This makes me feel old, but… 30 years ago my favourite band got together… and the rest, as they say, is history!


When Take That announced this tour, along with their Odyssey album of greatest hits, Gary Barlow was also quoted as saying this was the end of Take That Part 2 (though not the end like in 1995 when he said “Unfortunately, the rumours are true… From today Take That is no more!” when they split up and teenage fans went into meltdown!). This is the 7th Take That tour since Take That reformed in 2005. That’s pretty much a tour every two years (not including solo work), so I guess they’re due a break! So, when the tickets went on sale I couldn’t help myself. I bought tickets for a friend & I to see them at Manchester Arena (where I’d seen them live for the very first time all those years ago in 1995!) and then booked a ticket to see them in Birmingham a couple of weeks later.




Take That are currently in the middle of their Greatest Hits tour and it is fantastic! They always put on an amazing show and this one is no different. The set list for this tour follows the Odyssey album track listing.
It’s amazing how different a concert can be from different seats in the arena though. A couple of weeks ago, my friend and I sat in Block F towards the back of the arena floor in Manchester Arena (with a fantastic view of the ‘B’ stage) and the background imagery was amazing. This week I saw them at Arena Birmingham and was in Block C near the front. It wasn’t until after the show that I realised I hadn’t really noticed the background visuals and wider imagery this time around as I’d focused solely on the band. Take That always put on a proper show, but this time I really think the audience further back will have benefited more from the whole experience than those at the front. It was almost as if I’d seen two different shows, despite it essentially being the same one.






Always thinking of the best experience for the fans, Take That like to have a ‘B’ stage set-up so fans nearer the back can also get a closer view of them for part of the show. This year was no different. They run from the main stage down the side of the arena floor (so a lucky few fans get high fives and handshakes) to the ‘B’ stage roughly half-way through the show to sing a couple of songs. At Manchester we were lucky enough to be just a few rows in front of the ‘B’ stage, so had the best of both worlds.




With this being their 30th anniversary, Take That just had to have Lulu come along on tour to sing Relight My Fire with them. Yes, at the age of 70 Lulu is keeping up with them on stage! They also included former members Robbie Williams (with a pre-recorded video of him singing part of Everything Changes) and Jason Orange (with old footage of him).




I had a thoroughly amazing time at both shows, but this isn’t the end of the tour for me. Oh no! They’re broadcasting their Cardiff Principality Stadium concert live in cinemas around the world on 8th June and I have tickets to see it at my local cinema! I can’t wait!


On a side note: Take That’s support act this year is Rick Astley and he’s brilliant at getting the crowd going. I’ll definitely be looking out for tickets to his own tour when he next does one.
Oh what fun!
You got some great shots from your two experiences. And another to come soon!
It’s only through you that I’ve learned anything about this group. I just looked up Lulu (who looks great, btw…) and see that she did a couple of Bond themes. I like her voice.
I’m not really a big fan but that show looks amazing!
I’m glad you had a good time. Your photos are always fantastic.
You do the best concert photos! I don’t know where you’re sitting or how far your zoom is, but they are terrific! It sounds fun. I love it when an old band reunites. They aren’t always what they were, but they usually still have something, maybe that presence!
And we saw each other for the first time in 21 years!! God arent we old!! Amazing concert though… and WOW!! Your pics are amazing xxx
Hi Nikki,
As ever you seem to come out on top in the photo stakes, you always manage to capture such great shots!
I was a fan of the original band line-up, although I kind of lost my faith in them when Gary and Robbie discovered their fan base and their ego.
That is not to say that I don’t still enjoy their music, even though I wouldn’t pay mega bucks to go and see them live, although I have to admit that they do put on an amazing show by the looks of things.
I can remember seeing Lulu backing Elton John at an outdoor concert in Swindon over 30 years ago now, so to think that she can still belt out a tune is fantastic, even though it does make me feel old (yes, even older than I am!!)
You are definitely a truly loyal fan and I am so pleased that you had a great time 🙂
Yvonne
xx
I used to listen to some of their songs. It must have been such a treat for you, as a fan, to see them on stage. Love the photos as well.
Not a group I listened to but the stage set ups look great. I was a big 70s fan, soft rock. Now I listen a lot to oldies of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Whilst I do like Take That I was a bigger fan of Robbie and his solo career, recently relived some of my youth and made to feel old with seeing Boyzone in concert last month
Looks like an amazing concert. I took my daughter to a concert in Dusseldorf many years ago.
You obviously had the best time at this concert and your photos are absolutely amazing. I have to say though, reading this post made me feel old too! Lisa
I loved Take That back in the day, I was such a fan girl, he he! I gotta say, Robbie was my favourite, so I haven’t really been into them since he left. Although some of their songs are really catchy and I imagine they still put on a fantastic live show. Your photos are awesome, you got some brilliant shots. I am glad you had a great time Nikki, thanks for sharing! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Well, this is a walk down memory lane! And Rick Astley, to boot! I am dancing in my seat just listening to the lyrics in my head! How blessed you are to live somewhere within range of these concerts! Thanks for your recent visit to my blog!
Wow! You got some really great shots.
A widely anticipated tour, it seems to have got fans very excited and looking at some of these images I can see why.
I have to admit that Gary Barlow is a very talented guy. And your photos are really very, very good! Though I get the bit about the show, the spectaclwe of it all, I still appreciate watching a good rock ‘n’ roll band – drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals…call me old-fashioned (Mrs Britain often does). Great post!