2025 is shaping up to be a great year of concerts for me. This year will see a mix of mostly old favourites and some ‘younger’ artists playing in the UK and abroad.
Last year was an OK year for concerts with big names including Eric Clapton, Sting, Steve Hackett, David Gilmour and London Grammar. The last two gigs weren’t announced until late Summer, so there is a chance there will be more to add to this roster by year end.
I am excited to return to Berlin, to see the Boss, and to see a concert in front of the Royal Crescent in Bath, Plus the usual trips to Cambridge, London and maybe Edinburgh later in the year. Let me share the concerts that I am counting down to.
What are your concert plans? Who are you excited to see? Let me know in the comments!
Fish Farewell Tour
The former Marillion lead singer is leaving his Edinburgh(ish) home and retiring to the Outer Hebrides. His farewell tour, The Road to the Isles, is a chance to bid him goodbye, and I’ll be there at the Cambridge Corn Exchange to say farewell.
To be honest, his concert performances have been a bit hit-and-miss over the years. He hasn’t kept himself in the best of health, and I’ve missed the power and presence he brought to those early Marillion shows.
With Marillion, he was part of my first live concert experience (Clutching at Straws, Hammersmith Odeon), so I look forward to saying thank you to the big man from somewhere in the audience.
Bruce Springsteen
This is the big one I’m most excited about. I was a late convert to the Boss and missed his Glory Days as well as his most recent tour. So when I heard he was returning to pick up shows he missed last year, I had to get tickets. The catch? The UK dates were limited to Liverpool and Manchester—neither particularly exciting to me.
I briefly considered his combining his show with a long weekend in Lille, which would have been closer to me than Liverpool, but the dates didn’t work. Then he announced Berlin.
Bruce Springsteen at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin—now that makes my spine tingle. It’s an excuse to revisit a city I remain fascinated by and a chance to stay at the fabled Adlon Hotel on Unter den Linden.
Last year, I mentioned how I rarely ‘lose myself’ at a concert these days. One of the last times I was truly transfixed was at Roger Waters’ The Wall in Berlin. I’m hoping the Boss will deliver a similar experience.
Robbie Williams
The former “fat dancer from Take That” wasn’t on my concert bingo card, but I was gifted a ticket.
I do enjoy some of his deeper cuts, including Advertising Space, Me and My Monkey, and Road to Mandalay/Eternity. I’m also intrigued by his upcoming Better Man film.
The fact that he’s performing in front of the Royal Crescent, meaning I can walk home, makes it all the more appealing. I’ll go with an open mind and hope for a memorable evening.
Lana Del Rey
I was disappointed not to see Lana Del Rey’s Glastonbury 2023 set on TV—it sounded like a hot mess. She arrived very late and continued past curfew, only to be escorted off stage.
When A&W was released, I couldn’t stop playing it, and I love how her album titles are long and intriguing, inviting scrutiny to unpack their meanings.
She’s set to take the stage at London’s Wembley Stadium later this summer, which will be a unique experience. I expect this concert to be the most distinctive one I attend this year.
Definitely Maybe Oasis
What’s the Story has a special place in my life. Tracks like Wonderwall remind me of key moments, while Hey Now signals the end of a chapter. After Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, I tuned out a bit, so I didn’t bother with the Ticketmaster chaos.
A close friend has tickets for their Edinburgh show at Murrayfield Stadium and may have a spare. If I go, I’ll be excited, but I won’t be too upset if I miss it.
Simply Red
It’s been 33 years since I last saw Simply Red live. That was the Stars tour at Wembley Stadium, supported by Des’ree, Burning Spear, and the Brand New Heavies.
A lot has changed since then, including the arrival of our daughter, who now shares my passion for music. She’s bought tickets for us (me, her, and my wife) to see Mick Hucknall and co. on their 40th Anniversary Tour at the O2. Will he know me by now?
Level 42 and Mike & The Mechanics
Too many concerts were announced last October, making it impossible to grab tickets for everything I wanted. However, I’ve become savvy to return ticket opportunities—especially at the Royal Albert Hall, where I snagged a box seat for David Gilmour last autumn.
I’ve seen Level 42 before, but this tour features the World Machine album played in full, which piqued my interest. Coincidentally, I played the album a lot last year, so I’ll be watching for a ticket.
Similarly, I missed out on tickets for Mike & The Mechanics, but I’m keeping an eye out for last-minute availability at the Royal Albert Hall this spring. Their promise of ‘a drift into Genesis’ really sold it for me.
I’ve loved seeing Steve Hackett perform vintage Genesis tracks, including The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway so I hope the Mechanics deliver some later Genesis classics. The Invisible Touch tour at Wembley Stadium is one of the concerts I wish I’d seen, and I’d love to hear a Domino Medley or The Brazilian live. Fingers crossed!
Anything catch your eye? What concerts have you got planned? Do let me know in the comments !
