Jade Thirlwall threw down the gauntlet to Little Mix fans in Newcastle as the band came to town with their Confetti tour, having consistently boasted about her home crowd being the best.
The tour was originally set in the diary for last year, but the former X Factor winners' plans were thwarted by the coronavirus, with the dates postponed by almost a whole year. And then anticipation for the tour climbed even higher at the end of 2021 when Little Mix announced they'd be taking a break once the tour came to an end.
Jade and bandmates Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock kicked off the Confetti shows in Belfast last weekend, before heading to Dublin. The Newcastle gigs were always going to be extra special for South Shields girls Jade and Perrie, especially with them not having the opportunity to perform on home turf for over two years.
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And, having been counting down the days and constantly talking up the Geordie crowd to people in other parts of the UK, Jade wanted to make sure the fans in Newcastle were ready to do her proud at the Utilita Arena. Rather aptly posting a black and white backstage picture of herself on Instagram on Friday, Jade wrote: "We’re in the toon today. Newcastle I hope you’re ready to give it everything the next 3 shows cos I tell everyone who’ll listen you’re one of the best crowds in the world - my family and friends are in and nothing makes me prouder than performing at home! Howay the mixers!"
Jade used black and white hearts to illustrate her point and then, during the show itself, was delighted to spot a few Newcastle United tops in the Utilita Arena crowd, as well as a few shirts from her home town club South Shields FC.
