Who would have thought after first seeing Cliff Richard at The Empire Theatre, Liverpool in the 1960’s he would still be touring, and I would see him again at The Royal Albert Hall in 2025?
I arrived with some trepidation, knowing Cliff is now 85 and having seen him being interviewed on TV recently, I thought he looked rather frail. But he put all my doubts to one side as soon as he started to sing. Cliff totally delivered; his voice is stronger than ever and is still flawless, it sounded better than I remembered and the whole night was a reminder of why he’s one of Britain’s greatest performers and why he is one of the most enduring and beloved figures in British music. Whilst speaking to some of the fans after the concert, they did not simply remark that it had been enjoyable, they stressed how exceptional and far beyond what they had expected it to be from a pop star with a career who has spanned generations, and I completely agreed with them.
From the first number, (his first hit), ‘Move It’ to the last encore song, ‘My Kinda Life’ his performance was immaculate; he also chatted to the audience throughout, sometimes quite comically as he forgot what he was about to say, whether this was included for humorous reasons, only he knows, but it endeared him to his fans hanging onto every word he uttered.
A lot of the fans were festooned with fairy lights and many held up placards at the front of the stage; additionally the hall was decorated with Christmas lights. It was clear that Cliff loves interacting with his fans and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Conversely, he at times even remarked that he doesn’t really understand how and why he is still performing but he reminisced often about his many pop chart hits, the other groups who beat him to the Number 1 spot and the groups who followed him to record at Abbey Road.
He also bopped along to all his
songs, not quite dancing but definitely rocking it out in his own way and at
times doing the famous Shadows guitar walk, much to the delight of his fans. He
looks remarkably fit for his age, no doubt due to his fitness regime and regular
tennis playing. He spoke about his regrets at never breaking America and the
fact that his fame is confined to the UK and Australia and New Zealand stating
he restricts his concerts to no more than thirty shows a year now, so his
schedule is not as physically demanding as some other longstanding pop stars.
Song followed song and the atmosphere in the hall was filled with admiration and warm appreciation. Fans described the night as one of his best concerts and expressed how they felt unexpected emotion, mentioning how music can deeply affect those listening intensely when performed with such skill and genuine connection such as Cliffs.
Supporting Cliff was his band, perfectly attuned to him and his performance. Band members are Keith,(Guitar/Music Director), Don,(Keyboards/Guitar), David(Bass/Guitar), Ian(Drums/Percussion), Tim (Guitar/Vocals), Bobby (Vocals/Guitar). Each musician and vocalist contributed with polished sounds and instrument playing which accompanied Cliff’s performance rather than overwhelming it. One could not help but note the undeniable chemistry and camaraderie between Cliff and his band; the musicians played with authority and respect for the music they were bringing to life, whilst at the same time showing their enjoyment for it. The arrangements had been realigned making them fresher and their interpretations brought new energy into songs loved by so many.
This was a nostalgic night for many, having loved Cliff and his music for so many years but it was also a night of surprise and wonder at his resourcefulness and incredible agility for a man of his age; many wondered what his secret is for his amazing youthfulness and vitality. The ‘Peter Pan of Pop’ truly didn’t disappoint and many of the fans were asking when his next tour would be
For many, the concert will be
remembered as proof of the enduring power of music and the extraordinary capability
of one singer to bring such enjoyment to the hundreds of fans. The verdict from
the fans was unmistakable: Cliff Richard absolutely delivered, and the
experience was not merely enjoyable, it was unforgettable. Long live Cliff, may
he reign for many more years.
For full set list, please see https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/cliff-richard/2025/royal-albert-hall-london-england-2b519446.html
Tour dates information is at https://www.cliffrichard.org/latest-tour/
Reviewer – Anne Pritchard
On – 9.12.25
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