Sophie Ellis-Bextor at The Sage

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

The Sage, Gateshead

25 November 2019

My fourth gig in four nights brought me back to The Sage, which is undoubtedly one of my favourite venues. It was to see an old favourite, too; Sophie Ellis-Bextor was back to extend her Song Diaries tour with some new dates to follow-up those from earlier in the year.

The gigs at Birmingham and Manchester back in June had been two highlights of a particularly busy year and I delighted to be able to catch one of the tour's latter dates.

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Alice Jemima was in the supporting role again. I was disappointed to hear her solo tour, planned for Autumn, had been cancelled - but very pleased to her again. I have been playing her self-titled album a lot since I bought it from her in June.

Sophie could brighten up the dullest of nights. The tricky journey of a bus, two late trains (plus a cancellation) and a taxi was made all worthwhile as soon as she appeared on the stage.

The show was similar in style to those from earlier in tour, with the focused orchestral songs fronting the set list and the arrival of Sophie's band heralding a quick change of clothes and a second-half dancing party. It was just one top tune after another and everyone was up on their feet, dancing away.

The tour concluded this week and it leaves me wondering what will happen next. It seems unlikely we will see another tour with the orchestra, so presumably an album of brand new songs will be somewhere on the horizon. Whatever happens, we do hope The Sage will be on the tour schedule again next time around. This was a simply wonderful evening.

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