James Blunt, Go-Jo @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 28/10/2025
Gee whiz, it’s all happening in Adelaide musically speaking with so many shows happening spoiling music lovers for choice at the minute. Returning to the Entertainment Centre for James Blunt who is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his debut album Back To Bedlam and the very album that turned him in to a global superstar packing out arena right around the world touring relentlessly for two years now. Adelaide was the second to last show on his world tour and love him or loathe he really does know how to put on a good show.
Go-Jo was a great opening bringing an abundance of energy to gee up the crowd for what was about to come. Most might recognise him at Australia’s contestant at Eurovision Song Contest. Playing with the right spirit it was a fun way to kick off the show with plenty of arm waving and clapping even some Michael Jackson-esque dance moves. First instincts was, ah, yes that’s a bit like Mika with some big salvos in the artillery with the likes of Mrs Hollywood, Milkshake Man and Loverman impressing. There’s plenty more awesome to discover on Spotify.
James Blunt was next and there ere no real surprises early with the first part of the set list featuring Back To Bedlam start to end, top to bottom, in full. It was an emotive start when the lights dropped and projected the screen was a montage of clips of significant world events from over the last twenty years, which really does make one think how much has actually happened in that time. Casually walking out on stage armed with an acoustic guitar it was the opening chords of High followed by that hit You’re So Beautiful prompting Blunt to say “it’s all downhill from here, that was the hit” playing another crowd pleaser in Wiseman.
Going solo on piano it was Goodbye My Lover before Blunt really opened up with his trademark humour and wry wit apologises to the husbands and partners who were dragged along in sufferance suggesting that later “she fucking owes you for coming” and that nothing would get him a long to a James Blunt concert. Being brutally honest about “cashing in” as “wives want nice things” pointing out he has a house in Ibiza. Going on to say the kids are his future, jokingly, as his old fans will die eventually. Just as humorous were the stories behind the lyrics like his mate Jimmy who overstayed his welcome (So Long, Jimmy). Billy and Cry were equally popular with the most poignant moment in the set being No Bravery written about his time serving in The Balkans with NATO in 1999 with the video of destruction hitting even harder emotionally.
With the album done it was on to the classics and the crowd were encourage to stand up saying that “chairs are no longer valid” pulling out the likes of Carry You Home, Postcards followed by a Slade cover Coz I Love You which was well done and saw Blunt take off and did a lap around the Arena at breakneck speed stopping for hugs and high fives. Stay The Night was another big one and the Robin Schulz cover OK is an absolute gem.
Encouraging everyone to turn their mobile phone lights on to light up the place, suggesting not to save your battery for “the Tinder date that isn’t coming” it was quite the spectacle for set closer Same Mistake.
There was “one last miserable song” playing an emotive song about his father in Monsters then asking the crowd if they wanted a “happy one” going with Bonfire Heart and wrapping things up neatly with the crowd rousing 1973. Asking the crowd to pose for a photo to prove to their wives that they were here Blunt said “say sausages, see you in twenty years” plugging the fortieth anniversary shows in advance. All round a great night and James Blunt has delivered again.
Live Review By Rob Lyon