Live Review: Gabrielle – 18th April 2025 – O2 Arena, London, UK

As part of her latest tour of the UK titled A Place In Your Heart Tour – in reference to her most recent studio collection – British pop/soul icon, Gabrielle has been busy performing her back catalogue of hits, along with a small handful of later career and new pennings to fans up and down the country over the last few weeks and enjoying a well deserved resurgence of popularity over these last few years that has helped introduce her music to a brand new generation of music lovers.

It’s the Easter weekend and despite the grim weather, everyone seemed in very high spirits last night as the flocked to North Greenwich to catch the 90’s Dreams star bring her new songs and suitcase of early career hits to the capital’s O2 Arena.

It was a robust setlist; each of her career standouts were present with the opening trio of When A Woman, Give Me A Little More Time and Sunshine setting the night in motion and on an upbeat note with the whole venue up on their feet and dancing along to the singer who paced the stage in an oversized black church-like ensemble as he long hair flowed down one side of her face – that famous trademark Gabrielle look. “You are making this old woman feel amazing” she said as she smiled over the crowd who were already up on their feet one sing into the set and having the time of their lives.

A string of lesser-known numbers from latter studio releases like Fallen Angels from 2004’s Play To Win record, the title track from 2007’s Always collection and a gorgeous offering of Under My Skin from 2018’s album of the same name provided the more casual listeners a glance outside of the hits vault.

The stage set up was fairly subtle – ruffled curtains draped the high backdrop of the stage while a strong of orange stars hovered above and changed position during each song. Dramatic props or elaborate stage designs weren’t needed for this show because it allowed Gabrielle’s vocal talents to remain the focal point of the night.

While the tour is being promoted simultaneously as the Place In Your Heart tour and The Hits Tour 2025, unlike the previous Royal Albert Hall show that we attended back in October 2023, there were less songs from the new album featured in the set this time around, with Change being the token newbie to pop up and carry the promotional work for the collection. At the start of the song the singer encountered a mic mishap but handled it like a true star and requested a restart of the song.

As the singer departed the stage mid-set for a refresh, she left her talented backing singers in charge for a crowd medley singalong that included hits like Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody; allowing fans to hear the incredible vocal skills from the pair.

Returning 15 minutes later to her fans, the singer continued to deliver the signature hits including If You Ever, Don’t Need The Sun To Shine, my personal favourite, Rise, her huge Bridget Jones’ Diary hit, Out of Reach and of course, her mammoth signature number, Dreams providing the perfect closer to the night.

One thing that has always struck me at a Gabrielle show is just how down to earth the singer is. And I don’t say that as if I am surprised at all because it’s always been a known fact that Gabrielle is a people’s performer (I once sat next to her on a bus and she picked up a pen I dropped with a smile and her trademark hair cloaking her left eye and came across very friendly). During her shows, the singer comes across just as humble, real and personable as she interacts with her fans as much as possible between songs, telling anecdotes and sharing words of wisdom when it comes to the topic of love that her songs have centred in on.

Over the last couple of years we have seen Gabrielle perform on stages of varying sizes – from Hyde Park when she supported Adele at the superstars personal request for the BST Hyde Park summer series, at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in 2023 and now at the iconic O2 Arena. The one other thing that has stood out at each of these performances is how confidently and capable the hitmaker is of commanding such massive spaces and drawing in such huge numbers of fans after so many years in the business – especially after being relatively quiet for large portions of her career. Quite the testament to the singers fan base and of her timeless back catalogue.

Setlist:
When a Woman
Give Me a Little More Time
Sunshine
Always
Shine
Under My Skin
Change
Fallen Angel
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) / Never Too Much / Candy / Ain’t Nobody (Backing singers interlude medley)
If You Ever
Don’t Need The Sun To Shine
Walk on By
Ten Years Time
Rise

Encore:
Thank You
Out of Reach
Dreams

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.