Flicker Sessions

In September 2016, it was announced that Horan had signed a solo recording contract with Capitol Records.{{cite web|author=|title=Rumor Mill: Niall In the Family|url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=302822|website=Hits|publisher=HITS Digital Ventures|access-date=8 September 2016|date=7 September 2016}} Horan released two singles, "This Town" and "Slow Hands" prior to releasing his debut album in October 2017.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/niall-horan-plots-intimate-flicker-sessions-2017-world-tour-w491538 |title=Niall Horan Plots Intimate 'Flicker Sessions 2017' World Tour |last1=Reed |first1=Ryan |date=10 July 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Wenner Media LLC|access-date=10 July 2017}}{{cite magazine|last1=Bacle |first1=Ariana|url=http://ew.com/music/2017/05/04/niall-horan-slow-hands-new-song/ |title=Niall Horan gets funky on new track, 'Slow Hands' |date=4 May 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=29 May 2017}}

The tour was officially announced on 10 July 2017 via Horan's social media accounts and website.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7858087/niall-horan-worldwide-tour-flicker-sessions-2017 |title=Niall Horan Announces Worldwide Tour |last1=Bell |first1=Sadie |date=10 July 2017 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Eldridge Industries |access-date=21 November 2017}} In North America, pre-sale tickets were made available via Ticketmaster's Verified Fan platform.{{cite web |title=Niall Horan Announces Epic Headlining Worldwide Tour For First Solo Album|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/07/10/niall-horan-tour-dates-flicker-sessions/ |last1=Ginsberg |first1=Gabriella |date=10 July 2017 |website=Hollywood Life |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=21 November 2017}} Many shows were sold-out, leaving fans upset with the limited number of shows and the small venues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/niall-horan-fans-left-devastated-as-irish-gig-sells-out-in-minutes-35933742.html|title=Niall Horan fans left devastated as Irish gig sells out in minutes|last=Finn|first=Melanie|date=15 July 2017|website=Irish Independent|access-date=7 August 2018}} The singer responded to fans on social media that the 2017 shows were just the beginning.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7864671/niall-horan-flicker-sessions-tour-additional-dates-2018 |title=Niall Horan is Sorry His Flicker Sessions Tour Isn't Hitting Your Town, But Says 'Bear With Me' |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |date=11 July 2017 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Eldridge Industries |access-date=21 November 2017}} His 2018 tour was announced in September 2017.{{cite web |url=https://radionowhouston.com/76749/niall-horan-announces-flicker-world-tour-2018-dates/ |title=Niall Horan Announces "Flicker World Tour 2018" Dates |last1=Crockett |first1=Jasmine |date=19 September 2017 |website=KROI |publisher=Urban One |access-date=21 November 2017}}

The tour received favourable reviews from critics. Harry Guerin of RTÉ writes Horan gave a "polished performance" for the debut concert in Dublin. He continues: "With his well-drilled band already sounding like months on the road, his skills as a balladeer were impressive throughout. Upcoming Maren Morris duet "Seeing Blind" and the Fleetwood Mac-inspired "Since We're Alone" showed that the masses have yet to hear his classiest songs, while the man himself contended that the record's title track is the best thing he has written to date. He won't be alone in that opinion, either."{{Cite journal |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/0830/900942-review-niall-horan-at-the-olympia-theatre/ |title=Review: Niall Horan at the Olympia Theatre |last1=Guerin |first1=Harry |date=1 September 2017 |journal=RTÉ.ie |access-date=21 November 2017}} Rick Pearson from the London Evening Standard gave the show in London three out of five stars. He states: "[W]ith an electric guitar he did a fine job of recreating the Eighties driving rock of Don Henley on "Since We're Alone", while his acoustic version of Fool's Gold was far more affecting than the 1D original. "Slow Hands" sent the crowd into delirium, Horan sounding like a pop star who might yet give Messrs Styles and Malik a run for their money."{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/niall-horan-review-navelgazing-ballads-make-1d-fans-weak-at-the-knees-a3624696.html |title=Niall Horan review: Navel-gazing ballads make 1D fans weak at the knees|last1=Pearson |first1=Rick |date=1 September 2017 |website=London Evening Standard|access-date=21 November 2017}}

