Live Review: Bryan Adams – 10th December 2025 – Brighton Centre, Brighton, UK

Canadian music royalty doesn’t come in bigger or bolder shape than the legend that is Bryan Adams, and on Wednesday night at the Brighton Centre, the iconic husky-voiced singer-songwriter proved once again why he remains one of rock’s most enduring and captivating live performers. Spanning nearly five decades, Adams has carved out a career that most artists, old and new alike, can only dream of. His catalogue reads like a greatest hits playlist on repeat, and Wednesday night was yet another reminder of why fans return time and again to witness his live performances – including ourselves who have seen Adams perform on 5 other occasions over the years.

From the moment he stepped onto the small B-stage just feet from where we were sitting, launching into an acoustic version of Can’t Stop This Thing We Started at an early 8pm start, it was clear that this show would be both intimate and powerful. Fans raised phones to capture the moment, and the sing along energy was instant, setting the tone for what would be a memorable evening of hits and nostalgia.

The early portion of the show remained fairly personal, with Adams staying on the B-stage for Straight From the Heart, this time adding harmonica into the mix. As each audience member’s wrist band (each person was handed one as they ventured inside the hall) lit up in colours that shifted with the mood of the performance, the vibrant atmosphere only grew stronger and remained at a high till the end of the stellar 2.5 hour set.

Once the main stage lit up, Kick Ass ignited the crowd and, propelled by powerful execution, led into rock staples such as Run To You and Somebody. The momentum continued with Roll With The Punches, during which a giant silver inflatable glove was guided by drones above the crowd. Adams paused to address the packed venue, “This is the last date of the tour,” he announced, “it doesn’t feel like a tour, it feels like a celebration, I’ll try to fit in as many songs as I can remember.”

The rest of the night was exactly that, a celebration of one of rock’s most durable and beloved catalogues. Huge backdrops of lyrics illuminated 18 Till I Die, while Please Forgive Me moved the audience with its piano led beauty before erupting into a venue-wide sing along. It’s Only Love was given special weight as Adams acknowledged its UK success and credited his late friend and fellow rock icon Tina Turner for breaking the UK early in his career, with guitarist Keith Scott’s electric work shining throughout this and many of the hits delivered up throughout the set.

Later in the set, the tone shifted playfully with Never Ever Let You Go, accompanied by colourful fairground visuals showing Adams and Elizabeth Hurley on a rollercoaster, a fun visual complement to the song’s energy. He then played This Time, prefacing it with a self deprecating story about a newly restored HD video that left him “horrified”. Ballads like Make Up Your Mind and Heat Of The Night kept the set emotionally grounded, the latter seeing a genuine moment of care and concern when Adams paused to ensure medics could assist a fan in need in the standing section, a testament to his connection with the crowd – even mentioning that it wasn’t the appropriate time for banter as the fan was helped away to recovery.

Adams punctuated the evening with rarer gems, Lonely Nights was played for a young fan named Ed, and You Belong To Me brought campy, rockabilly fun as fans, including an elderly front row supporter, enthusiastically swung tops and danced down to bras and brimming smiles as her and her Adams fan peers danced along and were clearly living their best lives.

A raucous cover of Twist and Shout whipped the crowd into a frenzy, while So Happy It Hurts teased theatrical elements, the tribute inflatable car didn’t quite make it onto the stage due to technical issues, but the crowd loved the intent as it was subtle pulled down from staff and hidden behind the scenes before much of the crowd could even notice its brief appearance.

As the set neared its climax, familiar favourites Will We Ever Be Friends Again and When You’re Gone brought heartfelt vocals and crowd participation, even without original collaborator, Melanie C present for the later which was delivered in acoustic style. The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You revved back up the energy, leading into one of the night’s biggest moments with Everything I Do (I Do It For You), delivered with stirring conviction and backed by spectacular musicianship from Adams and his band. Personal standout Back To You then swept the venue in nostalgia with its MTV Unplugged aesthetic, before the frenzied joy of Summer of ’69, performed with Adams silhouetted behind the iconic opening riffas the opening of the number reverberated through the Brighton Centre, and Cuts Like A Knife, reminding everyone why these songs deserve their iconic status.

The show wound down with two solo acoustic numbers that felt like heartfelt bookends, All For You and a fitting seasonal finish in Christmas Time. These final quiet gems gave the crowd one last chance to reflect on an extraordinary night.

Last night was a truly iconic night from one of rock’s most extraordinary performers and songwriters. Bryan Adams knows exactly how to deliver a show, whether it’s arena filling anthems or stripped down acoustic delight, and the Brighton Centre was treated to one of his most masterful performances yet.

Setlist:

Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (acoustic, B stage)
Straight From the Heart (B stage, with harmonica)
Kick Ass
Run To You
Somebody
Roll With The Punches
18 Till I Die
Please Forgive Me
It’s Only Love
Shine A Light
Heaven
Never Ever Let You Go
This Time
Make Up Your Mind
Heat Of The Night
Lonely Nights
You Belong To Me
Twist and Shout
So Happy It Hurts
Will We Ever Be Friends Again
When You’re Gone
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Everything I Do (I Do It For You)
Back To You
Summer of ’69
Cuts Like A Knife
All For You (solo, acoustic)
Christmas (solo, acoustic)

Brendon Veevers

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.