ShareSimply Red with special guest Rumer performing their 40th Anniversary Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Wednesday 1st October 2025.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Announcing their 40th anniversary tour just before the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, Simply Red finally got to perform it much to the crowd’s simmering patience. And whilst they have been putting hit after hit together for four decades they got to perform some of them at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday night.
It was Pakistani-British singer and songwriter Rumer who provided the support and she captivated the early crowd with her smooth, gentle vocals that were reminiscent of the mellow bass of Karen Carpenter. She was note perfect, delivering a set that was warmly received, reminding the crowd of the strength of her song writing, from the delicate power of tracks like Slow and the country twanged On My Way Home. Ending the set with the heartfelt Take Me As I Am, which earned genuine applause and left the crowd perfectly warmed for the headliners.
The house lights dimmed just before 9pm and front man Mick Hucknall launched straight into Sad Old Red and Jericho from their 1985 debut album, Picture Book, allowing the band to immediately showcase their tight, soulful sound.
The first big hit Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) had the crowd singing heartily along, before their set moved chronologically through the band’s storied catalogue. Once a New Flame started with its Latin feel, there wasn’t many of the crowd still sitting. With the heart of the set being a master class in 80’s and 90’s soul pop, Barry White’s It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing and the well received cover of If You Don’t know Me By Now were real highlights, each showcasing Hucknall’s incredible vocals.
They delivered a set list that showed that his voice is the band’s unmistakable calling card, which remains wonderfully intact, effortlessly hitting the high notes and displaying his signature smoky tones, especially on the likes of The Air That I Breathe. You Make Me Feel Brand New got rapturous applause from an appreciative crowd, whilst Thrill Me was a rocking, hot and funky song with great saxophone solos from Ian Kirkham.
The main set was brought to an end with the up tempo Fake and Sunrise before Fairground was like a very festive carnival with whistles and maracas provided by the percussion section. There was a duo of hits in the encore, Something Got Me Started before the night concluded perfectly with the timeless Holding Back The Years which left the Nottingham crowd utterly satisfied.
Mick Hucknall had been at his brilliant best, oozing class and talent from the off and if asked this crowd would definitely say that this was a concert well worth waiting for.
