Boy bands are experiencing a surge in popularity, driven by factors such as the comeback of BTS, the return of Five and Boyzone for the older generation, and the big-budget launch of Simon Cowell on December 13 for the younger fans.

Heck, even BoyzLife are currently A-listed at BBC Radio 2 after years of building on the periphery of the industry. With all these components combining, it is clear that there are multiple individuals with big sway that feel now is the time for a new big breakout boy band to go the distance. While Cowell has his project to focus on, Australia's Michael Chugg and his team are backing Midnight 'Til Morning, the quartet formed on the Netflix series Building The Band. Having not quite made the final (which was won by the impressive 3Quency), the group (Conor, Mason, Shane & Zach) had managed to form a strong bond and met up in Australia in the aftermath of filming to focus their efforts on their next steps. Just 7 months after the series aired, they have an EP under their belt, a sold-out US tour and are in Birmingham for the fifth sold-out night of their debut European tour. With all that hype surrounding them, we decided it was time to check out whether they could potentially be the next big boy band.

Aleksiah, their management mate, slinks onto stage dressed in a rather strange skirt/dress look and launches into what is a truly impressive set before the quartet arrives on stage for their screaming audience, which is interestingly diverse in age. The Adelaide-based singer/songwriter clearly understands pop, and with a Carly Rae Jepsen-leaning sound, she delivers future hit after future hit in a simple but memorable set. With an ability to really engage her audience, it is apparent that she is a star in the making, and all she needs is that one breakout song to send her shooting up to the top of the charts, where there is little doubt she has the ability to remain.

Having had the bar set high by their opening act, Midnight 'Til Morning arrive on stage to euphoric screams. They waste little time before launching into Ghost Of Us. From the very moment they start their song, it is more than apparent that this is an audience who have waited for this moment. Knowing the lyrics to their whole set, not just the previously released material, the group's following is a truly loyal one, and the band's appreciation of the numerous banners and little gifts they collect when leaving the stage for the photographer's pit at numerous junctions throughout their set demonstrates that they understand the importance of those little interactions.

Shane

Zach

Although their initial couple of songs show their potential, it is with Math, Edge of Amazing, Navy Eyes and Heart of Fire that they show that they really have the material to marry to their vocal abilities to become the next big act. Interestingly, their covers, such as Hoobstank's The Reason, Olivia Rodrigo's driver's license, and a poignant rendition of Liam Payne's Midnight, enhance the brightness of their voices, rather than merely serving as filler songs in the set. 



However, while the vocal presence and fan dynamics are certainly there, the group struggled on the smaller stage to really feel cohesive in their movements, and though their inter-band interactions were touching, they sometimes felt staged. Perhaps a larger tour later in the year, which allows for more movement and breathing room, will alleviate this aspect of the show.

That being said, there is no denying that this is a group with huge potential and one that will no doubt be stealing hearts for a good few years to come. Screwing up signed set lists and throwing them to their fans at the end of their show, rather than just slinking off post bye, showed they are a band that really understands that need for genuine connection.

Catch Midnight 'Til Morning at Manchester Academy tonight