LIVE
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
NEWCASTLE CITY HALL
Photos: David Weddle @dweddlephotography
There was a real buzz around the City Hall on Sunday night. You could feel it building even before the lights went down. Sequins everywhere, people chatting in the queue about what they were hoping to hear, the usual scramble for merch and drinks. The crowd was all ages too, from teens to folks who’ve followed Sophie since her Groovejet days.
Opening the night were Sumner, a duo from Tasmania who had this emotional, bass-heavy electronic sound. Really tight vocals, and a solid stage presence considering they were playing to a room that was still settling in. At one point, they joked about their own Newcastle in Australia, calling it “Newy.” Then they asked if ours was ever called “Newy.” That got a firm and very Geordie “no” from the crowd. They laughed it off and jumped straight into the next tune. Their track “Starlight,” from their EP Retrograde, stood out, catchy but with a sort of bittersweet feel. One of those songs that sticks with you.
Opening the night were Sumner, a duo from Tasmania who had this emotional, bass-heavy electronic sound. Really tight vocals, and a solid stage presence considering they were playing to a room that was still settling in. At one point, they joked about their own Newcastle in Australia, calling it “Newy.” Then they asked if ours was ever called “Newy.” That got a firm and very Geordie “no” from the crowd. They laughed it off and jumped straight into the next tune. Their track “Starlight,” from their EP Retrograde, stood out, catchy but with a sort of bittersweet feel. One of those songs that sticks with you.
Then came Sophie. The moment she walked on stage, it felt like the night kicked into gear properly. The setup was something else, a huge setup of screens, bright lights, full-on glam. From the first song, she was totally in her element. Her voice sounded spot on, and the energy in the room picked up fast.
There was one moment during “Hypnotized” where her dress strap wouldn’t stay up. She just took it off mid-song and asked the band to keep the crowd busy while she fixed it. Totally unbothered. That kind of honesty made her feel more relatable, not less. No diva energy at all, just a performer rolling with it and having fun.
One thing she really nailed was the local touch. At one point she ran through a list of things Newcastle has given the world, from Domestos to Lucozade and the incandescent light bulb, Sophie's lesson in local history went down a treat. It’s always nice when artists make the effort to connect beyond the usual “hello Newcastle” stuff.
There was one moment during “Hypnotized” where her dress strap wouldn’t stay up. She just took it off mid-song and asked the band to keep the crowd busy while she fixed it. Totally unbothered. That kind of honesty made her feel more relatable, not less. No diva energy at all, just a performer rolling with it and having fun.
One thing she really nailed was the local touch. At one point she ran through a list of things Newcastle has given the world, from Domestos to Lucozade and the incandescent light bulb, Sophie's lesson in local history went down a treat. It’s always nice when artists make the effort to connect beyond the usual “hello Newcastle” stuff.
She’s also added something called The Button to this tour, literally a big disco ball button that chooses the next song at random. Bit of fun really. The first press gave us “Today The Sun’s On Us,” which sounded amazing live. Later on, the button chose “Dolce Vita,” which got a big reaction. It’s a neat way to keep the setlist fresh and make each show feel slightly different.
Of course there were the classics including "Crying At The Discoteque" and "Murder On The Dancefloor" and crowd pleasers like "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)" and "Ready For Your Love" made for a cracking show and at one point Sophie even ended up performing from the balcony, which was a bit of a welcome surprise for those lucky enough to be sitting in the right place at the right time.
By the time the night wrapped up, the place felt more like a nightclub than a theatre. People were on their feet, dancing, smiling, totally caught up in it. Sophie gave Newcastle a proper night out—fun, a bit chaotic in the best way, and full of heart. Can’t really ask for more than that.
Sophie prepares to launch her brand-new album PERIMENOPOP, set for release on 12 September 2025. Head over to her website: sophieellisbextor.net
Of course there were the classics including "Crying At The Discoteque" and "Murder On The Dancefloor" and crowd pleasers like "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)" and "Ready For Your Love" made for a cracking show and at one point Sophie even ended up performing from the balcony, which was a bit of a welcome surprise for those lucky enough to be sitting in the right place at the right time.
By the time the night wrapped up, the place felt more like a nightclub than a theatre. People were on their feet, dancing, smiling, totally caught up in it. Sophie gave Newcastle a proper night out—fun, a bit chaotic in the best way, and full of heart. Can’t really ask for more than that.
Sophie prepares to launch her brand-new album PERIMENOPOP, set for release on 12 September 2025. Head over to her website: sophieellisbextor.net
