Harry Styles closes out North American leg of 'Love on Tour' at Acrisure Arena, celebrates birthday with fans

When Harry Styles is in town, his fans make sure you know it loud and clear, and with plenty of sequins as well.

Playing to a sold-out crowd at Acrisure Arena on Wednesday, Styles ― holding a balloon in honor of his birthday ― came out to a thunderous roar of screams and cheers that could shatter eardrums miles away. He kicked off the performance with ”Daydreaming” from his latest album “Harry’s House.”

“My name is Harry,” he addressed the crowd, wearing a matching sparkly pink blazer and pants, before adding that his and his band’s job was to entertain the crowd as best as they could.

Wednesday’s performance was special for two reasons, he said. It marked the end of the North American leg of his Love On Tour, and it was his 29th birthday, which was met with another symphony of screams.

“I feel wiser today,” he said before singing “Daylight.”

The singer kept close to the setlist he performed at other shows, with songs like “Golden,” ”Adore You” and ”Late Night Talking,” but it didn’t matter to fans much. Before he stepped foot on stage, the crowd was already singing and dancing to music, like his former boy band One Direction’s song ”Best Song Ever,” that played over the speakers. Once he started dancing on stage and talking with fans, asking how they were doing and encouraging them to sing along, the thousands gathered couldn’t get enough.

The ”Sign of the Times” singer also took time to poke fun at fans’ signs. One read ”Got dumped by my situationship,” to which Styles said he wasn’t even sure how that was possible. Another fan learned she was three months pregnant on Wednesday, and Styles said he knew she would be a great parent.

The Grammy Award-winner played two sold-out shows at Acrisure Arena (with a capacity of 11,000) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Alternative artist Madi Diaz, who opened the show on Wednesday with songs “Burn” and “Woman in My Heart,” among others, was also met with loud enthusiasm from the crowd. Even if Diaz admitted she was “nervous” to perform in front of massive crowd, she commanded the stage for 40 minutes.

Styles' tour is a showcase of his most recent album, "Harry's House," which was released in May, and included favorites off his two other albums, "Harry Styles" and "Fine Line." Later this month he will perform in Australia, and the tour is scheduled to finish in July in Italy.

Acrisure Arena staff went all-out to make the birthday boy feel welcome. Themed drinks, like watermelon Italian ice in homage to his song "Watermelon Sugar," were available for purchase. Fans also coul take pictures in front of a ”Happy Birthday Harry” sign, as long as they were patient enough to wait in a line hundreds-deep.

A dark arena sang “Happy birthday” to the superstar once he finished up his set, and he returned for encore performances of “Sign of the Times,” ”As It Was” and ”Kiwi.”

His band also played “Happy birthday” and presented a cake to him. After he blew out his candles, Styles thanked his fans for coming out to his shows over the years and supporting him in his career.

Though doors didn't open until 6:30 p.m., thousands of fans were fine enduring hours of sunshine ahead of showtime. Mikayla Duke and Kallie Baker of Nebraska were lined up in front of the arena at 3:30 p.m.

They attended his Jan. 29 show in Inglewood, and because they have a little bit of an “obsession” with the Brit, they got tickets for both Palm Desert shows.

Even if the setlist might repeat, Baker said “no show is the same,” especially when it comes to his extravagant outfit choices and the way he interacts with the crowd. Duke added that the Tuesday night show was ”very loving” and full of ”dedicated fans.”

Amy Rickard and her daughter, Katy, made a special trip from the Bay area to attend his "birthday bash." They've both seen him perform live many times before, and were both equally excited for the desert iteration.

"He's such a lively performer. He's really good with the crowd, he's energetic and happy," Katy Rickard said. "You can tell he's having so much fun, and it makes me have even more fun than I'm already having."

Amy Rickard recently celebrated her 50th birthday − her golden one − and was excited to hear Styles perform his song "Golden." When she saw the English singer perform for the first time, she recalled it being "so loud" in the San Francisco venue it was held, but also being surrounded by a positive energy in the room.

"I just remember standing there and seeing people being really happy," Amy Rickard said. "People were dressed up, people were in boas and crowns and dresses. It was just so fun."

Katy Rickard was sporting a big, puffy pink dress for the occasion. Other attendees wore sparkly dresses, feather boas, disco-era style boots (which the singer is known to wear himself) and paper birthday hats. 

The Wednesday night concert also ended up being a reunion for Annette Palacio of Lake Forest, Xiomara Siripane, of Los Angeles, and Samantha Dittmer, who flew in from Indiana on Tuesday. The three met each other at other Styles concerts, and though they don’t get to see each other often, they make time whenever the superstar puts on a show. 

His concerts even drew a few famous faces. Singer Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom were spotted dancing to the "As It Was" singer's Tuesday night show, according to social media posts. Newsweek also reported that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and media personality Kris Jenner were also in the audience.

Styles has had a number of appearances in the Coachella Valley in recent years. The singer filmed Olivia Wilde's psychological thriller "Don't Worry Darling," also starring Florence Pugh, in Palm Springs in 2020. He then returned to the desert to headline the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2022, where he debuted a few new songs from "Harry's House" and shared the stage with special guests country legend Shania Twain and hip-hop superstar Lizzo.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.