There was something really lovely about Tom Robinson’s evening at ARC tonight. With moody lighting, a fully seated audience and just Adam Phillips alongside him, the whole thing felt incredibly intimate – almost like being invited into Tom’s world for a couple of hours.
Carl Jackson (Successpit) opened with a stripped-back set that retained all his usual enigmatic charm and tongue-in-cheek humour. A few of his band’s songs were mixed with tracks from his back catalogue, making it a great way to start the night.
Adam’s brilliant guitar playing was the ideal accompaniment to Robinson’s songs, which somehow felt both gentle and powerful. We even got an Adam original, which was a real treat.
Between songs, Tom shared stories about Elton John, old friends and former bandmates, delivered with an easy warmth that had the audience laughing throughout. His voice is still booming and bright, and watching him move between acoustic guitar and piano was a reminder of what a pioneer he was – and why his music remains relevant.
‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ was always going to be a highlight, but my favourite moment came during the encore with ‘Days (That Changed The World)’, which prompted a very audible “awww” from the audience. A standing ovation was the perfect ending.
