Scouting for Girls at O2 Academy

Scouting for Girls is an English pop rock band that was formed in 2005. The founding members of the band, Roy Stride, Pete Ellard, and Greg Churchouse, have been friends since they were five years old and have remained true to their original sound, never changing to chase success.

They gained fame with their self-titled debut album, which topped the UK Albums Chart in 2008 and sold over 1 million copies in the UK. 

The band has released several more albums and achieved eight top 40 singles. They have been nominated for four Brit Awards and one Ivor Novello Award. Scouting for Girls’ music can be found on their official website, where fans can also find news, tour dates, photos, and videos.

Their performance at O2 Academy, Leeds

Scouting for Girls took the stage at O2 Academy Leeds on November 23, for a night that is dazzled with nostalgia. Excitement filled the air as fans, including myself, eagerly queued outside the venue. Might I add, it was a looong queue, with staff members handing out SFG leaflets. Once inside, I treated myself to a stunning white wine around other attendees indulged in refreshing drinks as well. Into the event space, the merchandise area attracted attention, with my friends purchasing SFG black tees to commemorate the experience, and of course - a ‘gig tradition’.

Whilst waiting, the crowd was treated to a playlist of hit music, setting the perfect mood for dancing and enjoyment with drinks in their hands. The lights dimmed, and the support act, ‘The Horn,’ took the stage, getting everybody pumped with their lively performance. Vibrant blue, purple, and orange lights illuminated the arena, the stage, and towards the crowd enhancing the contagious and catchy music.

Following a 30-minute interval, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived! The stage came alive with a massive Scouting for Girls backdrop, and the band emerged to an applause. They kicked off their set with crowd favorites like ‘This Ain’t a Love Song’ and ‘Heartbeat,’ igniting the audience’s dancing shoes. The band members engaged with the crowd, referring to them as SFG’s honorary members for the evening. The audience was split into two halves, singing different parts of the songs in different pitches, creating a friendly competition of volume (obviously our half was better…oops).

The band’s stage presence was genuine and charming, with members even venturing into the balcony to interact with fans. The energy in the room was definitely something that you’d want to be a part of, especially when the crowd chanted for an encore, and Scouting for Girls returned to perform a few more hits, concluding the night with the beloved song “She’s So Lovely”. The audience was left in a nostalgic atmosphere, dancing the evening away (currently have no voice as well).

The concert by Scouting for Girls at O2 Academy Leeds was worth every penny and every second that we boogie’d away. We met fans of different generations, all coming and gathering around a venue to sing and dance with the band with their timeless music. To SFG - we hope to see you again here!