For AXS, Marianne Meyer states the concert in Philadelphia was a "crowd pleaser". She goes on to say: "Horan gave the ladies just what they came for – a talented, charismatic onstage boyfriend who repeatedly thanked them for their support, cared that they were all having a good time, even apologized to those watching from the side balconies because he didn't directly face them as he sang."{{cite web |url=https://www.axs.com/review-niall-horan-warms-up-a-damp-d-c-area-night-on-flicker-sessions--125078 |title=Review: Niall Horan warms up a damp D.C. area night on 'Flicker Sessions' tour |last1=Meyer |first1=Marianne |date=6 November 2017 |website=AXS |publisher=Anschutz Entertainment Group |access-date=21 November 2017}} In Silver Springs, Mareesha Galibs of The Hoya recalls the concert as "stellar". She says: "Horan is no longer performing alongside his bandmates, but if the Washington, D.C. stop on his tour is any indication, Horan is ready to make his mark on the world—all on his own."{{cite web |url=http://www.thehoya.com/concert-review-niall-horan-fillmore/ |title=Concert Review: Niall Horan at the Fillmore |last1=Galiba |first1=Mayeesha |date=7 November 2017 |website=The Hoya |publisher=Georgetown University |access-date=21 November 2017}}

The show in Dallas was remarked as "stellar" by Preston Jones of the Dallas Observer. He writes: "It's a savvy creative choice, showcasing Horan's clear, light tenor voice, which stands firmly on its own and can adapt to whatever genres the singer-songwriter wants to explore. No one will mistake Horan's work for that of his fellow countrymen Glen Hansard and Van Morrison, but that tradition of iconoclastic troubadours isn't what Horan's current audience is after anyway."{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/review-niall-horan-at-the-southside-ballroom-11-2017-10088088 |title=Niall Horan Celebrates Fans, Berates Cellphones at Southside Ballroom Show |last1=Jones |first1=Preston |date=20 November 2017 |website=Dallas Observer |publisher=Voice Media Group |access-date=21 November 2017}}

• Gavin James {{small|(North America, select dates)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/niall-horan-announces-opening-acts-his-upcoming-solo-tour-2578653 |title=Niall Horan Announces Opening Acts For His Upcoming Solo Tour |last1=Ellenbogen |first1=Rachael |date=15 August 2017 |website=International Business Times |publisher=IBT Media |access-date=21 November 2017}}
• Wild Youth {{small|(Dublin)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/niall-horan-makes-his-world-tour-as-irish-as-possible-with-local-acts-802156.html |title=Niall Horan makes his world tour as 'Irish as possible' with local acts |author= |date=15 August 2017 |website=Irish Examiner |publisher=Landmark Media Investments |access-date=21 November 2017}}
• Picture This {{small|(London, Stockholm)}}{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/northern-ireland-musicians-join-niall-horan-on-stage-as-flicker-sessions-tour-kicks-off-in-dublin-36084343.html |title=Northern Ireland musicians join Niall Horan on stage as Flicker Sessions tour kicks off in Dublin |author= |date=30 August 2017 |journal=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |access-date=21 November 2017}}
• Corey Harper {{small|(Lake Buena Vista, Atlanta)}}

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held 3 September 2017, at the Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.{{cite web |url=http://musik.aftonbladet.se/2017/09/niall-horan-en-stor-karaktar-i-en-liten-produktion/ |title=Niall Horan — en stor karaktär i en liten produktion |language=sv |trans-title=Niall Horan - a big character in a small production |last1=Azarmi |first1=Natasha |date=4 September 2017 |website=Aftonbladet |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=21 November 2017}}

1. "The Tide"
2. "Seeing Blind"
3. "This Town"
4. "Paper Houses"
5. "You and Me"
6. "Fire Away"
7. "Flicker"
8. "Too Much to Ask"
9. "Since We're Alone"
10. "Mirrors"
11. "On the Loose"

;Encore

12. "Fool's Gold"
13. "Slow Hands"
14. "On My Own"

;Notes

• During the show in Boston, Horan and the band performed a mashup of “On My Own” and Dropkick Murphys’ “I'm Shipping to Boston”.{{Cite web |last=Hornstein |first=Paula |date=7 November 2017 |title=Niall Horan's first solo show in Boston sells out the Orpheum |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/49717/multimedia/photo-galleries/niall-horan/ |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=The Huntington News}}
• During the last two shows in Phoenix and San Francisco, a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" was performed alongside opening act Gavin James.{{cite web |url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/niall-horan/2017/comerica-theatre-phoenix-az-3e0c50f.html|title=Niall Horan Setlist at Comerica Theatre, Phoenix|website=setlist.fm }}

;Cancellations and rescheduled shows

{{reflist}}

{{Niall Horan}}

Category:2017 concert tours