Pulp @ Adelaide Festival, Elder Park, Adelaide 27/2/2026
Extraordinary! Never in a million years I thought that we could be safely saying that Britpop icons Pulp would be opening the Adelaide Festival to nearly twenty thousand people in the idyllic surrounds of Elder Park. It was the perfect night for it albeit very humid but fortunately there were no signs of the forecasted stormy weather that was about to descend on Adelaide. It would be easy to be distracted on the difficult lead up to Adelaide Festival but this night, which was absolutely perfect, was all about Pulp.
The magnitude and importance of such an iconic band such as Pulp cannot be downplayed or cast aside. Events such as this is what music folklore is made from and whether you are a die hard fan, new fan, music lover, casual observer or whatever it maybe opinions would be unanimous about how incredible this performance was. I cannot think of a band is so closely aligned and such a perfect fit as Pulp. Organisers absolutely nailed it and we can only hope that this sets the benchmark for future opening nights to come.
A voice over set the tone with “this is a night to remember for the rest of your life, this is Pulp, this performance is an encore because the audience wants more, make some noise”.
Pulp emerge from the shadows to play Sorted for E’s & Wizz followed by the massively popular Disco 2000. Jarvis Cocker is front and centre being the focus on stage joined by long time band mates Candida Doyle, Nick Banks and Mark Webber. Jarvis asked who had sunstroke waiting since five o’clock when the gates opened thanking them and adding that we try to entertain you, we are Pulp, you are Adelaide, come alive. It was great to hear new tunes from the very much underrated album More with the silky smooth Spike Island.
Jarvis is the consummate front man with oozes charm and swagger even joking about being in Italy with a big crowd there thinking “that we are big here” with Peter Andre rocking up just after and that they didn’t hold that against him. There was a good spread across their discography drawing on new music with a dash of nostalgia to appease all fans. Razzmatazz was cool then reflecting on Limit nightclub in Sheffield “where we first heard dance music, music with bass”. The story was how could you turn down that offer once you entered the dark doors and going down the dark stairs adding “it’s no longer there!” Farmers Market told the rest of the story being “in a depressed state of mind thinking you might miss something”.
F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E., Underwear, This Is Hardcore were stellar followed by a moment of reflection on the story behind the reunion tour gathering in a small living room in the north of England giving it a bash and now trying to recreate that rehearsal playing the stripped back Something Changed encouraging the crowd to sing-a-long if they could in tune. A shout out to the producer Chris Thomas of albums Different Class and This Is Hardcore Core who was in the crowd. Pointing out some of the crowd who clearly weren’t there at their first show in Adelaide at Thebarton Theatre October 2, 1998 was the perfect lead in to Do You Remember The First Time? Quoting John Steinbeck “You don’t have to be perfect, you have to be good” and the likes of Elizabeth Taylor who were born on this day added some context for Got To Have Love.
Another gem Babies was superb with Jarvis asking what songs have we got left and whether to play something “obscure” pulling out their iconic Common People. Equally poignant suggesting “without you this is just a long and expensive rehearsal” adding “all voices are important and all voices should be heard. Never forget” which came from a conversation he disagreed with. It was a moment of unity seeing the crowd respond to this song. Hard to believe it came to end on another song from More in A Sunset bringing plenty splendour and colour, sky dancers to this penultimate moment. We won’t be forgetting this occasion in a hell of a hurry.
Live Review By Rob Lyon