British singer-songwriter James Arthur returned to the top of the charts this year with his fifth studio album, Bitter Sweet Love. The record debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making it Arthur’s first No. 1 album since his 2016 release Back From the Edge. His latest LP sees Arthur getting in touch with his rock music roots more so than on his previous records.
In a January 2024 interview with Euphoria Magazine, he said: “Being a longtime fan of rock music and that kind of being my first love having grown up in bands and being a front man, I’ve been gradually trying to incorporate that kind of style into my music for many years.” Arthur then went on to talk about his work on the album saying: “It just feels like, with this album, I’ve managed to capture that THING more than ever by working with Steve Solomon, who is the perfect collaborator for this type of project.”
With a renewed passion for his craft, Arthur is back on the road on his “Bitter Sweet Love Tour” that hit Boston last Saturday for a show at Roadrunner. The show had a little bit of everything, including three marriage proposals during the show. It was a near-capacity crowd inside, or as Arthur described “what a wicked fucking crowd” in a mock Boston accent.
The show’s setlist was drawn from three of Arthur’s five studio albums. Aside from Bitter Sweet Love he visited 2019’s You and his sophomore release, Back From the Edge. He also included his cover of the song “Rewrite the Stars” from the movie The Greatest Showman, as well as the Shontelle song “Impossible” that Arthur sang during the final of his X Factor win in 2012.
Romance was the theme of the evening with many couples in attendance, several of them slow dancing during select songs. Arthur’s live show is a perfect setting for a Saturday date night for any couple, even those not familiar with his music.
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PHOTO GALLERY BY: John Hutchings
