Review
Review
Becky Hill at Dreamland Margate, 31/8/2024
Becky Hill brings summer to a close with a euphoric seaside set ahead of her upcoming arena tour
Becky Hill is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable voices in modern dance. For years though, she was also something of an underdog, operating in a world dominated by male producers. Things started to shift in 2022 when she picked up the BRIT Award for Best Dance Act after releasing her eclectic, genre-flexing debut album, Only Honest On The Weekend.
She released her brilliant sophomore album, Believe Me Now?, earlier this year, showing fans a more focused and sure of herself as the plucky outsider embraced her role as a dance titan. Her euphoric live shows have dialled up that confidence even further, with dominating performances at Parklife and Boardmasters festivals already under her belt this summer. Next month, she’ll head out on her first ever UK arena tour.
On Saturday night, she took to Margate’s Dreamland for the first of two headline gigs, as part of their Summer Sessions. Just like her new album, the show started with the swaggering statement track ‘True Colours’, an anthem of liberation, self-empowerment and defiance. The wonky ‘Gecko (Overdrive)’ soon followed, mashed up with a fiery remix of Daniel Bedingfield’s 00s classic ‘Gotta Get Thru This’. “Who here is really ready for a party?” she teased, with the sold-out crowd of 6,900 fans more than ready for the giddy, feel-good escapism her music offered.
From drum and bass classic ‘Afterglow’ to modern rager ‘Disconnect’, by way of crossover bangers ‘Multiply’ and ‘My Heart Goes (La Di Da)’, Becky Hill delivered hit after party-starting hit. There was a real pop star ambition to her music as well – those sugary, hooky choruses were backed by strings, brass and percussion while Becky’s impressive two-tiered stage show already had bigger venues in its sights. Tracks such as ‘Right Here’, ‘Back Around’ and ‘Crazy What Love Can Do’ saw her embrace the spotlight, while ‘Outside Of Love’, “a ballad you can dance to”, was all about communal joy.
She asked the audience to put their phones away so they can have a “proper rave up” for new single ‘Indestructible’ and by the time the undeniable run of ‘Lose Control’, ‘Wish You Well’ and ‘Remember’ closed out the show, it was pure euphoria across Dreamland. Part arena pop show, part sweaty club rave, it was the perfect introduction to the transcendent power of dance. With arenas to play in next, Becky Hill’s star is only going to shine brighter.
Becky Hill starts her UK arena tour in October. Find tickets here
Photo credits: Frances Beach
