Just over a week into their 2017 UK tour Take That brought their highly anticipated Wonderland tour to The SSE Hydro in Glasgow for 3 sold out shows. Somehow, I was fortunate enough to get hold of tickets for the Saturday night show considering just how crazy the disabled access ticket lines were, we spent over 2 hours glued to the phone constantly redialing the number. Thank goodness a third show was added or I might not have been so lucky!
Kicking off the show was the newly reunited girl band All Saints who are accompanying Take That as special guests throughout the 2017 UK tour. The group performed an energetic set filled of with all their hits including ‘Never Ever’, ‘Bootie Call’, ‘Lady Marmalade’ as well as one of their most recent numbers ‘One Strike’.
Take That are known for their spectacular and theatrical concerts and somehow manage to out do themselves in each tour so one couldn’t help but wonder what the ‘Wonderland’ tour would have in store. When you think of ‘Wonderland’ you think of colour, eccentricity and theatrics so how would Take That embrace the theme?
Unlike most tours the stage was situated in the centre of the arena giving it a more intimate feeling where everyone was at the centre of the action. Opening the show with a mysterious and mystical middle eastern vibe they told a story using spectacular video and animation combined with theatrics building on the audiences anticipation. As the title track of their latest album ‘Wonderland’ filled the arena three illuminated spotlights revealed each member of Take That on mini stages situated around the arena. Wonderland’s upbeat and funk groove proved a fitting first number which seriously had the audience grooving from the word go!
Following on from this was arguably one of Take That’s most popular hit ‘Greatest Day’ which saw the arena blasted with golden confetti. ‘Giants’ the first single from the new album again proved a real crowd pleaser showing just as much love for the new music as well as the older releases. However, ‘Kidz’ from the bands 2010 album release ‘Progress‘ took a more dark and gothic approach filled with theatrics, dance, drums and spectacular costumes featuring dancers on stilts and Mark Owen’s incredible steam punk inspired top hat.
Continuing with ‘Relight My Fire’ another upbeat and infectious number that had everyone in the room up on their feet dancing and singing along. ‘Hope’ on the other hand saw the use of aerial techniques through a stunning display of contemporary dance. Truly a breathtaking display of emotion using body and movement.
Taking a journey down memory lane the band revisited a number of songs from the earlier days some of which making their live debuts having never been performed on tour until the Wonderland tour. The medley consisted of songs such as ‘Beautiful World’, ‘Satisfied’ and ‘Lovelife’ as well as the ever so popular cover of the Bee Gees classic ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ which went down a real treat with the Glasgow audience.
‘New Day’ one of my personal favourites from the new album saw the band venture beneath the stage wandering through a mystical jungle featuring afternoon tea and a white rabbit as they embraced the mysterious world of Wonderland! Remerging from the storybook maze beneath the stage, the room was transformed into an enchanted world of colour and costume. It was like the pages of a children’s fairytale had come to life before our very eyes!
Of course the hits such as ‘Shine‘, ‘Back For Good‘ and ‘Pray‘ could not go as miss as well as an impromptu performance of the Scottish anthem ‘Flower Of Scotland‘ courtesy of the enthusiastic Glasgow crowd enjoying a fun-filled Saturday evening. Only in Scotland! And there’s no forgetting the incredibly theatrical production during ‘It’s All For You‘ which saw a spectacular array fairytale-esque props carrying the band and dancers into the air.
Ending the show with arguably two of the band’s greatest hits ‘Never Forget‘ and ‘Rule The World‘ which again are real crowd pleasers. The arena becomes alive as the crowd passionately sang along in unison to ‘Never Forget‘ before the room lit up like a thousand twinkling stars in the night sky as the audience waved their phones high in the sky above them. A breathtaking ending to a magical show!
What can I say? Take That never fail to impress with sensational performances and incredible production! One genuinely can’t help but feel like they’ve been to Wonderland and back when leaving the arena-worth every penny! If you’ve missed out on tickets for the phenomenal sold-out UK tour be sure to catch Take That’s live screening of the Wonderland tour at the O2 arena in London next Friday evening in cinemas up around the country! Or if you’re in Australia and New Zealand catch them down under live on tour later this year (more details below). It’s a show you certainly don’t want to miss!
For more details regarding tour dates & cinema screenings click on of the following links:
Jukebox Rhapsody 