“He’s doing this to show the sheer power of him as an artist, but it’s also an incredible statement of Indian culture in the west,” South Asian BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake said.

Though not a household name in the west, Singh is one of the most listened-to artists on Spotify, boasting nearly 50m monthly streams. His relative anonymity outside of South Asia is often attributed to his lyrics being performed in Hindi and Bengali, as well as his reserved personality that keeps him away from the media spotlight.

Singh was born in Jiaganj, West Bengal, into a family of musicians and began playing music at the age of three. His breakthrough came in 2013 with ‘Tum Hi Ho’, the lead track for the Bollywood romance Aashiqui 2. The ballad dominated charts across India, cementing Singh’s status as one of the country’s most important voices.

As a playback singer, Singh belongs to a central tradition in Bollywood, lending his voice to songs that actors later perform on screen. This unique role has given him an unmatched reach, with his voice tied to many of India’s most memorable films of the past decade.

During the performance, Singh included ‘Sapphire’, a multilingual track co-written with Ed Sheeran. Though Sheeran was not present at the concert, the song marked a notable moment in Singh’s set, highlighting his expanding global reach and cross-cultural collaborations.

Their partnership has drawn international attention, with Sheeran previously sharing that he was first captivated by Singh’s voice after hearing his 2013 hit ‘Tum Hi Ho.’ He later described Singh as “one of the most soulful artists I’ve ever heard.”

The concert lasted more than three hours, with Singh moving fluidly between styles and instruments. He performed a retro rendition of ‘Saariyya’ that caught long-time fans off guard, alongside modern, myth-driven pieces that highlighted his experimental side. His setlist balanced Indian classical instrumentation with contemporary arrangements, showcasing his versatility as both a vocalist and a musician.

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A post shared by Believe in Arijit Singh (@believeinarijit)

The stadium was nearly at full capacity, with the majority of the audience made up of fans from London’s South Asian community. For many, the night was not only a concert but also a rare moment of cultural representation on one of the UK’s largest stages

With his Tottenham show, Singh proved that his artistry transcends language and geography. As Arthanayake put it, the night was as much a celebration of Indian culture in the west as it was a triumph for Singh himself—a once-in-a-generation voice finally recognised on the scale it deserves.

 

History was made last night when Bengali singer Arijit Singh performed before more than 40,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The venue, which has hosted global stars such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons, became the stage for Singh’s landmark appearance as the first South Asian artist to headline a major UK stadium.

“He’s doing this to show the sheer power of him as an artist, but it’s also an incredible statement of Indian culture in the west,” South Asian BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake said.

Though not a household name in the west, Singh is one of the most listened-to artists on Spotify, boasting nearly 50m monthly streams. His relative anonymity outside of South Asia is often attributed to his lyrics being performed in Hindi and Bengali, as well as his reserved personality that keeps him away from the media spotlight.

Singh was born in Jiaganj, West Bengal, into a family of musicians and began playing music at the age of three. His breakthrough came in 2013 with “Tum Hi Ho,” the lead track for the Bollywood romance Aashiqui 2. The ballad dominated charts across India, cementing Singh’s status as one of the country’s most important voices.

As a playback singer, Singh belongs to a central tradition in Bollywood, lending his voice to songs that actors later perform on screen. This unique role has given him an unmatched reach, with his voice tied to many of India’s most memorable films of the past decade.

During the performance, Singh included “Sapphire”, a multilingual track co-written with Ed Sheeran. Though Sheeran was not present at the concert, the song marked a notable moment in Singh’s set, highlighting his expanding global reach and cross-cultural collaborations.

Their partnership has drawn international attention, with Sheeran previously sharing that he was first captivated by Singh’s voice after hearing his 2013 hit “Tum Hi Ho.” He later described Singh as “one of the most soulful artists I’ve ever heard.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)

The concert lasted more than three hours, with Singh moving fluidly between styles and instruments. He performed a retro rendition of “Saariyya” that caught long-time fans off guard, alongside modern, myth-driven pieces that highlighted his experimental side. His setlist balanced Indian classical instrumentation with contemporary arrangements, showcasing his versatility as both a vocalist and a musician.

The stadium was nearly at full capacity, with the majority of the audience made up of fans from London’s South Asian community. For many, the night was not only a concert but also a rare moment of cultural representation on one of the UK’s largest stages

With his Tottenham show, Singh proved that his artistry transcends language and geography. As Arthanayake put it, the night was as much a celebration of Indian culture in the west as it was a triumph for Singh himself—a once-in-a-generation voice finally recognised on the scale it deserves.

One epic night deserves another! London, let’s go again pic.twitter.com/8FPHYq0ZOP

— Guns N’ Roses (@gunsnroses) July 2, 2022

Back in 2017, GnR made massive headlines when they did the last thing anyone thought they would… reform with a (mostly) original lineup. Axl Rose on lead vocals, Slash on lead guitar, and Duff McKagan on the Bass. The “classic” lineup still lacks Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler; which most fans would argue makes the lineup incomplete… but, come on guys, this is probably enough. The big problem with this tour, however, wasn’t who did or didn’t show up, but the severe lacking of UK dates. They did 2 nights at the London Stadium in 2017… and that’s it. Other than a brief appearance at Download festival the next year, many fans were left waiting. So, when the European tour of 2022 was announced, the band had something to prove.

Now, after 2 more years of delays, the shows have arrived (again, only 2 dates in London and a festival appearance, but at least it’s actually happening now). The band’s initial plan to open doors was set for 4:30pm, enough time to allow fans a bit of time to buy beers and merch and then amble over to, support act, Gary Clarke Jr. The doors didn’t actually open until 2 hours later, no longer allowing time for Gary Clarke Jr’s slot, and bringing rumours of Rose’s bout of anxiety causing him to pull out of the performance. The show did eventually go ahead, but many fans immediately noticed problems with the band’s sound. Claiming they could hardly hear Rose’s vocals. That night they only played 22 songs, significantly shorter than the usual 27, and ignored fan favourites: “You Could Be Mine” and “Coma”.

The band’s second night wasn’t much better. Rose told the crowd a number of times that he was “having issues” with his voice after the 7^th song of the show “Estranged”, this was probably a factor of the show’s, very brief, 19-song setlist. Fan classics “Rocket Queen” and “November Rain” were dropped from the setlist for the first time since 2014 and 2016 respectively. Watch footage from “Estranged” below.

Tomorrow, Guns n Roses are set to hit Glasgow Green and many fans are worried about the band showing up. While it’s still full steam ahead today, Scotrail issues have led to an urge to travel to the show early, and prepare for alternate means of escape. I’m not sure that they do it on purpose… but Guns n Roses really know how to make touring as hard as physically possible.