It was the Greatest Day for Take That fans in Manchester as the band made their huge homecoming at the first of three gigs this weekend on their ongoing Circus Live tour. The band's current trio line-up of Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Gary Barlow headed on to the stage at the Etihad Stadium at 8.30pm and then performed a spectacular two hour set of some of their biggest hits to the delight of the crowds.
The band have made history by bringing back an old tour in its entirety - 17 years since the original - and fans and critics alike have been saying it's even better than the first time around. In terms of the setlist, the band have decided not to switch things up too much - with the songs and their order staying pretty faithful at the Etihad Stadium gig to the first time they brought the Big Top to Manchester in 2009. Back then they were at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket ground.
The Take That show starts with the thrilling strains of Greatest Day - with a giant balloon heralding the arrival on stage of Gary, Mark and Howard. Big highlights include the giant elephant’s arrival, soundtracked by anthem The Garden, as Gary, Mark and Howard ride the beast out into the ecstatic crowds.
The only big changes fans will notice are due to the fact that former bandmate Jason Orange has not returned for this tour. His solo number, Wooden Boat, from the 2009 Circus tour, does not make it into the show. Nor does How Did it Come To This, the Circus album track on which Jason took lead vocals and which featured in the original tour.
New songs added to the setlist are the trio’s new track, You’re a Superstar which fans had been hoping would make the cut. There is also the addition of Babe giving Oldham’s Mark Owen the chance to serenade the crowds.
The finale remains the fire-festooned Relight My Fire but with an even bigger staging than before - and with Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett voicing the spectacular giant ringmaster, before heading out on to stage to belt out the "Lulu bit" to the delight of fans. The trio bounded back out for the encore with fan favourite Hold Up A Light, with the show coming to a triumphant close at 10.30pm with Rule The World and a fabulous firework finale.
Manchester Setlist
Here’s the Manchester setlist in full, including the setlists from support acts Belinda Carlise and The Script.
Take That Setlist
- Greatest Day
- Hello
- Could it Be Magic
- Pray
- A Million Love Songs
- Back For Good
- The Garden
- Shine
- Up All Night
- Babe
- You’re a Superstar
- Love ain’t Here Anymore
- Nobody Else
- The Circus
- What is Love
- Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party
- Said it All
- Never Forget
- Patience
- Relight My Fire
- ENCORE: Hold up A Light
- Rule The World
Stage Times
Stage times are always subject to change and the advice is always to get down early, but here's how it played out on the first Etihad Stadium gig on Friday, June 19.
- Doors open: 5pm
- Belinda Carlisle: 6.25pm
- The Script: 7.20pm
- Take That: 8.30pm
- Show ends: 10.30pm
Belinda Carlisle Setlist
- We Want The Same Thing
- Live your Life be Free
- I Get Weak
- Circle in the Sand
- Summer Rain
- Leave a Light On
- Heaven is a Place on Earth
The Script Setlist
- Superheroes
- Man in the Arena
- Nothing
- The Man Who Can’t be Moved
- For the First Time
- Wonderwall (Oasis cover)
- Breakeven
- Hall of Fame
