Katy Perry’s ‘Lifetimes Tour’ in Birmingham: A Triumphant Fusion of Music, Story, and Spectacle
After an eight-year hiatus from touring since her Witness World Tour in 2017, Katy Perry made a triumphant return to the stage at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, performing to a sold-out crowd of over 10,000 fans. This wasn’t just another pop concert — it felt like stepping into a futuristic film that I was lucky enough to be part of.
I’ll admit, I’ve only ever listened to Katy Perry’s biggest hits (and there are plenty), but I knew I couldn’t miss her comeback tour — and I’m so glad I didn’t. What unfolded was one of the most memorable, immersive, and visually stunning shows I’ve ever attended. From start to finish, it was clear that immense effort, creativity, and budget had gone into every element of this production.
The concert, inspired by Perry’s latest album 143, was structured around a sci-fi narrative set inside a video game universe. Over the course of the evening (8:45–11:00 p.m.), fans were taken on a journey where Katy portrayed “KP143,” a half-human, half-machine avatar tasked with saving butterflies from an evil AI known as “Mainframe.” Divided into five acts — Artificial, Woman’s World, Nirvana, Choose Your Own Adventure, Mainframe, and End Game — the show combined live performance, storytelling, and theatrical spectacle.
Although this tour was based on her new material, fans were treated to plenty of classics, including Firework, Roar, California Gurls, Teenage Dream, I Kissed a Girl, and Hot n Cold.
Before Katy took the stage, large screens displayed dynamic visuals, setting the tone for the story to come. The main stage extended into a figure-eight design that allowed Perry and her eight dancers to move among the crowd. At the centre lay the “Infinity Pit,” where her most dedicated fans gathered. In a charming moment of spontaneity, one fan offered Katy a packet of M&S Percy Pigs — which she immediately tried and declared a new favourite candy. A very British moment that made everyone laugh.
During one of her speech breaks, Perry paused to reflect on the multigenerational audience before her, noting how touching it was to see parents who had brought their children to the show. She acknowledged that many of those parents had likely grown up with her music themselves and expressed heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with the next generation. “It makes my heart melt,” she said warmly, thanking the crowd for passing her songs down and Katy expressed that “It makes me so happy that you would do that for me”.
Throughout the night, Perry’s commanding stage presence and genuine joy were undeniable. Her passion for performing radiated across the arena, engaging fans both on the floor and in the furthest seats. High above the crowd, she soared through the air via wire work, at one point landing on an alien-like flower prop near the soundboard to perform an intimate segment before returning midair with an impressive 12 consecutive flips — a new “record” she declared belonged to Birmingham.
In one of the most interactive sections, fans were invited to vote for songs using a QR code. Although my phone signal failed me, the winning selections — Legendary Lovers and Unconditionally from 2013’s PRISM — delighted long-time fans, especially since Perry hadn’t performed Legendary Lovers in nearly a decade.
The audience interaction didn’t stop there. Katy invited four fans on stage — Emily, Harriet, and siblings Harrison and Chloe — for a lighthearted segment involving rhythm shakers and a surprise FaceTime call to Emily’s dad waiting in his car outside the arena after he’d driven Emily and her brother from Weymouth to attend. The highlight came when 13-year-old Harrison confidently showcased his dance moves in front of 10,000 cheering fans, earning a heartfelt ovation from both Perry and the crowd.
Across the five acts, Perry and her dancers changed costumes multiple times, each outfit intricately designed to complement the storyline. A standout moment came during Act IV, when Katy, dressed in a Star Wars-inspired ensemble wielding a double-ended lightsaber, battled enemies and the towering green AI “Mainframe.” As she fired bursts of pyrotechnics from a hand cannon, the digital villain appeared to disintegrate in flames — freeing the butterflies and leading seamlessly into an awe-inspiring aerial performance of Roar atop a giant mechanical butterfly.
The show concluded in spectacular fashion with Firework, as the arena floor filled with butterfly-shaped confetti. Fans, myself included, eagerly collected pieces as keepsakes — a tangible memory from an unforgettable night.
It’s difficult to put into words just how immersive and extraordinary this concert was. The Lifetimes World Tour is not merely a concert — it’s an experience. From the flawless vocals to the elaborate visuals, choreography, and fan interaction, every detail was executed to perfection. Katy Perry’s return to the stage proved that she remains one of pop’s most imaginative and magnetic performers.
