Live Review: The Script, JP Cooper

It's been about two years since JP Cooper released his first solo breakthrough hit (September Song) and the record has just reached a gold status in Australia to coincide with his first tour to our shores. He flies through the set and those who think they may not have heard his music before quickly recognise some of his popular collaborations including Jonas Blue's Perfect Strangers (Cooper features on vocals). Cooper delivers a smooth and dynamic performance that showcases his versatility with elements of gospel-infused folk, soulful R&B tones and powerful crooning vocals. Of his closer, the uplifting Passport Home, Cooper tells, "It's about people in our lives who are like passports and you wouldn't be able to get to places like this without them."

A montage of people explaining what freedom means to them plays on the screen. "Freedom is the choice to do whatever you want to do and believing you can actually do it. Find a dream and make it real," says one. Inspirational words ("LOVE", "LIVE", "FEEL", "CRY", "LEARN", "LAUGH", "COME OUT") flash up onscreen as The Script make a powerful entrance with their hit Superheroes. Green lights soon flood the stage as they unleash the energetic Irish anthem (Paint The Town Green), paying tribute to their homeland. Green confetti explodes over GA and really gets us excited. "I don't know what we love more," shouts frontman Danny O'Donoghue. "The night out or the hangover we have the next day after we play here!"

The Script then recreate a moment they had when they toured Melbourne three years ago: O'Donoghue sits on the edge of the stage and lets the audience sing the first few choruses of The Man Who Can't Be Moved before joining in. "You sound even better this time than you did before," he tells the crowd, before adding, "The fuckin' hairs on the back of my neck are standing up!" Images of neon wings illuminate around the stage as The Script share their latest single Arms Open. O'Donoghue is a born entertainer and his stage presence is undeniable. He demonstrates his incredible showmanship during the fun, reggae-inspired anthem No Man Is An Island as he runs all over the stage, encouraging audience participation and starting a battle to prove which side of the arena is louder (it's the left side).

The band take a moment to go back to basics with a stripped-back performance, in the middle of the seated section, of a few tunes including Never Seen Anything "Quite Like You". O'Donoghue then continues to make his way through the crowd, circling the entire arena, as he sings The Energy Never Dies while stopping to pose for a few selfies along the way. He eventually rejoins the band on stage and we take out our phones to light up the arena. "Let's feel the energy in the room to make a moment together," O'Donoghue suggests before the last song, Hall Of Fame, welcoming any new fans to The Script family.