“What are you doing, Jade?” a fervent crowd screamed as a bejewelled leg tentatively poked its way through a miniature theatre curtain. On her solo, debut tour at the O2 Academy Glasgow, JADE proved exactly what she was doing: a masterclass in pop artistry.
Emerging onto stage in a fringed, bronze outfit to the single ‘FUFN’ and flanked by two dancers, JADE blasted through the entirety of her debut album, That’s Showbiz, Baby, in a tight, 1 hour and 10-minute set. None of this runtime was wasted, with each performance perfectly distilling the essence of the genre-spanning album. From wearing a giant fringed silver coat during the disco track ‘Fantasy’, or flashing strobes during the EDM-inspired track Glitch, the message of each song was placed on full show.
It was clear that JADE has spent time honing her craft since the disbandment of Little Mix, dominating the stage with a forceful presence. In a sense, the tour felt more a pre-emptive victory lap than a debut, something made evident through the inclusion of LM5 deep cut ‘Wasabi’ in a medley with fan favourite single ‘It Girl’. This tour was not only a clear sign of the stardom she is destined for, but a celebration of the intense hard work that has landed her where she is today.
JADE is a clear student of the pop greats—Madonna, Prince, Gaga—evident through the level of camp and theatricality brought to her show. For emotional album closer ‘Silent Disco’, she ascended the balcony steps and serenaded the audience from above, as though she were a preacher evangelising values of love and care. Motifs of showmanship and showbusiness were bountiful throughout, including the mock-theatre curtain she emerged from at the start, and a booming male voice that she almost seemed to be fighting against. Once more, she was showing that though showbusiness may have controlled and shaped her life, she would never allow for it to break her.
The emotional apex of the show arguably came during a cover of Madonna’s 1998 single ‘Frozen’. With only her silhouette visible, JADE appeared ensnared in the lights before breaking free as the beat dropped to an ecstatic crowd devising their own chant. No longer trapped by the rules of showbusiness, she had reached her solo emancipation.
The theme of freedom was clear as she reached the conclusion of the show: crystallised into a much shorter red dress, JADE and her dancers moved unabashedly about the stage. Perhaps the highlight of this section was the Confidence Man collaboration ‘Gossip’, with the crowd singing along enthusiastically. The theatrics continued right until the end, with a dramatic performance of top-ten single ‘Angel of my Dreams’ seeing JADE emerge with a pair of angel wings before thanking the crowd and taking her bow.
Stunning vocals and performances aside, however, what truly stood out about this show was the connection JADE has to her fans. From simple acts like reading signs, to grander gestures like restarting songs after the room became too hot, there was a continued reminder that there is no artifice with JADE. Authentic, compassionate, and caring, she took care to uplift her LGBTQ+ fans, ensuring that her music remains open and honest for all.
This was a show that uplifted just as much as it entertained and demonstrated that a true star is on the rise.
Image taken by Harry Sharma