Tonight marks a special occasion for the fortunate ones attending the event. The tour, promoted as an intimate evening of music, stories, and laughter, takes place at the Clyde Rooms in Glasgow. This all-seated event is completely sold out. The Glasgow crowd, eager and anticipatory, arrived early at the venue, soaking up the electrifying atmosphere, filled with excitement and the thrill of the unexpected.
As the venue began to fill, the stage was set for the opening act. With the dimming of the lights, Casey McQuillen was introduced to the excited crowd. She kicked off her brief performance with a rendition of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please, Please, Please,” which quickly had the audience singing along. Casey’s voice was truly remarkable, captivating everyone present. She skilfully set the mood with mostly her original songs, guitar in hand. The Glasgow crowd thoroughly enjoyed her tunes. If you ever have the opportunity to see Casey perform, definitely go as she delivers a compelling show. Throughout her performance at the Clyde Rooms, the reception she received was overwhelmingly positive.
The moment had arrived for Will Young to step into the spotlight. As the lights dimmed in the Clyde Rooms, Will and his keyboardist, Christian, positioned themselves on stage. Greeted by an enthusiastic reception from the Glasgow crowd, Will turned to Christian and remarked, “I told you it was going to be a great night with this audience.”
The show featured a mix of old and new music, complemented by a Q&A session with questions submitted by the audience via a QR code at the entrance. One of the early standouts was a captivating rendition of “Elizabeth Taylor,” which had everyone singing along enthusiastically. The artist was in great spirits, joking with the crowd that he would perform a series of medleys, humorously referring to them as “Richard Medleys,” drawing laughter from the audience. He mentioned that although the tour was intended to be intimate, it ironically found itself in a football stadium, playfully teasing any Celtic supporters present, given the proximity to Rangers Football Stadium, Ibrox.
A couple of questions came up, one of which was, “Do you have any plans for summer performances next year? We’d love to see you play at the Kelvingrove Bandstand in Glasgow.” Will responded enthusiastically, expressing his desire to make it happen. He delighted the audience with tracks such as “You and I” and the standout “Friday’s Child,” which had everyone singing along at full volume. When a fan called out for “Love Revolution,” Will replied that they had been practicing it and he was willing to perform it, provided he could remember the lyrics. Another crowd favorite mentioned was the hit “Joy.”
He went on to perform “Light It Up” and then captivated the crowd with the popular song “Jealousy,” as the lyrics resonated throughout the venue. He then treated the audience to a wonderful rendition of “Changes” and the “Light My Fire Melody.” With the audience eagerly singing along, he encouraged them to replace ‘girl’ with ‘boy’ in a song, before launching into a fantastic rendition of “Evergreen,” originally by Westlife.
It was time for some more questions from the audience. The first question was, “Did you take acting lessons?” to which Will responded, “No, do I need to?” This was followed by another question, “Can you dedicate ‘Evergreen’ for my birthday, Charlie McGeechan?” Will replied, “I will need to rewind things back to do this,” as the audience chuckled.
Will captivated the audience with stunning renditions of “Your Game” and “Grace.” His vocals were impeccable, perfectly complemented by the piano, which emphasized the strength of both songs.
Will addressed the audience, saying, “Usually, this is when we’d leave the stage and come back for an encore. Tonight, we’re going to do things a bit differently. We have two songs left and we want you to choose their order.” The choices were “All Time Love” and “Leave Right Now.” However, Will quickly decided, “Forget that, we’re starting with ‘All Time Love’,” much to the audience’s delight. The crowd sang along to every word, fully immersed in the encore, knowing the concert was nearing its end. The evening concluded with a stunning rendition of “Leave Right Now,” which echoed throughout the venue as the Glasgow crowd sang passionately, lifting the roof with their voices. After the final note, Will and Christian received a thunderous applause, taking a bow to the appreciative audience. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy as the duo exited the stage, leaving behind a memorable night with the remarkable Will Young.
If you have the opportunity to see Will Young on his intimate tour, be sure to secure a ticket for an unforgettable evening filled with delightful music and entertainment. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.
Review & Photographs by James Edmond Photography
