There are summer evenings that remind you why live music matters. This was one of them. Under a London sky that gave us rain, sunshine and a rainbow, the Live at Chelsea concert series returned to the Royal Hospital Chelsea after four years away, and what a homecoming it was.
The setting alone steals your breath. Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th-century courtyards, framed by the river and Battersea Power Station in the distance as well as the quiet dignity of the Chelsea Royal Army Pensioners in their scarlet coats, transform a simple outdoor concert into something closer to a royal celebration. And with three icons of 1980s pop on the bill, Heaven 17, Tony Hadley and Holly Johnson, the sold-out crowd knew they were in for something special.
Heaven 17 opened the night with pure synth-pop joy
Glenn Gregory (whom I interviewed in 2022 while he was touring with The Best of Bowie) and Martyn Ware took to the stage as the evening light began to soften. From the first shimmering notes of Temptation, the audience was hooked. Gregory’s voice, still silky and mischievous, glided over those unmistakable electronic grooves. The crowd danced to Bowie’s Let’s Dance cover, clapped along to Come Live With Me and swayed through Crushed by the Wheels of Industry. It was a masterclass in opening a show: upbeat, confident, and full of the wit that made Heaven 17 such a vital part of the 80s scene. By the time they finished, everyone was warm, smiling and ready for more. Watch their performance here.
Tony Hadley delivered the most emotional moments of the night
Then came Tony Hadley, and the atmosphere shifted into something deeper. Dressed sharp and grinning like a man who genuinely loves his job, Hadley launched into a set that spanned his glorious years with Spandau Ballet and his solo work. His voice? Still that same rich, powerful, unmistakable baritone that made True a wedding standard for generations. But it was Through the Barricades that truly stopped time.
Standing centre stage, with percussionist Lily Gonzalez weaving heavenly harmonies around him, Hadley delivered the song with such tenderness that you could have heard a pin drop. For those few minutes, the song’s story of lovers separated by political and social conflict, the barricades of Belfast, the walls we build between each other, felt unbearably close and yet achingly beautiful. I saw people in the crowd wiping their eyes. And when he followed it with a rare live performance of I’ll Fly For You, the joy returned instantly. Then came Gold and True back to back, and the whole courtyard erupted. Arms in the air, voices singing every word, strangers hugging. Magic.
I’m no stranger to Tony or his music. This was my third concert, and the last time I saw him was at the Spandau Ballet reunion in 2014, where I was a guest of the band following a historic interview.
Holly Johnson brought the power of love and left everyone in tears, the happy kind
Closing the night was the man himself: Holly Johnson, the charismatic force behind Frankie Goes to Hollywood. From the moment he walked out, resplendent and beaming, the love in the crowd was tangible. His voice has changed, it is softer now, more fragile, but also more human. And when he began The Power of Love, something extraordinary happened. The entire audience sang along, louder than the speakers, carrying him through every verse. Tears dropped freely, but so did laughter. Johnson’s warmth and gratitude were written all over his face. He knew he was among friends.
Relax and Two Tribes preceded, and the dance that broke out across the grass was joyous, silly, perfect. The sound of hundreds of people, from teenagers to pensioners, bouncing together to a song about letting go, that is the power of music. By the final note, nobody wanted to leave.
Watch the Power of Love performance on Instagram.
A night of unity, joy and hope
If there is one thing this concert proved, it is that music heals. Music unites. The 1980s gave us songs about love, protest, longing and joy and hearing them performed live, in such a stunning setting, with the sun setting behind Wren’s masterpiece, felt like a reminder that no matter how divided the world sometimes seems, we can always come together through a melody.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds supports the Chelsea Pensioners, which added a quiet, noble warmth to the festivities. And as the crowd spilled out onto the Royal Hospital Road, still humming Gold and The Power of Love, one thing was clear: Live at Chelsea is more beautiful than ever.
More concerts run until 14 June. Do not miss them. I’ll be back on Sunday to see the Beach Boys! Tickets at liveatchelsea.com.
We need more love and peace in this world. Nights like this prove we can find it.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
