Jessie J has had a tough year. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer on April 3 2025, just ahead of releasing new material, she fought the battle with a real optimism and determination. If the cancer battle were not enough, she was also in a car crash that lead to severe neck and back pain. However, despite the challenges, the now 38 year old released her first independent album - breaking a 7 year studio release absence. The project had taken several years to record and documented some of the hardest moments of her life with a beautiful and raw honesty. With radio and media backing her release, she became the highlight of many festival appearances and while her personal life meant some performances had to be cancelled, she was able to open to UK leg of her No Secrets Tour at the Birmingham Symphony Hall.
Prior to Jessie taking centre stage, her good friend Daley had a fleeting moment under the spotlight. Having debuted back in 2012 with his album, Those Who Wait, his last studio album, The Spectrum was released back in 2017. However, as he soulfully made his way through his set, he promised and teased new material for later this year.
After a brief interlude, Jessie's band entered the stage and her huge voice filled the Symphony Hall as she worked her way through from the back of the auditorium singing FEEL IT ON ME while interacting with her adoring audience. As she makes it to the stage, she delivers a reworked, acoustic rendition of her breakout hit, Do It Like A Dude and apologises to those who know her for covering My Way on Jools Holland.
Without apology, while simultaneously apologising she promises a set without a setlist that leans towards her latest album, Don't Tease Me With A Good Time, and notes to only sing along if you actually know the words as she can spot a faker. This playfulness lasts throughout the set, as it becomes apparent that Jessie live is half stand up comedy and half flawless, spine-tingling vocals - an unexpected but perfect combination for happy hearts and honest connection.
As she ponders why the world highlights bad people, she asks all her audience of good people to highlight and celebrate their goodness every day. She recounts her early career choices as often calculated, but is thankful for where they have lead her and she jokes tenderly about her wonky boobs and sweaty armpit due to her mastectomy while also managing to bring her audience to tears with memories of her late security guard, Dave and friend, Amy, who she had met through a Make a Wish request.
Married into these moments are key cuts from her latest album, some hitting the mark with the audience and others having not yet made enough impression to prompt a huge sing along, which Jessie handles with authentic humility.
In a reworked version of her early song, Who You Are, which she notes she needs to record as she isn't happy with the one on record, she notes, 'Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart. Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising. Just be true to who you are,' and it's clear this is the ethos for her show and is still a mantra to her own life.
Having sought connection, she alters her setlist at various moments to allow for audience requests, including a duet with audience member Chloe on Big White Room, who had been one of the three audience members who had joined her in impromptu riffs at the end of Queen, which saw her give vocal lessons to super fan Jamal and allowed him a real moment to shine.
While her renditions of Price Tag and Domino, performed in the audience and with several members, receiving the loudest song along, she closes her set with the reaffirmation that we need to find strength in ourselves and how thankful she is for her continued connection with her audience, she delivers a truly stunning rendition of THE AWARD GOES TO, before saying goodnight.
As her audience leave, they are beaming and glowing. Jessie J may have had a tough 2025, but she has channelled the adversity into heart and soul and on this tour she shares that love with pure humour and some of the most powerful vocals you will ever hear. An unforgettable concert experience that delivered tears, talk and so much laughter.
