JLS – Live Review – Sheffield Utilita Arena
By Graham Clark, November 2025
The idea of Example supporting JLS is not as unconventional as it might seem; both acts were prevalent in the charts around the same period and both had some tunes that fall under the banger category.
Walking into Sheffield Arena, you could have been mistaken for thinking you had arrived in one of Sheffield’s long-gone superclubs such as Gatecrasher or Bed, as the deep bass vibrated around the arena and the neon lights flashed while Example and his DJ took to the stage.
Under his moniker as Example, Elliott Gleave brought to the dancefloor some of the biggest club tunes of the last fifteen years, not that he was going to let the Sheffield audience forget that – ‘Watch the Sun Come Up’ and ‘Changed the Way You Kissed Me’ being, pardon the pun, good examples. As a warm-up act for tonight’s headliners, it was a case of job well done.
Example, supporting JLS, at Sheffield Utilita Arena
“Huge screams”
Since emerging as finalists on The X Factor over seventeen years ago, JLS have stormed the charts, completed numerous sold-out tours and won countless awards. Why the band split up twelve years ago remains a mystery, a question that was prominent as the four members arrived on stage, jack-in-the-box style, popping up from nowhere as the ‘The Club Is Alive 2025 Hits’ tour kicked off. The huge screams from the mainly female audience were deafening and the atmosphere was electric as the party began.
With Aston Merrygold on crutches due to a foot injury during the tour rehearsals, the old adage that the show must go on seemed more pertinent than ever.
As ‘The Club Is Alive’ and ‘Do You Feel What I Feel?’ rang around the arena, it felt like JLS had never been away. For every request to “put your hands in the air” there was a big hit to accompany the demand.
They know how to cajole their fans: “Are you going to be louder than Liverpool and Newcastle?” they asked. Of course, the Yorkshire audience was definitely going to be louder.
JLS onstage at Sheffield Arena
“Missed opportunity”
The energy only dipped for the ballad ‘Love You More’, as the four members sat down to perform the track.
The inclusion of two DJ sets from both Merrygold and Marvin Humes featured hits from Usher, Taio Cruz and Nelly, amongst others. Whilst this might have been in respect to their influences, why the band were playing other artists’ hits and not performing more of their own tracks seemed like a missed opportunity.
Things got back on track with ‘One Shot’ and the track most associate with JLS, ‘Breathe Again’, as the club feel came alive again. After tonight’s performance, JLS are back and very much alive.
The tour continues with a Yorkshire date at Leeds Arena on Thursday 20 November
images: Graham Clark
Graham was born and raised in Keighley. A dedicated live music enthusiast, he has attended hundreds of concerts across the North and feels fortunate to have Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester within easy reach — all key stops on major touring circuits. He has also supported Bradford Live, the upcoming 4,000-capacity venue opening in autumn 2025, helping to secure backing from some of the biggest names in live entertainment. Passionate about food, Graham draws on his background in hospitality to offer honest, experience-led insights in his reviews. He’s also a keen traveller, having explored extensively throughout Europe, America and Asia.
