Craven Park, Hull
They may be as cloyingly earnest as ever, but even amid an overwhelming production full of fireworks and lovehearts, Chris Martin and co are in total control
Fireworks explode, lasers shoot, giant balls bounce and a sea of LED wristbands pulse in synchronicity as a rugby stadium in Hull is turned into an exploding candy shop of colour. Now in its third year and approaching a final 10 nights at Wembley Stadium – though it’s expected to return from 2027 – Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour is now the highest attended in rock history with more than 12m tickets sold.
It’s easy to see why. Over the Springsteen-esque shimmer of Higher Power, Chris Martin and co offer up a dizzying dose of Technicolor funk-pop with a level of production that is as impressive as it is overwhelming. At times it’s like being plugged into a VR version of a “good vibes only” LSD trip, including sections with the band dressed as cute aliens and the audience wearing 3D glasses that turn everything into lovehearts.