The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – Friday, 2nd May 2025
Stalls Block B, Row B, Seats 26-27
Wow! What a night! This was my 5th concert of the year and definitely the best so far!
My friend was supposed to be coming with me, but ongoing health issues meant she sadly couldn’t make it. My niece, on the other hand, jumped at the chance to come with me.
From the moment the first notes of Open Road ring out, to the last notes of Never Forget, the crowd roars with excitement, singing along, word for word. Gary Barlow, just as energised as the audience, never misses a note or a beat. He’s in his element, and we’re in ours. 40-somethings & 50-somethings turning back into teenagers from the 1990s!
The setlist has a good mix of Gary’s solo songs and Take That songs, though I would have liked to have heard a few more of his solo songs.
One surprise for me is the inclusion of Whatever You Do To Me, an album track from Take That’s Everything Changes album back in 1993. Weirdly, while I struggle to remember what I walked into a room for, I have absolutely no problem remembering every single word of an album track from over 30 years ago!
For A Million Live Songs, Gary brings on his support act, Brad Kella, to play the piano. Brad Kella is the winner of the second series of Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’, and winning the TV series was life-changing for him.
As Pray begins, Gary launches into the infamous Take That dance routine, repeating it near the end of the song. He quips that it’s getting harder and harder to do. Yet, still he does it. He knows the fans go wild for it! If you’ve never been to a Gary Barlow or Take That concert, the fans are LOUD, like a notch louder than any other concerts I’ve been to, and I’ve been to many, many concerts!
Backing singer Jemma Donovan joins Gary at the front of the stage for the duet of If There’s Not A Song About It. Jemma Donovan? Yes, Jason Donovan’s daughter, and an actress in shows such as Neighbours and Hollyoaks.
The evening ends with Never Forget and every single audience member has their hands in the air for the chorus routine, putting every ounce of energy into it.
We exit the venue, confetti spilling out, into the cool air. What a night!
39 Comments
Kelly
I’m glad this turned out to be such a roaring success! You were close enough to get some fantastic photos, too! I bet your ears were ringing by the end of the evening.
Nikki
Gary always puts on a good show!
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Amazing pictures! I was too old to find Take That appealing but I could see they were great performers.
Nikki
Thank you! Never too old!
somewhereinireland
Great photos! Glad the concert was good and you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful day.
Nikki
Thanks 🙂
Johanna Bradley
Fabulous photos, Nikki. It’s obvious all concerned had a great night xx
Nikki
Thank you.
Beverley
What a truly fabulous evening and you have captured so many wonderful moments from the show.
Nikki
Thank you, it was hard to whittle the photos down for the post!
jeanie
I’m not familiar with Gary Barlow. But it sounds like a fabulous concert and every one of your photos is well beyond fabulous! You had a great seat and a great zoom. Bravo! (Thanks for coming by today too!)
Nikki
Gary Barlow and Take That didn’t make it “big” in the States, but did almost everywhere else. Though one or two of their tracks on movie soundtracks may be familiar to Americans.
David M. Gascoigne
I am not familiar with the artist or the music style, but I am glad that you he such a good time and were able to take so many pictures to memorialize the experience.
Nikki
Pop music – 90’s to today!
Kris P
You DO get around! I’m not familiar with the artist but I’m glad you and your niece had a great time.
Nikki
Hah! I try my best!
Ginnie Hart
Believe it or not, Nikki, I have never heard of Gary Barlow but, after reading this post, I had to Google him, of course. I watched this YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF73cf5isgM) and totally get why you were in heaven! I can certainly imagine the thrill.
Nikki
Search for Take That too, that’s the group he’s in (though there’s only 3 out of the original 5 members). I don’t know what your music taste is like, but some of my favourites are Forever Love, Let Me Go, Since I Saw You Last, and from Take That – Back For Good, Rule The World and Greatest Day.
Gary also wrote the music for The Calendar Girls musical stage show – Sunflower and Dare being favourite songs of mine from that.
I could go on! 😀
Anca
Great photos, you were very close to the stage.
Nikki
Thank you. We definitely had great seats.
Astrid
What an absolute fabulous series of this wonderful singer/entertainer (whom I did not know) But your words and pictures made me look at some YouTubes. He has a wonderful voice and I can see why million love him and you were the lucky one to have that extreme “hot spot” near him.
I totally understand you thrill 🙂 🙂
Have a wonderful day and what a night to remember.
Nikki
Thank you. I’ve been to another two concerts since, but this one is still my favourite this year!
Margaret
It’s pleasing you enjoyed. I am not familiar with him at all, I looked him up on Google and discovered he’s doing a wine tour or has done in Australia this past April.
Nikki
The Australia wine tour is currently on UK TV at the moment. He did a South Africa wine tour TV series last year. He has his own wine out too!
Jo
It sounds like you had a wonderful evening. Great photos.
Nikki
I did, thank you.
Carol
Great photos = I felt like I was there!
Nikki
Thanks. Such a lovely comment!
Ann
That concert sounds amazing, and your photos are fabulous! xxx
Nikki
Thank you!
hena
Sounds like a great event!
Nikki
It was!
Tracy
You are never to old to go and see Gary Barlow . The show is amazing
Nikki
I wish I could see it again!
Shirsty A
This looks like such a fun concert. I need to do some extra carpet cleaning to make some money, so I can come to your next one.
Shona Collins
Fabulous photos! You certainly captured the essence of the night! Thank you so much for getting my moment with Gary on camera! A night I’ll “Never Forget!!” X
Nikki
So glad to be of help! You were so lucky!
Yeah, Another Blogger
I enjoyed your review. It made me feel as if I were at the concert!
Neil S.
Nikki
Thank you!