Worthing Assembly Hall

Freya is always good value and entertaining. It is the 1st time I have heard her poetry, but have seen her several times with her band. It was a shame that she had such a limited time slot

We were due to fly out to Australia on 9th October 2024 and thought 'I wonder if Leo Sayer is touring and we can get to see him whilst we were over there? Blow me down with a feather, it so happened the great man was here touring here in the UK. Could not believe our luck and booked to see him at Worthing on Saturday 7th October. Last saw him in the 1990's in Croydon and what can I say about this show? Leo you were absolutely blooming fantastic, brilliant vocals and fabulous show. Had a number of teenagers sitting behind us (we are in our 60's and 70's) and heard them say it was the best show they had ever been to. Please come back again next year Leo as we can't wait to see you.

I first saw Leo Sayer play live at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 1975 and have caught most of his tours since then. So last night was 'our' 49th anniversary and a homecoming gig for the boy who grew up in nearby Shoreham. This was the second time we have seen him at Worthing Assembly Hall and Leo makes no secret of his memories. He came here himself as a teenager to see bands like John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream and Jon Hiseman's Colliseum. At about the same age as my friends and I were 'letting ourselves in' the fire exit doors of the Hammy Odeon, Leo Sayer had been doing the same in Worthing. Throughout the show, Leo points the locals to locations that feature in so many of his songs. Moonlighting was a true story of a couple who eloped to Gretna Green and they'd all met at the Mexican Hat club in Montague Steeet. Leo breaks it to us that the song is all true, but for the lie at the end. The girl's father was a senior police officer and was able to get Carlisle police to stop them, just as they thought they were "10 miles from Gretna, they're 300 behind". While the name Leo Sayer conjures up for many pierrot make-up, going commercial in his Hollywood years and refusing to be seen washing his own underpants on Celebrity Big Brother, I am still going back time and again to witness the sheer power of his voice and performance. While some have found their voices fade away due to abuse, sheer age or illness, Leo Sayer genuinely belts out the songs. With all the worry about energy, Kier Starmer should nationalise Leo Sayer's lungs. This isn't some hits tour, replicating the songs you'd hear played by Ken Bruce. The new single Wonderworld is going up the Heritage Chart and DJ Mike Read was in the audience to check Leo out. When I Need You has become a blues workout, Long Tall Glasses is introduced as rock'n'roll. The encore The Show Must Go On has been completely transformed into a totally different song, as if Leo's creative energies aren't sated by repetition when there's a new tune to be mined. There are plenty of tender moments. Have You Ever Been In Love and I Can't Stop Loving You had me shed tears, while the 50th anniversary of the Just A Boy album had songs that haven't been heard in almost that long. But I am in sheer awe of how powerful Leo is across two one-hour sets, fronting a great band of English musicians (Leo has settled in Australia now) with a phenomenally clear sound balance. The tour closes at the London Palladium and would be worth going to if you're in the area. Bravo Leo Sayer!

Absolutely amazing such a good mix between his new music and old music the support act (Kanga) was beyond brilliant as she had such a strong presence on stage. Gary Numan manages to entertain the audience effortlessly in response to the technical issues throughout the performance. I thoroughly loved every minute of it absolutely worth going to see him every time.