Joshua Bassett Relives The Golden Years on Latest Headlining Tour

Words by Katherine Cardinale

Photo by Katherine Cardinale

Singer-songwriter Joshua Bassett recently headlined his first-ever show at Radio City Music Hall in support of his highly anticipated debut album, The Golden Years. Joshua, who is most well known for his starring role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, embarked on a solo music career after signing a record deal with Warner Records back in 2019. His second headlining tour, The Golden Years Tour, kicked off on July 30th at the Arizona Financial Theatre and will hit over 35 dates across the United States and Europe.

Joshua has the incredible ability to command the stage and engage his audience through his high energy dancing, emotional lyrics, and heartfelt speeches. This was my second time seeing Joshua in concert and I was just as enthralled by his talent as I was the first time I attended one of his shows. It is clear that he embarked on this tour with more confidence than ever, and it’s been incredible to witness his growth in just over a year. Joshua opened the show with the lead single off his debut album, “The Golden Years,” which shares the same name as both his album and the tour. When teasing the song on TikTok ahead of its release, Joshua referred to the single as something he wrote “a year ago about the nostalgia of a long lost love you’ll never have again.” The high energy of this song was the perfect start to the night, and he followed this intro up with one of his 2021 singles, “Secret.”

Photo by Katherine Cardinale

Joshua’s setlist was the perfect mix of old songs, such as “Lie Lie Lie,” and new ones, including “Cherry Blossom.” He also seamlessly transitioned from upbeat, dance tracks to acoustic ones that featured him playing a white grand piano or acoustic guitar. Some of the highlights of the show included him playing a keytar during “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes,” walking through the crowd during “Different,” and jumping off of his piano during the last song of the main set, “Set Me Free.” One of my favorite parts of the night was when Joshua covered “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel, and based on the volume of the crowd during the song, many of his other fans were thrilled as well.

Two of the most special parts of each night of tour are when Joshua invites fans onstage to boot scoot with him during “Circles” and duet with him during a surprise song; at Radio City, that song was a deep cut from the album titled “Don’t Let Me Down.” These kinds of interactions make each night uniquely memorable, and they foster a genuine connection between Joshua and his fans.

Joshua closed the night with the final track off his album, “Look How Far You’ve Come.” The song is about overcoming struggle and remaining positive despite everything you have encountered throughout your life. It is the perfect track to end the night, and leaves fans feeling good about themselves and ready to face the world.

Joshua is touring his debut album through early October, and his show is a must-see for fans all over the world. Be sure to purchase your tour tickets here!