BUSTED VS MCFLY: LEEDS, UK
Busted VS McFly
at First Direct Arena in Leeds, UK
words by Kayla Kerridge
“Busted vs McFly.” After years of collaboration (remember McBusted?), this format promised something different , two bands, two legacies, and one giant arena stage to battle it out for fan supremacy. The “versus” concept was more tongue-in-cheek than cutthroat, but it gave the night a unique energy. Each band played full sets, traded playful jabs, and tried to outdo one another not just musically, but with charisma, crowd connection, and sheer volume of screams.
McFly opened the evening with swagger. With two decades under their belts, they performed like a band that knows exactly who they are. Kicking off with high-energy tracks like ‘Star Girl’ and ‘One for the Radio,’ they got the crowd singing early and never really let go.
Their set was tight, vocally strong, and full of harmonies that reminded everyone why they were pop-rock darlings in the first place. The interplay between bandmates was effortless, and their set struck a nice balance between upbeat anthems and mid-tempo nostalgia. There were a few slower moments that slightly dipped the pace, but overall, McFly delivered a clean and confident performance.
Busted hit the stage with an edgier vibe. Their sound was punchier, their delivery more aggressive, and their tone slightly more rebellious. There was a lot of anticipation and emotion surrounding their set, especially given the absence of James Bourne, who was sidelined due to health issues. His brother, Chris Bourne, stepped in to fill the gap.
The band addressed the situation head-on with humour and heart, and fans responded with overwhelming support. While some of the band’s signature harmonies felt thinner without James, Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis powered through with grit, energy, and enough attitude to own the moment.
Songs like ‘Crashed the Wedding,’ ‘Air Hostess,’ and ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’ landed hard, igniting waves of nostalgia and reminding the crowd of Busted’s chaotic, fun-loving spirit. Chris Bourne did an admirable job stepping in, and despite the lineup change, Busted’s set had a raw urgency that contrasted nicely with McFly’s polished delivery.
Both bands leaned into the “versus” theme with banter that was cheeky and competitive but always lighthearted. There were digs, jokes, and shoutouts to the opposing camp , all of which kept the audience grinning.
A standout moment came when both bands shared the stage for a few final songs, putting aside the rivalry and joining forces in true fan-service fashion. The encore included massive singalongs and crowd-pleasers like ‘5 Colours in Her Hair’ and ‘Year 3000,’ with everyone, audience and bandmates alike, clearly relishing the moment.
From a technical perspective, the show was slick and professional. The lighting was dynamic without being overbearing, the sound mix was largely solid, and the pacing between sets was smooth. The crowd was electric from start to finish. This was clearly a fanbase that had grown up with these bands, and their enthusiasm, from singing every lyric to waving homemade signs, added an extra layer of energy that neither band took for granted.
There was a tangible emotional undercurrent throughout the night, especially with Busted navigating James Bourne’s absence. But rather than bringing the energy down, it seemed to inspire the band, and the fans, to give a little more.
It’s tempting to pick sides, McFly had the tighter set, while Busted brought the fire. But in truth, the real winners were the fans who got to experience two era-defining bands sharing the same stage in a night of loud guitars, screaming choruses, and unapologetic nostalgia.
This show wasn’t just a battle of bands, it was a celebration of a generation's soundtrack, and Leeds showed up, sang loud, and reminded everyone that these songs still hit just as hard in 2025 as they did back in the day.