TK. MAXX PRESENTS… LYTHAM FESTIVAL 2025 - STEVIE WONDER
STEVIE WONDER OPENS TK. MAXX PRESENTS… LYTHAM FESTIVAL 2025
★★★★☆ (4/5)
STEVIE WONDER PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS… LYTHAM FESTIVAL 2025
PHOTOCREDIT: DAVE NELSON
Support for tonight’s show comes from Corrine Bailey Rae, whose association with Stevie Wonder goes back to her early success in the 2000’s. We’re treated to an hour of genre hopping sounds, all delivered tastefully with Corrine’s soulful voice to the fore. We get songs from her recent album, Black Rainbows, and a cover of Bob Marley’s, Is This Love that doesn’t quite capture the song’s reggae feel. Introducing The Blackest Lily, she asks, “Do you want to rock out?” The track has a decent guitar solo but this is rock sterilised with a huge dose of antiseptic. Towards the close an extended version of her hit Put Your Records On gets a good response but ultimately the performance leaves an impression of watching an hour of tastefully performed muzak.
CONNIE BAILEY RAE PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS.. LYTHAM FESTIVAL 2025
PHOTOCREDIT: DAVE NELSON
Stevie Wonder, dressed in bright red tunic adorned with bob Marley images, is brought on stage by his son and daughter. He begins with a slightly meandering speech criticising world leaders before apologising for having to begin with, Love’s in Need of Love Today. It’s the most underwhelming opening to a gig I’ve witnessed in a long time. Fortunately things improve. Master Blaster (Jammin’), Higher Ground, and You Are the Sunshine of My Life Follow in quick succession, with the audience responding to their familiarity.
Corrine Bailey Rae returns to duet on Sly and the Family Stone’s, Everybody is a Star in tribute to Sly Stone’s recent death. It’s dull, plodding and frankly boring. There are surely much better ways to remember just a vibrant musician! As the set rolls on Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours and My Cherie Amour are real high points between non-descript ballads before Stevie takes his leave.
In his absence we’re treated to around 15 minutes of Aretha Franklin and Rose Royce covers sung by backing singers before Mr Wonder returns to lead a rather strange audience singing competition that doesn’t really work. Thankfully, following this fairly lame false start Stevie and the band finally seem to hit their stride.
Sir Duke gets a great response and highlights the credentials of his backing band; a powerful unit comprising three drummers, five backing singers, a four piece brass section plus guitars and keys. These are quality musicians who across the night deliver as both an ensemble and individuals.
The impressive, I Wish, and Living For The City maintain the positive vibes before they cover The Beatles, Love Me Do. It proves a real high point, delivered over a reggae beat with Stevie adding simple but very effective harmonica to the mix.
For your reviewer Stevie Wonder’s rhythm based tracks have always worked best. Tonight’s crowd clearly have different tastes. For me, Isn’t She Lovely is mawkish, saccharine sweet and cringe worthy but the crowd love it. Arms sway, phones are held aloft and for the first time tonight they really come to life. It’s clearly this facet of the artist that most have come to hear. A little later, I just Called To Say I love You elicits a similar reaction.
Superstition inevitably goes down well before Corrine Bailey Rae returns and they bid us farewell with another dose of Sly Stone that thankfully reflects better on the late star.
Gigs by performers of Stevie Wonder’s generation and age inevitably come with a question. Have they still got it or are they beyond their sell by date? Some like Iggy Pop and Springsteen clearly have passion and energy to burn while others become embarrassing. So where does Stevie Wonder lie? Tonight, his voice is clearly in decent shape and he knows his limitations; taking a mid-set break and sharing vocal duties. The performance is polished and professional and his band is excellent but for someone regarded as an icon of soul, tonight has been oddly soulless.
STEVIE WONDER PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS… LYTHAM FESTIVAL 2025
PHOTOCREDIT: DAVE NELSON
REVIEW BY: TREV EALES
PHOTOS BY: DAVE NELSON
