Girls Aloud made a heartfelt return to the stage on Friday night, kicking off their reunion tour in Dublin after an 11-year hiatus, per digitalspy.com. Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh dedicated their comeback tour to their late bandmate Sarah Harding, who passed away in 2021 following a battle with advanced breast cancer.
The opening night of The Girls Aloud Show was filled with poignant moments, particularly during a moving performance of “I’ll Stand By You.” The group sang alongside a video of Harding, creating an emotional duet that resonated deeply with the audience. Nadine Coyle introduced the tribute by saying, “We’re going to do a duet with Sarah tonight. It’s going to be us, Sarah, you. Let’s do this together.”
Throughout the concert, the band kept Harding at the centre of their setlist, beginning with “Untouchable” against a backdrop of archival footage of Sarah. Nicola Roberts reflected on the significance of their music, stating, “When we recorded this next song 19 years ago, we had no idea 19 years later it would become so poignant on our journey.” Kimberley Walsh added, “Standing feeling all the emotions you’re feeling. I hope you know it means as much as it means to you.”
Cheryl expressed gratitude to their fans, saying, “Thank you for your support through everything we went through with Sarah. It’s hard to believe but it’s such a beautiful thing to be on stage with these ladies again.”
The concert’s emotional peak came during “The Promise,” where the group paused mid-performance to watch footage of Harding singing her part of the song, leaving many in tears.
Fans took to social media to share their reactions, with one writing, “Girls Aloud best gig I’ve ever been to. The show, the vibe, the tribute to Sarah. Perfection.” Another commented, “Seen #TheGirlsAloudShow tonight and I honestly think it might be the best concert I’ve ever been to. The tributes to Sarah had me bawling.”
Girls Aloud will continue their tour in Belfast before heading to Manchester next week, culminating in a sold-out performance in Liverpool on June 30.
