Still at the top of their game : The Sugababes at Kendal Calling review

When we think of the biggest female pop groups of the century (The Spice Girls, Girls Aloud and Little Mix to name a few)  the quality of their live performances are often defined by spectacle and extravagance; flamboyant outfits, intense choreography and a defining sense of pulling out all the stops to deliver a mesmerising experience. The Sugababes' arrival at Kendal Calling festival last night - with the groups’ original lineup of Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan striding on to the stage in fashionable yet understated streetwear outfits - therefore stood in immediate contrast to their peers. This is a defining take away from seeing the Sugababes perform live. It’s not a sense of boredom, as there was no doubt the group were savouring every moment on stage, but of complete ease that allows the audience to relax knowing that they are about to watch absolute pros prove exactly why they are still relevant 26 years after their debut.
There is an overwhelming confidence and swagger that exudes from the Sugababes. They don’t feel the need for elaborate set pieces or dramatics; their impeccable vocals, natural chemistry and sheer number of crowd-pleasing hits speak for themselves. It’s a type of assuredness that can only be achieved through decades of hard work and immense talent, evident in the fact that every harmony, riff and vocal arrangement was delivered perfectly during the performance. At least from the audience's perspective, there was not one moment where the group seemed unsure nor a single note fumbled in the hour and 10 minute set. Though the title of ‘The Sugababes’ became increasingly commercialised during the groups’ run, with members frequently swapped in and out over time, this original lineup were not just a medium through which to create soulless hits but rather a powerful and textured vocal pairing. Keisha’s distinctive and unique vocal’s were particularly impressive during the performance yet it is their complimentary dynamic as a group that makes them stand out as a live vocal powerhouse.
The setlist the group curated included a perfect mix of showcasing their signature RnB-meets-maximalist-pop style whilst also remaining varied and exciting throughout. The groups’ songs are defined by intensely catchy choruses that illicit that ‘guilty pleasure’ feeling of a pop song yet are counteracted with a slick sense of RnB-enthused style that removes any sense of faux guilt, providing an abundant supply of irresistible bangers to fill a setlist with. Opening with the tantalisingly chic ‘Freak Like Me’ immediately whipped up the already highly anticipatory crowd into a frenzy. Next, the group launched into ‘Red Dress’, an inspired choice as one of their lesser-known hits that is still a thrillingly dynamic song. This was followed by some Sugababes classics including ‘Hole In The Head’ and ‘Too Lost In You’, which exuded that effortless Sugababes cool-factor before a stripped-back performance of their self-love anthem ‘Ugly’, which felt particularly cathartic in a crowd environment.
Throughout the set, the group established a great rapport with the audience, supported by the fact that they seemed confident enough in themselves that they weren't working too hard but just having a great time together on stage.
Around half way through their set, the group performed their cover of the house classic ‘Flowers’ which showcased their unique vocal sound and extraordinary harmonies while introducing a refreshing change of pace. They went on to perform the first song released after the group reunited a decade ago (under the name MKS having not regained the rights to the name ‘Sugababes’ at the time). The track, called ‘Flatline’, was an unexpected highlight of the set for me ; having never heard the song prior to the show, I was shocked by how atmospheric and sleek the song was and it seemed to resonate with the rest of the crowd who may not have heard the song before either.
The group then played some of their more heartfelt RnB tracks, including ‘Stronger’ and ‘When The Rain Comes’ which were performed with a genuine sense of warmth and served as an appreciated breather before what was to be an epic finale.
The Sugababes knocked it out of the park with this conclusion, making the wise decision to save their most anticipated tracks until the very end and finishing with the catchy hit ‘Round Round’ before returning to the stage for an encore of the joyous crowd-pleasers ‘Push The Button’ and ‘About You Now’. The feeling from the crowd was absolutely ecstatic at this point and the group clearly capitalised on this, giving everything to fully indulging in this performance, including an acapella re-run of the final chorus of ‘About You Now’ with what must’ve been everyone in the crowd enthusiastically singing along at the top of their lungs. There is something uniquely moving about being amongst a group of people united in singing a universally adored British classic, particularly one as serotonin-inducing as ‘About You Now’. As a crowd, largely made up of young people who weren’t alive during even the first 5 years of the groups’ career, the Sugababes proved just how timelessly enjoyable their songs are and performed with the skill and enthusiasm required to carry such iconic tracks.