This was a gig I had been looking forward to for a while. Though I never saw The Beautiful South, I did see The South fairly recently, and I’ve always appreciated Paul Heaton’s knack for storytelling through song. Originally, this concert was meant to be held at Newcastle City Hall, but demand was so high that it was moved to the Utilita Arina, a testament to the enduring popularity of Heaton’s music.
Supporting on this tour were The Zutons, a band I’ve seen twice before—once supporting Paul McCartney (I think Laura was with me for that one) and another time supporting The Who at Harewood House (I believe David came to that). They delivered a solid, energetic set, kicking things off with “Zuton Fever” before running through tracks like “Pressure Point” and their famous cover of “Back to Black”. Of course, the highlight was their most well-known song “Valerie”, which had the whole crowd on their feet, proving that even after all these years, it remains a massive crowd-pleaser.
His former Beautiful South colleague Jacqui Abbott was due to be Heaton’s co-vocalist for the tour, but unfortunately, she was unwell and unable to perform. Rianne Downey stepped in as her replacement, and I have to say, she did a fantastic job. Her vocals blended beautifully with Heaton’s, capturing the spirit of those classic duets while bringing her own energy to the performance. Before the band even took to the stage, the intro music of “Blaydon Races” had the Newcastle crowd in full voice, setting the scene for a night of nostalgia, humour, and top-tier songwriting.
Heaton’s set covered all bases, from Housemartins classics to Beautiful South favourites, right through to his solo material. Opening with “Just Another Family”, he quickly moved through a mix of crowd-pleasers and deeper cuts. “Sheep” and “The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death” were reminders of his time with the Housemartins, while “Bell Bottomed Tear” and “Old Red Eyes Is Back” showcased the storytelling charm of the Beautiful South era. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Paul Heaton gig without “A Little Time”, which remains one of his most iconic songs.
Downey handled the vocal parts effortlessly, ensuring the song retained all its emotional weight. “Song for Whoever” and “Don’t Marry Her” were other highlights, with the audience singing along word for word. The set had its fair share of humour too—“Fish ‘N’ Chip Supper” and “Heatongrad” brought that cheeky, satirical edge that Heaton has always done so well. The whole arena bouncing along to that unmistakable intro.
The encore saw Heaton roll out more fan favourites. “One Last Love Song” and “You Keep It All In” were warmly received, but it was “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)” and “Caravan of Love” that truly brought the house down, sending everyone home on a high.
Paul Heaton is one of Britain’s finest songwriters, and this gig only reinforced that fact. His lyrics are sharp, witty, and often deeply moving, and hearing them performed live in a packed Utilita Arena was a real treat. While I might not have followed his music as closely as some in the audience, the sheer familiarity and warmth of these songs made for a brilliant night.
Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and to Laura and Natalie for helping with the blog entry. Thanks also to Wikimedia Commons for the photograph of the Zutons.
Setlist: Just Another Family, Sheep, Bell Bottomed Tear, Quicksand, The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death, Old Red Eyes Is Back, A Little Time, H Into Hurt, Moulding of a Fool, Silly Me, We’re Not Deep, Fish ‘N’ Chip Supper, Song for Whoever, Small Boat, Me and the Farmer, I’ll Sail This Ship Alone, Don’t Marry Her, Heatongrad, Happy Hour, Perfect 10, Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud) Encore 1: One Last Love Song, You Keep It All In Encore 2: Rotterdam (Or Anywhere), Caravan of Love
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