Brighton Centre – 27th September 2026
Anastacia brought 25 years of pop, rock, soul and seriously impressive vocals to the Brighton Centre, and she certainly didn’t arrive to quietly stroll through a greatest hits set. From the huge opening of One Day in Your Life to the emotional punch of Heavy on My Heart and the full blown singalong of Left Outside Alone, this was an amazing show from a performer who knew exactly how to keep a crowd hooked.
There was something wonderfully nostalgic about seeing Anastacia back on a UK stage, especially as the #NTK tour celebrated 25 years since the release of her debut album Not That Kind. Yet this never felt like a night spent looking backwards. Anastacia took songs that have been part of the soundtrack to people’s lives for decades and gave them a fresh lease of life, backed by a fantastic band who could seriously play.
Opening with One Day in Your Life, she immediately reminded the Brighton crowd why that distinctive voice made such an impression in the first place. Anastacia was straight into that unmistakably powerful raspy vocal, looking completely at home on the stage and clearly enjoying being back in front of an audience.
Now or Never and Staring at the Sun followed before Paid My Dues gave the crowd one of those early moments where everyone seemed to know exactly what was coming next. It was one of the strongest reminders of just how many huge songs Anastacia had tucked away in her back catalogue.
Then came Sick and Tired, another fan favourite that still sounded remarkably fresh. Anastacia had never been a singer who relied on playing it safe, and that was obvious throughout the evening. Her voice moved effortlessly between pop, soul and rock, with that gritty edge giving every song its own personality.
There was also a generous helping of fun along the way. Anastacia chatted with the audience, laughed, joked and seemed to be having as good a night as everyone watching her. That connection mattered. It stopped the show from feeling like a perfectly rehearsed greatest hits package and made it feel much more personal.
The talented band also got their moment in the spotlight, and they absolutely made the most of it. While Anastacia disappeared for a change, the musicians launched into a medley featuring tracks including I Like It Like That, Smells Like Teen Spirit and Barbie Girl, followed later by Vogue, This Is How We Do and Everybody. It was a cheeky little detour that kept the audience entertained and showed off the talent behind the main star. It was so refreshing to be entertained by musicians instead of screens as seen with so many pop acts now.
Then came a shift in mood. Heavy on My Heart brought a much more emotional side of the evening, with Anastacia delivering the song with real feeling. It was followed by You’ll Never Be Alone, and suddenly the huge Brighton Centre felt a little more intimate. These moments worked because they weren’t overplayed. Anastacia let the songs do the talking, and her voice carried the emotion without needing anything extra.
The acoustic section continued that change of pace, with How Come the World Won’t Stop, Welcome to My Truth and Wishing Well giving her the chance to strip things back and put that voice front and centre. After the bigger production numbers, it was a welcome reminder that underneath all the costumes, lights and rock star swagger, Anastacia had always been an exceptional singer.
But this was never going to stay quiet for long. The band returned with All Right Now, giving the show another rockier turn before Anastacia tackled Sweet Child o’ Mine. It was one of those moments that showed just how comfortably she could step outside straightforward pop. There was a real attitude behind it, and it fitted the second half of the show perfectly.
Left Outside Alone then pushed things towards the finale, sounding every bit as huge as you’d expect. 25 years after Not That Kind first introduced Anastacia to the world, she still had the vocal power to make a song like that land with a serious punch.
And then came the encore. Not That Kind was the obvious choice for a tour carrying that name, but it was I’m Outta Love that really brought the night home. The opening notes were enough to have the Brighton crowd singing before Anastacia had even got properly into the song. It was the perfect finale to a set that had covered pretty much every side of her career, from glossy pop and soulful ballads to full throttle rock.
What made the evening work so well was that Anastacia never seemed trapped by her own nostalgia. She celebrated the songs people had come to hear, but she also showed off the performer she is now. The voice remained the main event, but the humour, personality, musicianship and theatrical touches gave the concert a sense of occasion.
There are plenty of artists who can revisit their biggest hits years later and make them sound like museum pieces. Anastacia did the opposite. She gave them a proper live workout, surrounded them with a talented band and delivered them with the confidence of someone who knew exactly why people still cared.
By the time I’m Outta Love came to an end, the Brighton Centre had been taken through pop nostalgia, rock anthems, soulful ballads, acoustic moments and a few very welcome surprises. It was a celebration of 25 years, but more importantly, it was a reminder that Anastacia still knew how to put on one hell of a show.
For anyone who grew up singing along to Not That Kind, Paid My Dues and I’m Outta Love, it was a gloriously nostalgic night. For anyone discovering her properly for the first time, it was a pretty convincing introduction. Either way, Anastacia left the Brighton Centre having done exactly what she came to do: remind everyone that some voices really don’t go out of fashion.
Anastacia review – 5 stars
Anastacia #NTK Tour Setlist
One Day in Your Life
Now or Never
Staring at the Sun
Paid My Dues
Nobody Loves Me Better / Don’t Cha Wanna
Sick and Tired
I Like It Like That / Smells Like Teen Spirit / Barbie Girl
Made for Lovin’ You
Vogue / This is How We Do / No Diggity / Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
Heavy on My Heart
You’ll Never Be Alone
Best Days
Overdue Goodbye
Sweet Child ‘O Mine
Boxer
Left Outside Alone
Not That Kind
I’m Outta Love
