Review: Girls Aloud deliver glorious, nostalgia-fuelled comeback as they pay tribute to late bandmate

The last time Girls Aloud performed on this scale, The Conservatives were in coalition with the Lib Dems; The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were preparing to welcome their first child; and Andy Murray was about to win his Wimbledon title, ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion.

A fair bit has changed since then. And this is certainly true for the band who now tower above the adoring crowd at Manchester’s AO Arena. Having shot to fame on TV talent show Popstars: The Rivals, Girls Aloud went on to achieve more than 20 back-to-back UK Top 10 smashes, earning them the title of biggest-selling girl group of the 21st century.

At the height of their fame they stood head and shoulders above their peers, though their most cherished hits have retained a special place in the hearts of enduring fans ever since. So it seems right that for their latest outing they should arrive on stage, 20 feet taller than the rest of us, balancing on podiums as their capes billowed out from around them.

READ MORE: Girls Aloud at AO Arena - seating plan, set times, setlist, parking and everything you need to know

The tour represents the first time they have appeared as a four-piece after the passing of their bandmate Sarah Harding, who died in 2021 aged 39 after her battle with cancer.

In some ways, you would understand if it felt slightly sombre, but as masters of their craft, and with a stage presence to match, the quartet honoured Sarah in the best way possible with a celebratory trip down memory lane. Soundtracked by some of their most joyous hits, some were delivered with added poignancy while others reminded fans of the enduring allure of Girls Aloud’s addictive electro and dance-pop.

Seamlessly woven into the epic 20-song set