ShareStereophonics with special guest Finn Forster performing their Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Thursday 4th December 2025.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
No strangers to the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, welsh wonders and one of the UK’s most enduring rock bands, Stereophonics, were back on Thursday night to deliver a masterful performance that struck the perfect balance between nostalgic reverence and vibrant energy, effortlessly combining fan favourites with their most recent releases.
Tasked with welcoming the crowd was Teeside talent Finn Forster, who has previously toured with the Stereophonics and is familiar with the arena stage having been the guest of Bastille only last month. Looking right at home on the massive stage with his five piece band, he didn’t hold back as he opened with Burning Bridges and followed up with a set list of modern rock with a synth driven twist.
Forster’s break out EP, Embers, has made a huge impression and songs such as Feels Like, On My Mind and Broken Game were all familiar to the crowd. Pablo, a tribute to his best friend, is already a much loved fan favourite. For an artist embarking on his musical journey, he looked completely at home, with his confident stage presence, and engaging sound that won over the crowd with ease. It was a polished and impressive start to the evening.
For over thirty years, Stereophonics have entertained millions around the world, and have such a unique and timeless style that the crowd comprises all ages. Straight into Vegas Two Times, they made it clear that they weren’t going to mess around as their energy surged from the first chord and didn’t let up for another twenty-two storming tracks.
Following up with the stunning I Wanna Get Lost With You before Have A Nice Day defied the sold out crowd to sing along. With front man Kelly Jones making great use of the walkway to get close to the crowd, his vocals were filled with passion and emotion, and were both formidable and flawless in equal measures.
With a back catalogue as rich as theirs the crowd were treated to fantastic renditions of Superman, the always emotive Local Boy In The Photograph and the brooding Mr Writer which saw them serve up a masterclass in raw rock intensity. New songs such as the beautifully optimistic There’s Always Gonna Be Something, and Seems Like You Don’t Know Me from their latest album, the fantastic Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait were very well received.
The Bartender And The Thief brought the main set to a close and was positively thrilling, before an encore of 100 MPH, Traffic, C’est La Vie and the anthemic Dakota brought the set to a close, proving that Stereophonics are not just musical survivors, but masters of their craft, delivering a show filled with passion, precision, and timeless anthems.
