Harry Styles, the British pop singer known for his eclectic style and boy band roots, is finally back on stage after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. But eager fans who scored tickets for his return are finding that, despite the elevated price tag, the tour is not “As It Was.”
Night one of the 67-date “Together, Together” tour kicked off in Amsterdam before a crowd of 50,000 fans, bringing his new album Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally to life.
While critics called the evening a “triumphant comeback,” some fans in attendance were less than impressed, raising concerns over a short setlist, underwhelming production, and an obstructive stage design.
“Harry, please, I beg as a friend of someone that’s actually going to your shows—stadium shows cannot be the same length as arena shows—you need more than 20 songs,” one user posted on X. “[The] price they’re paying does warrant more songs—The Weeknd’s stadium shows are 39-41 songs, brother.”
Similar complaints spread across social media platforms, including Threads, Instagram, and TikTok, referencing the high ticket prices that caused controversy when they first went on sale. For instance, prices were often above the $1,000 mark.
Another disappointment for some was the show’s stage design, which featured large runways connected by bridges, allegedly leaving premium ticket-holders in the pit with obstructed views.
“The stage set up for the Harry Styles tour is genuinely one of the most poorly planned out stage designs I think I’ve ever seen,” one commenter posted on Threads. “Like it pretty much means the majority of the floor tickets, aka the most expensive ones, have an absolutely crap view for most of the show and some can’t even see the screens.”
A representative for the tour told Fast Company that “the floor concept was designed to give fans freedom of movement,” but acknowledged the obstruction issues and indicated that adjustments were being made.
“That open, free-flowing floor experience has always been an essential part of Harry’s live shows,” the rep said. “A small area of the staging in specific floor positions appears to have had a restricted sightline. Those areas are being reviewed carefully and adjusted where possible in compliance with all safety restrictions”
A new creative direction
It wasn’t just those impacted by the stage who were underwhelmed by the show.
“That big ass stage and for what?? for him to run around like a toddler with no production, no dancers,” one X user complained.
The tour’s aesthetics are significantly different from what fans have come to expect from Styles. On the opening night, the singer wore tailored trousers accompanied by a red jacket, a shirt, and a tie.
Although fashionable, its far less flamboyant than the creative direction of his previous tours. On his last tour, Styles’s costumes were often adorned with bright colors, sequins, and androgynous designs.
While costumes might be missing, there are indeed some elements that are new to Styles. For instance, the new tour has intricate choreography, backup dancers, and more musicians for specific acoustic songs—none of which were present in past tours.
“He put a lot of thought into this tour”
Criticism aside, many of those who were not immediately affected by the stage—and who were willing to embrace Styles’s new era—seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show.
“The king of pop is so back,” a fan who attended the concert posted on TikTok. Another added on X: “Harry Styles tour is made to be seen from seating because yesterday was amazing and I have nothing to complain about.”
And others are tying the event back to the new album’s ethos, which aims to bring back dancing culture in the age of live events made for Instagrammable shots.
“He put a lot of thought into this tour, he said he wanted people to dance, so obviously the floor is best for and has been made for that,” a user said. “Why be on the floor if you aren’t dancing?”