime, kids are dying in Palestine. Blood is paving Congolese mines, and the world keeps going” every single person in the room shouts along. After a short departure the singer returns for the encore. Luckily it’s our favorite Naïka song: ‘6:45’. It was basically the main reason we came to see her live in the first place. The song is absolute perfection and she delivers it beautifully in a live setting. After this evening it becomes clear we should have had many more reasons than just this one song to see her perform live. Even though she hasn’t officially broken through in the charts yet, it makes perfect sense that she is already playing sold-out shows like the one tonight in Amsterdam. A true world-pop star.
With full excitement, we head straight from work to Berlin’s Columbiahalle. Tonight, we’re seeing Dijon live for the very first time. Fresh off an extremely successful year, he’s ready to bring his critically acclaimed album Baby to German fans. The record landed high on many 2025 end-of-year lists — and for good reason. Baby feels like listening to raw demos: full of emotion, creative freedom, and vulnerability. Almost as if you’re sitting in the studio with Dijon while the songs are being born. Naturally, this had us wondering how such an intimate album would translate in a live setting. The stage setup immediately answers that question. The show is designed like a studio, making it clear we won’t have to worry about how the album translates live — we are quite literally invited into Dijon’s creative space. The band and backing singers sit comfortably around him as he takes centre stage. Everyone is seated, reinforcing the feeling of intimacy, as if we’re witnessing a private recording rather than a concert. From the very first notes, Dijon sings as though he’s delivering these lyrics for the first time, his emotions pouring through his raspy voice. Throughout the album, his vocals are often layered with distortion and autotune — another potential concern going into the night. Would his voice hold up on a stage this size? The answer is a confident yes. Only occasionally does he allow his microphone to distort his vocals the way we hear on the record. Most of the time, we’re treated to Dijon’s voice in its purest form. He exceeds all expectations. What a voice. The tone is set early with ‘FIRE!’ and ‘Another Baby!’, the latter instantly locking the crowd in and getting bodies moving to its mesmerising production. Other up-tempo highlights include ‘HIGHER!’ and ‘Talk Down’ from his previous album. It becomes clear that many in the audience have been with the singers career for a while — the crowd sings along word for word, fully immersed in Dijon’s world. The setlist is near perfect, blending the strongest moments from Baby with a few carefully chosen throwbacks. The show unfolds like a journey: starting softly and gradually building toward emotional and sonic highs. By the final two songs before the encore, the room is on the verge of tears. First comes ‘Baby!’, the album’s title track, named after and dedicated to his son. Sung directly to him, the song tells the story of how Dijon met his wife and how their family came to be. It’s no surprise this is the most emotional moment of the night. Goosebumps spread across the room. What follows is one last emotional rollercoaster. Vocally, Dijon is at his absolute best here. Watching him sing his lungs out — ending the song in a raw, cathartic scream — we feel every emotion right alongside him. Walking into the concert, we didn’t quite know what to expect. Leaving the venue, we’re left in awe of Dijon’s ability to translate such deeply personal studio recordings into a shared live experience. Allowing himself to be completely vulnerable, he takes us along on his journey. What an honour it was to witness his undeniable talent up close.
