London’s pop princess Beabadoobee was all smiles at the Octagon on 12 November, as she delivered a flawless set filled with fun and flair. Sheffield was the second date on the UK leg of the This Is How Tomorrow Moves tour, following the release of her third studio album of the same name, and took the room through a whirlwind of emotions while drawing on a wide range of influences. 
Opening with “California” set the energy high from the start, as the 90s–inspired tune featured grungy guitar lines and crashing cymbals. ‘Wanted a change, it took a big fight…wish you could see it’s been a rough ride’ Bea sang, and the audience lapped up every word. The new record is introspective and mature, and beginning the concert with a new single allowed the fans to show their appreciation of her new era.
“Take a Bite” was one I’d looked forward to hearing live, another high-octane single from This Is How Tomorrow Moves. Bea didn’t disappoint, with her witty lyricism and delicate yet strong vocals shining through. ‘I take it and I eat it with a cherry on top/ Indulging in situations that are fabricated imaginations’ showed her balancing simplicity with more verbose lyrics to create a perfectly catchy first verse, before effortlessly flipping into a higher register in the pre-chorus, showcasing her range.
A more stripped-back tune followed in the form of “Sunny day”, from 2022’s Beatopia. I hadn’t heard this song before but was charmed by its “Put Your Records On”-esque guitar and smooth vocals. The whole concert had a similar effect on the friend who joined me, leaving the gig a Beabadoobee fan after having previously heard two songs. “Ever Seen”, which followed, was similarly delightful, a tentative love song with a brass trill that added a nostalgia to the track.
Next was “Perfect Pair” – perhaps one of her biggest songs. The entire room sang the catchy acoustic tune word for word (‘You ought to know that/ I think we’re one and the same’) and while the song ended before the guitar instrumental that I love, Bea still delivered the lyrics perfectly. This bossa nova-inspired track was an excellent example of her ability to seamlessly blend together genres within her repertoire, with influences ranging from Kimya Dawson to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Elliot Smith, producing a style that never bores.
“Real Man” followed – a crowd favourite that went viral after This Is How Tomorrow Moves was released in August. One verse followed another as the tension built, crescendoing to ‘I guess no one ever told you how to be a real man…’, before Bea let it all crash down with an animated chorus that repeated three times: ‘Would you hold it down and take it if I gave you a chance?/Need the reassurance, baby, not a silly romance/ Guess I’m used to being disappointed, falling too fast’. Fans joined her in performing a popular online dance to the song to much cheer; part of the charm of Beabadoobee as a performer is just how much sheer fun she appears to be having onstage.
“Glue Song”, one of her top hits, was unsurprisingly delightful, perfect in its simplicity and slightly hesitant lovesick lyrics. The slower, more vulnerable songs pair excellently with her voice, but this tour has shown she is comfortable and able to lean into her rock influences too.
I’m prone to crying at concerts and once the piano intro for “Girl Song” started up, the tears were flowing. Bea shed a couple, and then led the audience in a beautifully simple rendition of what is such a personal song. It’s a more mellow track from the latest record, but a sonically strong one nonetheless, and its confessional nature surrounding self-image and mental health highlights her development as an artist.
Behind the band was a translucent curtain suspended from a rail, with greenery and beams of light peeking through. During the chorus of “Beaches”, half of it dropped down to reveal a leafy backlit backdrop of trees, presumably representing the self-growth Bea sings about on the track, flourishing into her true self. Following the slightly botched set change, represented on the setlist as “(Ocean to Countryside)” Bea joked, “are you feeling good Sheffield? Clearly this curtain isn’t.”
It truly felt like Bea was part of the band, showing off her guitar skills throughout, and sharing an affectionate moment with bassist Eliana Sewell during “She Plays Bass”, another crowd favourite. As the gig finished with a sentimental encore of “Coming Home”, “The Way Things Go”, and “See You Soon”, Bea shared that despite enjoying the tour so far – having just finished the US leg – she was struggling with homesickness and missing those close to her. The 24 year old is coming into her own as a performer, not shedding her bedroom pop origins but rather amplifying them into a grungier, more mature sound. Nerves are bound to remain but I think this tour is a promising prediction that she will only carry on flourishing as her career progresses. The gig was incredibly sweet and one to catch no matter your musical tastes or knowledge of her catalogue – Beabadoobee does it all.
