Glasgow welcomed Gary Barlow’s Songbook tour, marking the first of two sold-out shows. Crowds lined the venue, a mix of ages but predominantly female, all eager and ready for an unforgettable night.
The evening began with an outstanding performance by Brad Keller, the gifted pianist who recently won The Piano competition on television and was specially invited to join Gary on this tour. Hailing from Liverpool, Keller was still basking in the glory of his hometown’s recent Premiership victory. As he took to the stage, he shared his excitement about touring with Gary and quickly won over the audience with his exceptional musical talent. His captivating set provided a perfect start to the night, earning enthusiastic applause from the crowd. If you haven’t yet heard the name Brad Keller, he is certainly one to watch—his talent is undeniable. As Brad exited the stage, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation, everyone eagerly awaiting Gary’s appearance.
As the lights dimmed and the stage curtain shimmered, hints of the rear stage lights began to pierce through. When the announcer introduced Gary Barlow, the curtain dramatically dropped, revealing the stage and the first glimpse of Gary himself. The Glasgow crowd erupted, their cheers echoing through the venue. “Good evening, Glasgow!” Gary called out, grinning. “It’s always loud in Scotland.”
The set began with one of Gary’s solo songs, Open Road; his voice sounded incredible, and his showmanship truly shone as he immediately connected with the Glasgow audience. He had everyone on their feet, dancing to Greatest Day, and when the confetti fell, the crowd erupted, bouncing and celebrating along with the music.
Tonight’s show took us on a journey through the decades of music that define Gary Barlow, featuring both classic hits and fresh tracks. His band delivered an outstanding performance, complete with a dynamic brass section and talented backing singers; together, they sounded incredible and were integral to the vibrant atmosphere of the night.
Several arrangements of the songs were reimagined for the Songbook tour, giving them a fresh and invigorating sound that delighted the audience. This was evident in the enthusiastic crowd response. The show opened with a series of classics, including “These Days,” a new take on “Sure,” “Everything Changes,” and “Whatever You Do to Me.” After these opening numbers, Gary took a moment to ask the Glasgow audience for their thoughts on support act Brad Keller, prompting cheers that reflected how much they enjoyed Brad’s captivating piano set and setting a warm tone for the rest of the performance.
Gary welcomed Brad back to the stage as they launched into the superb “A Million Love Songs,” with the Glasgow crowd singing along in full voice beside Gary. Clearly relishing every moment, Gary expressed his gratitude to Brad, who in turn thanked the rest of the band for their unwavering support at the song’s conclusion. Announcing that the audience had journeyed through the nineties and noughties, Gary declared it was time for the dance anthems, energetically mimicking dance moves as he delivered Take That’s classic “Pray.
Seamlessly continuing the show, he launched into the 2010 Take That hit, delivering a stellar rendition of The Flood, followed by Reach Out and the outstanding Patience. He then welcomed his backing singer to join him for the impressive If There’s Not A Song About It, which was met with an enthusiastic response from the Glasgow audience.
As Gary settled at the piano, he shared that his greatest love songs were composed on this very instrument and poured straight from the heart. He even suggested we might want to sit down for this part—an admission we don’t often hear from him. As he enchanted Glasgow with renditions of Forever Love, 6th Avenue, Love Ain’t Here Anymore, and The Garden, it truly felt like a “wow” moment. We were left with the sense that this was a uniquely special part of the show, just for us.
It was time to kick the party into full swing as he delivered the perfect singalong with hits like “Shine,” “Relight My Fire,” and “Back For Good.” Before launching into the next song, he told the crowd it would be the final one of the night—unless they could squeeze in an extra. He reminded everyone that the confetti at the start of the show had been a happy accident, and encouraged the audience to grab the colourful pieces at their feet and toss them into the air to recreate the effect during the song. He thanked everyone for choosing this show among so many other events happening that night. It was clear he was savouring every moment on stage.
Gary urges the crowd to take out their phones and light up the venue. As thousands of lights illuminated the space, the band delivered a memorable performance of Rule The World before bringing the show to a perfect conclusion with the Take That classic Never Forget.
As the final notes faded, Gary exited the stage via the rear while the band played on, setting the scene for their final bow. Tonight’s show was truly spectacular, filled with exhilarating moments that left every music lover breathless. Gary Barlow proved himself the consummate entertainer, expertly blending humour and song to captivate and delight his audience throughout the performance.
If you can get a ticket to the Songbook tour, don’t miss it—enjoy an unforgettable night of great music and heartfelt, passionate performances with Gary Barlow.
Review by Karen Edmond
Photographs by James Edmond Photography
