Live review: Flo Rida brings Vegas-level showmanship and a whole lot of twerking to Wembley Arena
Flo Rida pulled out every trick in his arsenal at his throwback spectacle in the British capital on October 14.

With nostalgia seemingly a new form of currency, Flo Rida brought the party vibes to OVO Arena Wembley for his first London show since 2009.
Descending on the capital for one-night-only as part of his European Club Can’t Handle Me tour, the huge crowd that awaits his arrival proves he remains as popular as ever. Despite being behind some of the biggest pop-rap bangers of the noughties, it’s easy to forget quite how many iconic anthems the 128th biggest artist in the world on Spotify has had.
Thanks to his DJ (DJ Montay)’s decade-defining bangers - Usher and Lil Jon’s Yeah! has one guy in the golden circle breakdancing and LMFAO!’s Party Rock Anthem pumps out of the towering speakers - the energy inside the arena has reached fever pitch prior to show time. Yes, someone could have just stuck on the Now That’s What I Call Music! 79 CD, but the EDM-rap of Nicki Minaj’s Starships goes feral with feel-good hysteria. Then, when the lights go out and a techno edit of Akon’s Sexy Bitch absolutely booms, it’s almost like Wembley has turned into Berghain. No, seriously!
With DJ Montay also playing the role of hypeman, the headline act appears in his trademark sunglasses, wielding a sparkling mic (with colour-changing stand). Joined by a full live band (Flo Fusion) and four athletic, minimally-dressed female dancers (aka the Wild Ones), fan favourite In the Ayer kicks things off. What follows is a hit-packed show (Where Them Girls At, Right Round, Hangover) to rival Pitbull’s recent run, and, although the lyrics to some songs - especially Whistle - might not have aged particularly well, nobody seems to care.
In many ways, it’s what you might expect from a Flo Rida show: Vegas-level showmanship, fake dollars, champagne showers, tequila shots, roses for some lucky ladies, a whole lot of twerking, and he even gives his trainers away after signing them. Contrastingly, there are also free-for-all moments throughout that are distinctly unique because they depend on which “superstars”, as he lovingly refers to them, are in the crowd.
For Low, he invites about 20 women up to dance and then again for Wild Ones, giving some a mic to fill in for an absent Sia (which has mixed results); a crew of puppy-excited guys later join for GDFR. While a great opportunity for selfies, those perhaps less confident - or just farther away - also get a meet-and-greet level treat as Flo Rida hops on the shoulders of his security team to make his way around the arena.
Bouncing with the audience on the ground floor and later in the stands - hordes run towards him for a euphoric Good Feeling - it feels like a deserved victory lap. Bringing a birthday girl on stage and momentarily making her the DJ is also a nice touch; “I wanna see so many lights on the cake that Christina can’t count them”.
If there’s one criticism, it’s that his mic could do with being turned up because, at times, his flow is nearly overpowered by the rock-leaning guitar riffs and heavy drums. But, as he made clear early on, “this is not a performance, this is not a show; this is a party!” True to his word, the 46-year-old star's energy is tireless across the hour and a half show and, by the time he brings things to a close at just before 11pm, the bravado is gone, replaced by genuine sincerity. “This means so much to us that y’all would take some time out of your precious schedule to come celebrate with me. I don’t take this for granted,” he enthuses.
One thing’s certain - demand for Flo Rida has never been higher. His UK fans can only hope his next trip across the pond lasts a little longer.
Rating: 4/5