Aurora Delivers a Magical, Madcap Night at London's Sold-Out OVO Arena
Table 7 | 03.05.25
On May 3rd, the OVO Arena in London became the epicentre of pure musical and emotional energy as Norwegian alt-pop star Aurora took to the stage for a sold-out show that fans had been eagerly awaiting for months. The anticipation was so intense that queues stretched for miles outside the venue hours before doors opened, with dedicated fans lining up early just to claim their seats and soak in every second of the experience.
The evening kicked off with two outstanding opening acts, Pomme and Fredrik Svabo, who each brought a unique and deeply resonant sound to the stage. Their sets were more than just warm-ups—they were perfectly curated to set the emotional and musical tone for what would become an unforgettable night. It was immediately clear why Aurora and her team had handpicked them for this special occasion.
As the minutes ticked down to Aurora's entrance, the atmosphere inside the arena became electric. The crowd was buzzing, many visibly emotional, some in tears—an ocean of people united by their love for the artist they were about to see live in the flesh. And then, she appeared. The moment Aurora stepped onto the stage, the roar from the audience was deafening. The roof of the OVO Arena might as well have lifted. The energy was explosive.
Launching into her set with dazzling, high-octane energy, Aurora bounded across the stage like a ballerina in a thunderstorm—elegant, fierce, and fully in command. Her opening songs were a blend of bold and delicate, capturing the duality that defines her artistry: quiet vulnerability paired with fearless self-expression. She spun and leapt, her presence magnetising the crowd with every movement and note.
Shortly after her opening numbers, Aurora paused to speak to her fans, offering heartfelt thanks for their love and support. “Hello people of flesh and bone”. It was a tender moment—until it took an unexpected (and hilarious) turn. "There has been a maggot problem on stage here at the OVO Arena," she announced mid-speech, lifting what can only be described as a disturbingly large maggot from the stage floor. "Look at this fat bastard!” she exclaimed with a grin, cradling it in her hand as if it were a pet. The audience roared with laughter and disbelief.
Anyone familiar with Aurora’s shows knows to expect the unexpected—but this maggot monologue was next level, even by her whimsical standards.
And then, with barely a moment’s pause, she launched into some of her most beloved tracks, including Queendom—dedicated loudly and proudly to “the gays!” which earned a thunderous cheer—and Animal, which had the entire venue bouncing with euphoria.
Mid-set, Aurora revisited her earlier maggot musings with mock-serious regret: "I've taken so many lives during that last song," she said, referring once again to the maggots, before declaring, “The next song will be dedicated to the maggots because you've got to love them.” Her oddball humour and heartfelt sentiment somehow coexisted perfectly, as she mused on the idea that even the "ugliest beings" deserve love. “Even this fat bastard deserves to be loved,” she added, lifting yet another stage intruder to a mix of laughter and applause.
With the maggots respectfully cleared, the tone shifted again as Aurora, joined by two female bandmates, delivered a haunting a cappella piece that brought the entire arena to a hushed standstill. The harmonies were so precise, so emotionally raw, that the silence in the room was deafening. It was a moment of pure musical intimacy, the kind that lingers long after the final note fades.
Then—bang—the energy surged again. Aurora returned to her warrior form with another pulse-pounding track, throwing herself across the stage like a Nordic Valkyrie on a mission. The vocals were fierce, the performance primal. She didn’t just sing; she roared.
As the night drew to a close, the crowd responded with an extended standing ovation that seemed to stop time. Aurora, visibly moved said quietly, “Thank you so much for being so kind to me and showing love.” The love was returned tenfold, in cheers, whistles, and waves of adoration from a fanbase utterly spellbound.
But it wasn’t over yet. Aurora returned for a rapturous encore, performing three more songs that brought the house down one final time. She closed the night not with a speech, but with a final song that encapsulated the message she had carried throughout the show—one of love, resilience, and togetherness in an often-chaotic world. “It’s an extreme sport being a human,” she had said earlier in the night. “Almost impossible.” But for those inside the OVO Arena on May 3rd, it felt just a little more possible. For a few transcendent hours, Aurora created a space where weirdness was welcome, love was loud, and even maggots had a place in the light.