Clean’s first concert of the year is a fact. We had the honour of seeing RAYE live in Berlin for the second stop of her This Tour May Contain New Music tour. That title alone had us buzzing in our seats, ready to hear what the singer had in store for us beyond her already massive hit singles. The last time we saw RAYE live was back in 2018, when she supported Rita Ora on a tour stop in Amsterdam. The evolution she’s gone through since then is unbelievable. We prepared for a night full of huge vocals, a big band, and a true celebration of music. It’s quite unheard of to go on tour to promote an album before the project has even dropped. It takes a whole lot of confidence to present a set full of brand-new music to an arena packed with fans who have never heard it before. RAYE took that risk, playing songs from her upcoming album This Music May Contain Hope for the very first time during her sold-out arena tour — literally receiving real-life first responses. Luckily, that confidence was backed by brilliant music that deserves to be experienced live, rather than heard flat through your favourite streaming platform. The night starts with the interlude ‘Girl Under The Grey Cloud’, visually translated into exactly that: a massive grey cloud enters the Uber Arena, hanging above the singer as she stands in front of big red curtains, waiting to be opened and reveal her band. The clouds quickly clear, hinting at better days to come. The show officially opens with a bang as RAYE launches into her current number-one hit ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND’, jokingly asking the crowd if her future husband might be in the building tonight. Whether he was present remains to be seen — but what we can confirm is that the crowd fell in love with her from the get-go. The brass section keeps the horns blowing throughout the first part of the show. Taking her sweet time with each song, RAYE moves through a run of up-tempo tracks, each treated to a dramatic ending. Among them, we’re introduced to two brand-new songs. Reassuring us not to be afraid of music we’ve never heard before, she kicks off ‘Skin & Bones’ by teaching the audience a few lyrics, easing us into the world of her second album. The crowd sings along as if the song has already topped the charts. Our reaction leaves RAYE smiling ear to ear as she moves into another new track. ‘Beware of the South London Lover Boy’ feels like it belongs in an old-school detective movie — a playful warning never to trust a South London boy on his blue eyes. It stands out as one of the highlights of the evening. RAYE jokingly talks her way through the show, warning us early on that she’s a chatty girl. Chaotic and messy in the best possible way, her monologues feel authentic and unscripted. At one point, she laughs into the microphone: “Oh gosh, I should really write a script for these song intros — I’m all over the place. Get it together, RAYE!”. For the next section of the show, she sets the scene both verbally and visually. While the spotlight stays fixed on her, the stage behind is transformed into a jazz club. Not only does RAYE paint the picture through storytelling — we are quite literally invited into Raye’s Jazz Club. This leads into the one and only cover of the night. She performs ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ with the band toning things down, creating a warm, intimate jazz atmosphere. That RAYE is classically trained has been clear all night, but here she truly shows it off — crooning and scatting effortlessly over the lush instrumentation. The mood perfectly sets up the next song. Before starting ‘Worth It’, she tells us it’s one of her favourite songs to sing, promising it will never leave her setlist in the years to come. The curtains close once more as the show slows down. RAYE tells us a story about her ex — she’s completely over him now, but the memories linger. ‘Nightingale Lane’ is a beautiful reflection on that relationship and the time it took to move on, knowing the two were never meant to last. With the audience fully locked in, she delivers two emotional ballads that leave many in tears. First comes ‘Ice Cream Man’, followed by the unreleased ‘I Know You’re Hurting’. Between songs, RAYE gently addresses the heavy topics they touch on, reassuring the crowd that you’re not alone in this. Tears are soon wiped away as she introduces ‘Click Clack Symphony’, a new song dedicated to the friends and family who drag you out of the house when you need a night of distraction from whatever life is throwing at you. This creates the perfect bridge into the final section of the night: the Night Club segment. Laser lights cut through the arena as the band leans into dance-heavy productions. RAYE runs through her commercial hits — the ones that came before her critically acclaimed era. We get ‘Secrets’, ‘BED’, ‘You Don’t Know Me’, ‘Prada’, and, surprisingly, ‘Black Mascara’ fits right in with the bunch. As the nightclub fades out, the atmosphere shifts once more, this time to something that feels like a Sunday morning in church. Another unreleased track, ‘Joy’, sees RAYE joined by her sisters — who also served as the support acts earlier in the night. With its gospel-tinged sound, the song feels destined to become the next single to dominate the charts. After a whopping two hours, RAYE leaves the stage — but not for long. She returns for her biggest single to date, ‘Escapism’. The crowd is louder than ever, singing along to every word as she thanks us for being there. Clean has seen hundreds of live shows, with many unforgettable highlights. RAYE, however, shoots straight to the very top of our favourite concerts ever. It felt like witnessing history — like watching a legend in the making. Without a doubt, we were treated to one of the most talented performing artists in music today. What a night.