A true “IT Girl,” the English singer JADE had Philadelphia’s The Fillmore packed to the brim with high energy and the true definition of showbiz, baby: one that harnesses a safe space for all, and creates memories for a lifetime.
For the United Kingdom’s Jade Thirlwall, music has always been a constant. Thirlwall got her first taste of stardom in 2008 when she was a teenager auditioning for the U.K.’s The X Factor. Her third time trying out for the show in 2011, she advanced forward and was placed in girl group Little Mix, effectively changing her life forever. The group gained popularity with their powerful pop ballads, outstanding vocal performances, and girl power anthems. In 2022, Little Mix announced their indefinite hiatus, allowing for the members to venture off and explore solo projects.
It wasn’t until 2024 that she — whose stage name is now JADE — released “Angel Of My Dreams,” a track that she worked tirelessly on, using the creative journey as a way to open up about her ongoing experiences navigating the music industry. JADE’s debut album That’s Showbiz Baby released last September, where she said her sound is based on all the influences from her upbringing. From dance to musical theater, disco and an endless amount of Donna Summer, JADE left nothing behind on the record. Navigating her creative journey as a soloist meant for more vulnerable experiences, something she vowed to not play safe. The response her record received was outstanding, debuting on the U.K.’s top charts but most importantly making music she is endlessly proud of.
Her first taste of touring as a solo artist came from opening for Chappell Roan in Scotland for her Visions Of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour. Soon to follow was the announcement of her first world tour named after her debut album THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!.
Crave Music Magazine was able to attend the Philadelphia show of the tour, getting to take in the entirety of the theatrical night.
The night opened with Adam Theo, a DJ from London whose job was to warm the crowd up for the night ahead. “Do we have any Little Mix fans here?” Theo boomed, and with the screams from the crowd signaling an obvious “yes,” he continued on. “Well you should know all the words then,” he said, playing “No More Sad Songs” by the iconic girl group. His set was full of femme pop artists from MARINA, to Charli XCX, Ariana Grande, Pink Pantheress and more.
There was an abrupt flash of light, and then the leading track from the musical film There’s No Business Like Show Business began playing from the speakers. First came the guitarist/keyboardist with the drummer in suit, then two dancers strutted out on stage, bringing with them a miniature theater curtain. JADE’s music started playing and the crowd roared with the lyrics to her track “FUFN (Fuck You For Now)”, singing loudly “You always think you know me best, you don’t.”
Matching her motions to the beat, JADE teased her stage debut with one arm out of the curtain, followed by one leg, both covered in black sequins. Her dancers then pull the curtains to the side, revealing Jade dressed in a full body suit covered in black sequins topped with white nipple tassels and a black tutu. The crowd sang along to every last word, foreshadowing an incredible energy filled night ahead.
“I love me some Philadelphia,” JADE exclaimed, reminiscing on the last time she had performed in the city, which was with Little Mix in 2017 opening up for Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman Tour. In preparation for the theatrical show ahead, JADE let the crowd know that everyone involved in this show is full out: “We’ve made it, I’m gonna give you absolutely everything I have.”
The groovy, pop-centered track “Headache” began with JADE and her dancers covering every inch of the stage with their entrancing choreography. Every move was thoughtfully performed, matching with expressions that convey every lyric.
Introducing her track “Before You Break My Heart” — which iconically takes the line from The Supremes “Stop! In The Name Of Love” — JADE discussed how this track is a duet with her younger self.
“I wrote it in the perception of my younger self, begging to not forget how far we’ve come together,” she said. The crowd sang back the song’s title loudly in every direction, whether it was back to JADE on stage or turning to their neighbor and singing together. The night flowed with ease, playing the entirety of THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! leaving room for every crowd member to express themselves through singing, dancing, or just watching the show in front of them in awe.
Pockets of vulnerability continued to open through the night especially during “Unconditional,” a song written for her mother who battles illness. The disco-forward track began, and the stage doused in a soft blue light until the hitting break of guitar and drums leading into the chorus where JADE sings, “I will hold your hand forever, even if my heart explodes.” JADE came close to the front of the stage, singing directly to her fans, connecting with a mutual amount of passion.
She expressed her love for her fans multiple times throughout the night, continuing to remind them how much the admiration is mutual. If there is one thing JADE is going to do, is make sure there is an overwhelming amount of support and love shining through her every move. She is a fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA+ and civil rights community. “Is anyone here LGBTQ+?” she asked as the lights rose and hundreds of hands flew up. “Oh, thank God. Thank God you’re here, we need you.”
The night carried on with electricity, performing high energy tracks with her dancers on her side. Each bounce of light matched the bass to perfection, the entirety of the show was theatrical, not missing a beat with tracks like “Plastic Box” and “Glitch” where chair choreography was performed with ease entrancing the crowd with every hip swing and body roll. JADE walked off the stage leaving the dancers to show off their moves to a high-energy track, leaving no room for stagnant feet on the ground.
JADE entered back to the stage in a giant red cloak, kneeling to the ground as she cocooned herself and sang “Natural Disaster.” The opening lines were delivered with softness: “It’s hard to love you when you hate yourself.” The dark and eeriness of the instrumentals only assisted in building up the dramatic reveal of her beautiful red dress. This performance evoked chills throughout the crowd; JADE’s belts and skillful vocal runs came to her with ease, pouring every last ounce of herself in the performance.
“Being in a girl band for 10 years, I’m so grateful to be able to do it on her own,” JADE said on stage, thanking everyone for being there and highlighting her career with Little Mix. She continued on performing a few of her more dance-heavy tracks like “Midnight Cowboy” and “It Girl.” She surprised the crowd with a performance of “Wasabi” by Little Mix and her feature track “Gossip” by Confidence Man, proving to be a crowd favorite.
The last three songs of the show were a true testament to the amount of love and emotion put into everything JADE touches. She took to the balcony for “Silent Disco,” watching over the crowd as she sang the song written about herself and her long term partner Jordan Stephens. Many people in the crowd embraced, feeling the emotional connection the song portrays. The lighting resembled a disco with a spotlight shining bright on her throughout.
JADE’s performance of “Church,” a track on the deluxe version of her record THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE, lit the crowd up. The dance and electronic track dedicated to her queer fanbase tells the story of seeing her first drag queen and how much it inspired her back then and to this day. During this song, you can see how much the crowd turned into one big family, no matter who you are, what you identify with or who you love — there was a space for you in the room, which is exactly what this song is for.
Closing out the night with JADE’s first single “Angel Of My Dreams,” the crowd was the loudest they had been all night, giving their all to her last song. The energy from the crowd only pumped up the performers on the stage. The night ended with a bow from all the performers, and the pre-show track “There’s No Business Like Show Business” played through the speakers, reminiscing on the start of the night. An announcer called them off stage ending with the statement of “That’s Showbiz Baby!”
Keep up with JADE on social media to follow her along the That’s Showbiz Baby! Tour and to see when she will be playing a show near you
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / X / Tiktok
