Live Review: Texas – 7th August 2025 – Sandown Park Racecourse, London, UK

It was a day at the races for us here at Renowned For Sound on Thursday night and we may have been sick as a dog but there as nothing stopping us from getting to this special day – but that wasn’t the horses we were there for.

As fans of Glaswegian pop-rock band Texas from the outfits very first record, we have managed to catch the band perform quite a few times over the years and the Sharleen Spiteri led rockers returned to London to close out a day of horse racing and betting fun at Sandown Racecourse and what a hell of a show it was! But, unsurprising really as we have come to expect nothing but the greatest performance form these guys each and every time we see them and once again they did not disappoint.

The band have been busy over the last 12 months performing throughout the UK and Europe as part of their current 2025 Very Best of Texas tour, a celebratory run honouring over 40 years of hits. Fresh from an evening of summer racing and with the punters heavily liquored up thanks to the numerous beer stands positioned around the performance space, a packed crowd gathered to watch Sharleen Spiteri lead her band through a tight, hit-filled set that confirmed exactly why the Scottish group remains such a cherished part of the UK’s pop-rock landscape.

They opened with a cinematic bang. I Don’t Want a Lover blared through the speakers while canyon imagery rolled across the giant on-stage screens, setting the tone for a show steeped in Americana spirit and stadium-ready nostalgia. From there, it was hit after hit, with Halo and Summer Son met with a roaring reception.

Spiteri was in ferocious form, leaping across the stage, teasing the audience, and delivering vocals that were as strong as ever. During When We Are Together, she scaled a stack of speakers and danced from the top, elevating the already energetic feeling of the show into something more stadium worthy. It was one of many moments where Spiteri’s showmanship effortlessly matched the energy of the hits being dished out, one after the other.

In true Texas fashion, the songs were only part of the experience. Between tracks, Spiteri shared her trademark wit, telling stories about her daughter’s imminent 5am move to New York and joking about a young crew member who had earlier admitted to not knowing who Kylie Minogue, George Michael or Iggy Pop were. When she peeled off her jacket mid-set to reveal a simple black tee and jeans, the crowd erupted. “Imagine what kind of reaction I’d get if I showed you my tits,” she grinned, soaking up the moment with typical cheek and confidence.

Keep On Talking, a soulful Dan Penn cover, gave her the chance to rally the crowd out of their comfort zones, cheekily instructing them to ditch “dad moves” and her expectations throughout the show for fans to “take it up another level” were high. Later, In Demand provided the emotional anchor of the night, performed as a stripped-back duet with guitarist Tony McGovern that brought intimacy and the nights beautiful down-tempo ballad to the set.

From there, it was full steam into fan favourites. Mr Haze and Black Eyed Boy kept the momentum high, while Say What You Want bloomed into its Wu-Tang Clan remix after Spiteri encouraged the crowd to sing it back to her. Inner Smile followed with those iconic Presley-side to side hip movements as the tracks chorus began, an endearing nod to the song’s famous music video where she channels Elvis in full leather.

The night wrapped with a surprise encore of Suspicious Minds, continuing the Elvis homage and sending fans off on a high before venturing off across the wide racecourse field to the nearest tube station or car park.

At just 11 songs, the set may have been short, but it was immaculately picked and delivered. Each track was a defining moment from the band’s four-decade career. As someone who’s seen Texas perform many times over the past two decades, this tour proves they’re still very much at the top of their game. Spiteri remains a phenomenal frontwoman, vocally sharp, endlessly charismatic, and clearly still having the time of her life on stage. She is the definition of a true songwriting and entertaining icon!

At Sandown, Texas didn’t just revisit their past. They celebrated it, re-energised it, and reminded us why they’re still one of Britain’s best-loved live acts.

Setlist:
I Don’t Want a Lover
Halo
Keep On Talking (Dan Penn cover)
Summer Son
When We Are Together
In Demand
Mr Haze
Black Eyed Boy
Say What You Want
Inner Smile
Suspicious Minds

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.