“AND Simply Redas Simply Red, appeared on stage on time and… the magic began” – this is what we wrote in the report from the last concert of the British in Poland. It was the Atlas Arena in Łódź, December 2022. We had to wait almost another three years for the team from Manchester to return and, well, it was also magical.
She was tasked with warming up the audience at Tauron Arena Kraków Zuta. Contrary to appearances, Zuta is not alone, because in everyday life it is a duo (vocalist Zuta Lipowicz and guitarist Max Mikulski), and in the concert version they are additionally accompanied by a multi-instrumentalist Mikołaj Franczak and drummer Adam Fordon. “We are 9/10 stressed, so a little applause would definitely help us,” said Maks Mikulski, and the audience in Krakow welcomed the group from Poznań really warmly.
Zuta emphasized that she and Maks were celebrating their first wedding anniversary at the Tauron Arena. “So what’s next for the second month?” – the singer’s husband joked. The performance in front of Simply Red was an interlude in the current “wedding tour”, during which the band promotes their debut album “This is just the beginning”. It was energetic, it was lively, this young generation of alternative pop is growing more and more. “Spectacular machine”i.e. the title of one of the songs well reflects what Zuta presents on stage, and the spirit is strongly associated with Krakow Kory was probably even more present than usual.
Simply Red at Tauron Arena Kraków. 40 years on stage
“During my morning walk around Krakow, I saw many impressive architectural monuments. I can’t wait for today’s concert. I’m fit and ready for the rest of the tour. See you?” – he wrote Mick Hucknall on Facebook a few hours before the performance at Tauron Arena.
The singer referred to this walk, joking on stage that he was moving around the capital of Małopolska like a “secret agent”, hidden under a hat and glasses. The Briton praised the “beautiful city” and Poland in general (“it’s wonderful to be here, it’s fantastic”), taking fans on a journey through 40 years of his impressive career.
Hucknall and his band are a hit factory, a well-oiled machine that has not been stopped by the various bumps it has had to face (such as the unexpected death of its longtime bassist Steve Levinson in December 2024). Yes, the famous redhead probably controls the impressive lineup, setting the pace of the whole, dividing and ruling, but he is accompanied by such skillful musicians that it is impossible not to mention them.
Ian Kirkham (saxophone, keyboards), Kenji Suzuki (guitar, backing vocals), Kevin Robinson (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion instruments, backing vocals), Roman Roth (drums, backing vocals), Gary Sanctuary (keyboards) and the youngest in experience Orefo Orakwue (bass, backing vocals) – what kind of crew is this, I have no words. It may seem like ordinary pop songs, but here it sparkles with music, stylish flavors and instrumental performances. Jazz start? Here you go – “Sad Old Red” the opening introduced the atmosphere of a smoky bar. Pulsating funk? “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” From the very first bars it had the audience on their feet. A moving ballad to light up the Arena? “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” I guess everyone knows it. Soul bedding? “It’s Only Love” it’s a number Barry White.
Moreover, Hucknall and his colleagues have been reaching for dusty classics from several decades ago and turning them into gems that are almost inextricably linked to Simply Red. It was similar in Krakow – almost one third of the concert consisted of songs that did not originally come from Simply Red’s repertoire. Hardly anyone remembers that “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New” Whether “The Air That I Breathe” these are songs created by masters from Hucknall’s youth.
By the way, the singer didn’t lose his shit either, since the second song he wrote in his life (he was 17-18 years old then, he was sitting in his bedroom, learning chords on the guitar) was played for the last encore “Holding Back the Years”. Such a hit can be envied by legions of performers from all over the world, and the British were pouring out hits like they were on Tuesday evening.
Mick Hucknall interspersed the songs with interesting facts and stories, due to the fact that the band is celebrating its 40th anniversary on the ongoing tour. “A New Flame” was created during a session on the Caribbean island of Montserrat at AIR Studios belonging to the legendary producer sir George Martin. A few years later, a volcanic eruption destroyed almost half of the island, and the studio never regained its former glory and today is an abandoned shanty. “You’ve Got It” in turn, it is a joint work of Hucknall and the famous composer Lamont Dozierco-responsible for the sound of Motown. “I felt like a kid in a candy store,” the singer recalled of this collaboration, because Dozier, who died in 2022, had a dozen No. 1 songs in the United States alone.
The audience couldn’t sit on their seats. “Security, let people dance”
“Security, let people dance!” – Mick Hucknall appealed at the end of the concert, because since “Fake” In fact, it would have been impossible to keep the audience in their seats anyway (there were chairs placed on the stage). IN “Fairground” we could feel truly Brazilian energy, and the frontman proved that his strength is not only in ballads.
Hucknall revealed that before the performance in Krakow, he had been dealing with a throat infection. If he sings so well even when he’s a little cold, I wonder what miracles he can do with his voice when he’s completely healthy. Maybe a slight hoarseness could be heard at times, but what kind of vocals are they – clear, perfectly audible, full-sounding when needed, more characterful, and seductive and soothing in other places. Chic, grace, elegance – everything was stylishly beautiful!
Simply Red – setlist of the concert at Tauron Arena Kraków:
1. “Sad Old Red”
2. “Jericho”
3. “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”
4. “The Right Thing”
5. “A New Flame”
6. “It’s Only Love”
7. “You’ve Got It”
8. “Enough”
9. “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
10. “For Your Babies”
11. “Stars”
12. “Thrill Me”
13. “Say You Love Me”
14. “The Air That I Breathe”
15. “You Make Me Feel Brand New”
16. “Fake”
17. “Sunrise”
18. “Fairground”
bis:
19. “Something Got Me Started”
20. “Holding Back the Years”.
The concert was organized by Live Nation.