Bryan Adams may be preparing to release his 16th studio album in a recording career that spans 45 years, but he’s not afraid to give the fans exactly what they came for. At a packed Newcastle Arena tonight, he delivers hit after hit with the confidence of a man who knows exactly why he’s so adored.
Opening with the title track from his forthcoming record, ‘Roll With the Punches’, the crowd is greeted not just with new music, but with a giant inflatable boxing glove flying above their heads. Even if the track is unfamiliar, there’s plenty of spectacle to enjoy. But it’s not long before Adams launches into a flurry of crowd-pleasing classics.
The unmistakable riff of ‘Run to You’ echoes around the arena, followed by the anthemic ‘Somebody’ from his classic 1984 breakthrough album ‘Reckless’, which sends the crowd into a frenzy. He slows things down for the phone-in-the-air ballad ‘Cloud Number 9’, before returning to ‘Reckless’ with the ever-emotional ‘Heaven’.
A heartfelt tribute follows, as Adams performs ‘It’s Only Love’, his duet with the late Tina Turner. He credits her with giving him his big break in the UK- an emotional and sincere moment that lands beautifully.
Aside from the occasional inflatable – a giant car taking the same aerial path as the boxing glove – Bryan Adams remains a no-frills rocker. There’s no political commentary, no overproduction, just timeless rock and roll from a born entertainer.
Of course, ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’, the ballad that spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in the UK in 1991, is performed in full, even extended. It marked a stylistic shift in Adams’ career, from rocker to balladeer, but it’s clearly still beloved. Songs like ‘Please Forgive Me’ and ‘Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?’, with its Spanish guitar flair, are met with roaring applause.
Long-time collaborator and guitarist Keith Scott gets his share of the spotlight too – his solos are electrifying, and he inspires as much affection from the audience as Adams himself.
The rockabilly swing of ‘You Belong to Me’ even prompts one woman to lift her top for the cameras – a surreal, time-warp moment.
And then there’s ‘Summer of ’69’. The one everyone’s waited for. Adams doesn’t disappoint, letting the audience scream every lyric they’ve known for decades.
Where do you go from there? You pick up your acoustic guitar and close with a solo set at the back of the arena – a perfect way to kick off the Summer of ’25.
