Liam Payne's voice echoes through arena during Niall Horan's first show

Niall Horan brings Liam Payne’s voice back to the stage with an emotional End of an Era tribute.

The former One Direction star opened his Dinner Party: Live on Tour on Tuesday, September 22, at Utilita Arena Birmingham and for a few quiet moments, it felt as though his late bandmate was back in the room.

As the Slow Hands hitmaker delivered the final notes of End of an Era, the deceased Night Changes vocalist's familiar voice suddenly filled the arena.

During the unexpected moment, the Irish musician stood beneath the blue stage lights as a recording of Liam, who died on October 16, 2024 at the young age of 31, played for the crowd.

“We thought something might happen, but never anything like this,” the Teardrops singer’s voice could be heard.

He continued, “I’m always trying to remind myself of where I’ve come from, or where I’ve managed to get to in my life.”

Liam reflected on the extraordinary journey he and his One Direction bandmates had experienced, saying, “It’s amazing, really.”

The simplicity of his words made the moment even more powerful. Rather than a grand spectacle, the Dinner Party maker allowed his former bandmate’s voice to take centre stage, while he stood quietly, taking in the moment with the audience.

It is pertinent to note that Niall’s End of an Era holds particular significance.

He originally began writing the song years ago, but after Liam’s death in October 2024, he revisited the track and reshaped it into a tribute to their friendship and their years together in One Direction.