Deacon Blue performing their The Great Western Road Trip Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Sunday 28th September 2025.

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Deacon Blue were back in Nottingham on Sunday night but stepping up from the Royal Concert Hall to take the stage at the Motorpoint Arena to deliver a night of songs from their latest album The Great Western Road which were intermingled with all of their classics that went down a storm.

This seasoned Scottish pop rock band have generally been overlooked as they were squeezed in the middle of the rise of acid house and Madchester at one extreme and Stock Aitken and Waterman at the other, but they were both huge and inescapable and went on to deliver hit after hit.

Starting with Turn Up Your Radio! front man Ricky Ross alongside Lorraine McIntosh serenaded the crowd as they have been doing at the heart of the band for forty years. They followed up with Up Hope and Raintown before the first crowd favourite of the night, Fergus Sings The Blues cranked things up a notch or two.

The whole crowd were soon on their feet dancing and Ross, as he does, regularly interacted with the audience. There was an emotional tribute paid to keyboard player, James Prime, who died from cancer in June as photos of the much loved band member adorned the big screens.

There were also some politics as you would expect as images of Trump, Farage and Putin fill the screens as Ross lamented the lack of compassion, love and tenderness in the world. And whilst most of the crowd agree, it was their hits that they had come to hear such as Chocolate Girl, When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring) and main set closer the brilliant Dignity which prompted a mass sing along before an encore featuring People Come First and a beautiful acoustic version of Keep Me In Your Heart.

Ross and McIntosh seem intent on growing old with their fans as they remain as poignant and potent as they did in the 80’s. They showed no sign of slowing down any time soon and that has to be a good thing.

Deacon Blue performing their All The Old 45s Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Thursday 21st September 2023.

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Fresh from their performance at Leicester’s Radio 2 In The Park, Deacon Blue were at the Royal Concert Hall on Thursday when they delivered a night of hits old and new during two sets which lasted more than two hours.

Coming on stage to a sold out crowd they delivered an acoustic set which displayed a warm and intimate start as the band stood behind a microphone for Queen Of The New Year.

Along with long time drummer Dougie Vipond, keyboardist James Prime, guitarist Gregor Philip and bassist Lewis Gordon, front man Ricky Ross and vocalist Lorraine McIntosh then took their places for S.H.A.R.O.N. Making an early appearance in this acoustic set was the sublime Chocolate Girl which delighted the crowd.

McIntosh took the lead for Cover From The Sky, which was a magical moment as her voice commanded the Hall. Finishing the set with a gorgeous Homesick, fans new and old had revelled in the sound of this distinctive Glasgow band.

After a short break they were back on for a rip roaring The Hipster and Wages Day. There was a celebratory Twist And Shout and When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring) had the crowd singing along. Loaded landed just after the midway point and was a real crowd pleaser, but the atmosphere was simply electrifying for Real Gone Kid.

Finishing the main set with Raintown and That’s What We Can Do, Ross had showed the prowess in his vocals as well as his unique tone which proved to be flawless whilst the charismatic McIntosh’s voice remains a wonder.

For the encore they returned to rapturous applause for the beautiful Peace Will Come, followed by Deacon Blue’s signature song Dignity which was something to behold as the crowd took in every word. Fergus Sings The Blues was greeted wildly by the amped up crowd before the evening was brought to a close with a cover of Warren Zevon’s Keep Me In Your Heart.

Deacon Blue, with special guest Jamie Lawson, performing their Cities Of Love Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Sunday 28th November 2021

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

It may have been freezing outside but inside the Royal Concert Hall, Scottish band Deacon Blue kept the temperatures soaring as they finally got to perform their Cities Of Love tour. With not a seat to be had they delivered a set list that showcased a wide range of their hits that spanned their 36 years as a band.

But it was Jamie Lawson who got the evening started. Back from a period of self isolation he took to the stage with just his guitar to show why he was the first artist Ed Sheeran signed to his Gingerbread Man label, and with a set list that included Cold In Ohio and that song that stops everyone in their tracks, Wasn’t Expecting That, it won’t be long before he is announcing his own headline tour.

As soon as Deacon Blue walked onto the stage it was instantly apparent that they have lost none of their original charm and energy. Touring to promote their latest album, City Of Love, they opened with the title track and other new songs such as A Walk In The Woods and Hit Me Where It Hurts displayed the same melodic solidarity and harmonies of their old songs.

Chocolate Girl had everyone on their feet as did Fergus Sings The Blues. With charismatic front man Ricky Ross’ booming vocals, alongside fellow vocalist Lorraine McIntosh whose incredibly powerful voice gained rapturous applause by itself on multiple occasions, they belted out a medley of classics like Wages Day, Loaded and Wish I Was A Girl Like You.

For Real Gone Kid the crowd punched the air and sang along before main set closer Town To Be Blamed saw them dancing to their hearts content. But the real show stopper was the first encore that included a beautiful Peace Will Come and a wonderful Dignity before a second encore of Forever Young brought the house down.

Deacon Blue performing at The Royal Concert Hall on Tuesday 15th November 2016

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Deacon Blue came onto a dark Royal Concert Hall stage last night, singing an a capella first verse of Curtis Mayfield’s People Get Ready, and instantly this packed crowd knew that they were in for a treat.

Being one of Scotland’s most successful musical exports and having sold over six million albums worldwide, Deacon Blue are back touring to promote their latest album, Believers, and it was some new tracks that started off the evening, as Ricky Ross and wife Lorraine McIntosh showed that they are still as capable of filling a venue with swooning aficionados who hung on their every word, as they were way back in the 80s.

Come Awake and Gone was followed by a gritty Your Town that got everybody on their feet, where they stayed for the bands 1988 chart hit Real Gone Kid. Six songs into the set, Ross spoke for the first time, showing that he still has the natural warmth and ability to make the Concert Hall feel like an intimate venue. Telling the crowd that their fourteen year old son is trying to write songs but never gets to finish them, his between song banter drew this eager audience in and made them feel like it was a get together with old friends.

Other new tracks, Birds and Delivery Man showcased McIntosh’s pure and emotive vocals, whilst bitter sweet ballad I Will And I Won’t was absolutely stunning. There were songs from past albums like A New House and Love’s Great Fears, but it was the old classics that got the crowd going as the roof was definitely raised with a rousing Fergus Sings The Blues. There was a celebratory Twist And Shout before the evening was rounded off with a mass sing along to Dignity, which could still be heard as the audience made their way home.