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Review: Take That, Ashton Gate stadium – ‘Everything you could possibly want’
It’s an unofficial but dedicated Take That weekend in Bristol, as the boys bring their This Life tour to Ashton Gate.
I’m lucky to be one of around 30,000 other excited fans heading to ‘the Gate’ on Saturday night for the first of the weekend’s two shows.
Walking down a vibrant North Street filled with stunning Upfest artwork, pink t-shirted fans fill every bar from top to bottom. The Take That party has taken over.
is needed now More than ever
Reviewer Matt and his sister indulge in Take That mania – photo: Matt Barnes
The sun is shining and the drinks are flowing. Take That glitter tattoos are sprayed on to ecstatic fans at extortionate prices. In the Coopers Arms A Million Love Songs blares out from behind a Gary Barlow-themed bar and punters queue up for pictures with life-size cardboard cut-outs of ‘the boys.’
With Ashton Gate steadily filling up I head on to catch support act Olly Murs.
Dedicated fans camped outside the stadium, while others rush in to take the front row, clinging on to save their space while friends take trips to the bar. Take That fans are next level.
The sun splits through to one side of the stadium as the boys’ faces light up the screen to introduce Olly Murs, who bounces onstage full of energy and smiles. It feels like Olly is as excited to see Take That as the fans are.
He’s the perfect warm-up act, with his own hits and a medley of Chubby Checker’s Let’s Twist Again and Shout by the Isley Brothers getting people moving.
Dear Darlin’ is dedicated to the memory of Caroline Flack, with Olly appearing visibly upset and the crowd singing along to help him out.
Take That teaser It Only takes a Minute has the entire stadium joining in, and crowd-pleaser Trouble Maker is a fitting choice to end the show as he departs to chants of ‘Olly Olly Olly, OI OI OI!!’
With the sun going down behind the packed stadium, excitement is mounting. Some fans are here for their first TT experience and some for their 100th.
The band takes to a stage equipped with a huge revolving staircase. They open with This Life’s Keep Your Head Up, followed by a string of other new tracks.
But there’s a definite sense of nostalgia in the air and Howard inspires smiles as he takes centre stage for tonight’s first classic Everything Changes.
The show is narrated by the boys themselves: they tell the story of the band’s beginnings, shooting to fame when many here were the same age as the kids they brought with them to the show.
Take That mania was real back then and you get a sense of that adoration tonight. The songs remain classic pop sing-alongs.
A Million Love Songs, played stripped back by Gary Barlow on the piano, is a standout ballad – though Howard doesn’t appear to agree, as he can be seen taking a nap on an onstage sofa.
The stage becomes a glorified water feature for Shine, a perfect, sunny, upbeat pop delight. Once again I find myself surrounded by swinging pink feather boas while fans wonder aloud if Robbie will turn up.
Then the band takes to the runway and hit us with Greatest Day. The lasers revolve, lighting the stadium in bright blues and purples.
For the encore fire shoots out of the stage and the huge staircase appears set alight as the boys climb up: the crowd erupts uncontrollably as they break into Relight My Fire.
An enormous firework display and white confetti fills the stadium for closer Rule The World.
It’s everything you could possibly want from a pop show. I leave feeling like I’ve been to a festival, with confetti in my beard and Take That in my heart.
All photos (except where stated): @darrencphotography
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