Emirates Stadium – 7th June 2025
Robbie Williams’ Britpop Tour at the Emirates Stadium on June 7th was a whirlwind of nostalgia, high camp and pop brilliance that only he could pull off. Standing before a packed crowd of 60,000, the 51-year-old, self-proclaimed King of Entertainment showed once again why he’s one of the UK’s most iconic performers.
He launched into the opening track, Rocket, with a giant gold rocket lowering him onto the stage in an astronaut suit. No one can accuse Robbie of being subtle but he embraced the absurdity of it all with a grin.
Throughout the night, Robbie was a mix of swagger and self-deprecation. As he pointed out in one of his many off-the-cuff chats with the crowd, “embrace your cringe.” He wore his quirky side like a badge of honour, from his bright pink coat to the slightly ridiculous conversation with an AI version of his younger self. In true Robbie style, it managed to come off as charming rather than cringe-worthy.
The setlist was a hit parade of Robbie’s impressive back catalogue, alongside a few newer tracks. Early on, he delivered some serious crowd-pleasers, including Let Me Entertain You and Old Before I Die, each bringing back memories of the 1990s. He even got Lulu on stage to perform a duet of Take That’s hit, Relight My Fire.
Rock DJ, Something Beautiful and Millennium got everyone on their feet, performed with Robbie’s trademark swagger and generally strong vocals. In an unexpected twist, Robbie brought grime legends, Wiley, Lethal Bizzle and Scorcher on stage for a collab. The crowd loved it and it was a solid reminder that, even though Robbie’s a pop superstar, he’s not afraid to step outside his comfort zone and try something different.
If there was a small negative, it’s that there was an awful lot of audience interaction and sing-alongs which were fun but did mean that Robbie didn’t sing as much as some would have liked. However, Robbie’s imperfections are part of the package and the audience didn’t seem to mind. Their passion for his music is a testament to his three-decade-long career.
The emotional highs came toward the end of the show. Robbie’s powerful version of My Way was unexpectedly moving. It’s hard not to feel for Robbie, a man who’s navigated the highs and lows of fame, as he poured himself into every note.
The encore, featuring Feel and Angels, was a grand finale, with the crowd singing along.
The night’s standout feature was Robbie’s ability to connect with his audience. Whether joking about his age or gushing about his family, he made sure the crowd was always involved. The result was a night of pure, uncut Robbie which was nostalgic, chaotic, self-aware and very entertaining.
Robbie Williams tour review – 5 stars
Photo credit – The Brighton Bucket List
The Brighton Bucket List 