Tony Hadley 'The Christmas Big Band' Tour Review

Few voices in British music have become quite as iconic, nor lasted for as long as Tony Hadley’s. Fifty years on from co-founding the band that would become Spandau Ballet, he has turned his 50th anniversary into a winter tour that is part celebration and part swing-era love letter. The Christmas Big Band Tour, which first debuted last year, brought that mix to Cambridge Corn Exchange last night in full force. With the Fabulous TH Band and a full brass section behind him, alongside a setlist that treated the Rat Pack classics, his own biggest hits and a handful of festive favourites as one big family, the capacity crowd were treated to a night of musical excellence.

Tony Hadley opened with ‘Ain’t That a Kick in the Head’ and from there moved through the likes of ‘Summer Wind’, ‘The Best Is Yet to Come’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’, songs that have been sung by the greats and demand real command to carry off. His voice has always been rich and powerful, and in front of a brass section that gave every arrangement its swagger, it sounded completely at home. The crooner songbook suits him so naturally, not just vocally but in his whole stage presence. Standing centre stage with a JD in hand and an easy swagger, the audience hung on his every word. Hadley is a showman in the classic sense, with the warmth and charm that run through his delivery making even the most well-worn standards feel fresh.

Not that the night was only about the old standards. The Spandau Ballet material was woven through both sets, with ‘Through the Barricades’, ‘Gold’ and ‘True’ all making appearances, receiving the kind of reactions that only songs this timelessly beloved can. ‘Lifeline’ was a particular highlight, given a new big band arrangement for this tour that turned an 80s favourite into something far bigger. The brass section giving it a weight and an elevated swing approach it has never had before. Hearing these songs reimagined in this setting rather than simply recreated made this show feel like a real fresh love of music, rather than any sort of nostalgia exercise.

A few left-field choices added colour as the night went on, with a cover of ‘Jump’ providing an unexpected treat in a set so rooted in swing, whilst a truly stunning rendition of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ closed out the first set in the most moving way possible. The big band numbers kept coming in the second act too, with the likes of ‘The Lady Is a Tramp’ and ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ landing with the confidence of a singer who clearly loves every song performed. This feels like a real passion project for Hadley and that adds an increased sense of connection to every passing number. Elvis was represented by ‘If I Can Dream’ and the closing run of the main set was capped by ‘My Way’, as inevitable as it was irresistible.

The Fabulous TH Band deserve huge credit for the night’s success. A show like this relies on a band that can be loud and subtle in equal measure, and with the brass section in full flow, the sound filled the Corn Exchange without ever overwhelming those beloved vocals. That balance meant every word of the lyrics carried, which is no small thing with songs this loved.

When the encore arrived, it brought the festive spirit in full, as a quartet of ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’, ‘Let It Snow!’, ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’ turned the room into one big singalong, the kind of feel-good finale that sends everyone out into the cold feeling warmer than they came in. However, to close the night out, there could be no song more perfect than perhaps the ultimate big band number, ‘New York, New York’. It was a fittingly grand final note to close out a night of musical perfection.

After fifty years in music, Tony Hadley could easily rest on his own past glories. Instead, he is still finding new ways to sing the songs he loves, make them his own and still bringing an audience along for every note. If last night was anything to go by, the voice that soundtracked the 80s has plenty more to give.