Katy Perry still has that ROAR!

Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour at the SSE Arena in Belfast on October 5th was an absolute blast! The night kicked off with Goldie Boutilier, a Canadian singer who totally channelled Lady Gaga mixed with Goldfrapp. Her club-inspired vibes and fun energy warmed up the crowd nicely; it was like a little sneak peek of the fun to come.

Then, eight years after her last visit, Katy Perry took the stage, and wow, what a show! The setup was vast, a massive infinity-shaped stage that stretched across 70% of the arena. There were funky screens in all sorts of shapes, and let’s not forget the cool stuff hanging from the ceiling cages, trapezes, and dazzling LED lights, all teasing us with what was about to unfold.

Once the lights dimmed, we were treated to an epic video intro that laid out the night’s theme: a world taken over by some alien AI powered by captured butterflies. Talk about a plot twist! Next thing you know, Katy burst through the centre stage in a cyborg-inspired outfit, swinging up above the audience, ready to dive straight into “Artificial.” Her vocals? Totally on point! She kept the energy going with a fresh take on “Chained to the Rhythm” and “Teary Eyes.” It was like a thrilling ride through all her hits and songs from her seven studio albums!

And there was plenty of eye candy too “Dark Horse” had synchronised dancers everywhere, and then came the costume change for a medley of classics like “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Hot and Cold.” The stage was alive with climbing frames and even a giant inflatable woman, talk about bringing drama! Katy was in her element, making cheeky jokes and even snagging a fan’s phone mid-performance to film herself. She dropped it down her shirt, joking that “now he has proof,” and returned it just before crooning “I Kissed a Girl” while swinging in a globe-shaped cage. You could tell she’d been taking notes from Pink’s impressive aerial antics!

Then it was time for some 143 vibes with “Nirvana,” “Crush,” and “I’m His, He’s Mine,” all accompanied by more stunning visuals and impressive aerial displays. As “Wide Awake” wrapped up, we got to choose our favourite songs via QR code, and my personal fave “Unconditional” made the cut! Katy invited three lucky fans onstage for a heartwarming chat, and who could resist a tear or two when a sweet little kid named Jack, dressed in butterfly wings, got up there? He was so emotional, but soon brightened up, shaking maracas alongside Katy during the song. It was pure magic!

Things took a dark turn as “E.T.” kicked off with menacing dancers, and Katy brandished a Star Wars-style lightsaber to battle the alien queen. It was epic! “Part of Me” followed, with Katy running around the stage like a boss and unleashing fireworks with a cannon during “Rise.” Seriously, this show was giving everything and more!

To cap it all off, she freed those butterflies and soared through the arena on a giant butterfly while belting out “Roar.” The whole crowd sang along like we were all part of one big choir! She mixed in a dance remix of “Daisies,” giving each of her dancers their moment in the spotlight.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, she closed out the night with “Firework.” The entire arena was standing, cheering, and singing with every ounce of energy we had left. Before disappearing backstage, Katy shouted, “God Bless Belfast!” and honestly, how could we not be enchanted entirely? What a night!

Photo credits: Cool FM and Katy Perry Fan Club (KPFC)