YUNGBLUD – UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AT ENGINE ROOMS, SOUTHAMPTON
In association with Vinilo Record Store
To mark the release of his deeply personal #1 album Idols, YUNGBLUD took things back to where it all began: small rooms, diehard fans, raw energy. He returned to grassroots venues across the UK with a run of intimate shows billed as Up Close and Personal. The stripped back gigs offered fans a rare opportunity to hear tracks from Idols live for the very first time, in venues a world away from the arenas and festival main stages he now calls home.
With a setlist featuring Lovesick Lullaby, Idols Pt 1, Zombie, Fire, War, Monday Murder and Change, the 30 minute performance included several songs YUNGBLUD had never sung live before. “This album took four years to make,” he shared with the crowd. “I was terrified for it to come out because it’s a bit different, it’s a bit strange.” A reminder that even artists at his level – arena headlining, chart topping – still feel that fear. That vulnerability only added to the show’s raw, emotional energy.
Playing to a packed Engine Rooms – Southampton’s largest independent grassroots venue – YUNGBLUD thanked fans for supporting these smaller spaces, saying: “It’s getting so much bigger than I could ever imagine, but I promise ya I’ll always do this shit ‘cos I love it.”
He spoke of the power of connection in live music, encouraging the crowd to look each other in the eyes and say hello to someone new, reminding everyone they are part of something good whilst there’s so much bad happening in the world. He reflected on the joy of recognising familiar faces: “I can’t see anyone in the arenas, but here, I see you. Some of you have been coming to my gigs for years.”
His stage presence was unmatched. Strutting with Jagger-esque energy, he swung his corded mic with wild abandon during high octane tracks, before switching to acoustic guitar for stripped back moments. Every word landed. The room was in the palm of his hand, and when the crowd sang Zombie back at him, it was powerful and emotional – a real moment. It was genuinely moving to witness how full of love and gratitude he is for his fans, for his life, for experiences like this.
The Idols era continues with a massive world tour kicking off in Los Angeles on 23 August, before landing in the UK next spring. Full UK dates are as follows:
UK & IRELAND – IDOLS TOUR 2026
15 April – Dublin
17 April – Leeds
18 April – Cardiff
20 April – Glasgow
23 April – Birmingham
24 April – London
25 April – Manchester
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