A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John

A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John
Tour by Olivia Newton-John

Promotional poster for tour
Associated album A Few Best Men
Start date 24 February 2012
End date 17 March 2013
Legs 7
No. of shows 7 in Australia
8 in Asia
38 in North America
6 in Europe
59 Total
Olivia Newton-John concert chronology

A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John was the eighteenth concert tour by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, in support of her sixth soundtrack A Few Best Men. The tour name drifts from her 1978 hit, "Summer Nights", from the musical film Grease. It is Newton-John largest tour since the Heartstrings World Tour, which runs from 2002 to 2005. It was her first tour in the United Kingdom in over 30 years.

It was followed by a concert tour of similar name, Summer Nights, which is mostly a residency show.

Background and development

The tour first leg began in February in Australia, where Newton-John did seven concerts (two added by popular demand). The West Australian Symphony Orchestra participated to the Perth concerts, Melbourne Pops Orchestra to the Melbourne concerts and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to the Sydney concerts.[1]

A new medley with some songs from A Few Best Men was added to the setlist.[2] Newton-John also performed on a few dates of her Australian leg the Australian Bicentenary song, "It's Always Australia for Me", from the 1988 album, The Rumour.

Olivia also did an interview by David Campbell to Australian talk show Morning about the concerts and her long career. She and Campbell sang "You're the One That I Want" at a Sydney concert. In Asia, she received extensive exposure by local media and was interviewed to newspapers such as Jakarta Globe, Bangkok Post and The Philippine Star.

The tour North American leg began in August, with a concert at Northalsted Market Days. The medley from A Few Best Men was removed, but "Weightless" continued in the setlist. A new medley with three old ballads by Newton-John was added; it consists of "Suspended in Time" (from Xanadu soundtrack), "Boats Against the Current" (from Totally Hot album) and "Shaking You" (from Two of a Kind soundtrack). The two later were performed for the first time by Olivia. The 2013 setlists doesn't have any songs from A Few Best Men soundtrack, and the ballads medley was withdrawn (only "Suspended in Time" was performed at North American concerts). United Kingdom concerts had a new medley added recalling Newton-John's participation on Eurovision Song Contest 1974, consisted by "Long Live Love" (UK's entrant to that year contest), "Angel Eyes" (another choice to represent the UK) and a cover of "Waterloo" (1974 Eurovision winner by Swedish group ABBA).

Critical response

Ross McRae, from the newspaper The West Australian did a positive review to the first Perth concert, saying that Newton-John "led the enthusiastic crowd through a journey of her extensive 40-year career", but stated the medley of A Few Best Men "seemed misguided and unnecessary".[2] Kittipong Thavevong from The Nation made a mixed review to the Bangkok show, writing: "Those who expected her to perform with the same voice quality as in her heyday left feeling disappointed. But those who simply wanted to a long-time favourite singer perform live were more than satisfied".[3]

About her Singapure concert, Christopher Toh, from Today gave a rave review, wrote that "she hit notes that were seemingly impossible; notes that soared up into the stratosphere" and "was just perfect in almost every sense of the word".[4] Nancy Koh from The Straits Times commented that "her moves were slick, her dancing sexy, and she even skipped like a delighted schoolgirl after receiving a few presents from the audience", but also criticized the medley of A Few Best Men.[5] Nur Aqidah Azizi, from the Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times wrote: "Newton-John made her way to centre stage with her seven-piece band, it was evident that the crowd could not contain their excitement — the arena was ringing with rapturous cheer. [...] Her voice was still as sweet as how many would have remembered it. Heartfelt yet powerful, it was perfect in every way".[6] Mike Bradstone from the Sri Lankan Sunday Observer commented that "Newton-John certainly has not lost the charisma and voice and could easily go on for many more years. I would sum up the evening up by saying 'Elegant, classy, graceful, entertaining and well-choreographed'."[7] Lynda Mills from The Jakarta Post wrote: "With her still youthful looks, a voice that remains clear and pure, and an ability to shimmy and shake with the best of them, Olivia belies her 63 years."[8]

Opening acts
  • Farhan Azizan (Genting Highlands)[6]
  • Lanerolle Brothers (Colombo)[7]
  • Blaze & Kelly (Eagle)[9]

Setlist

Tour dates

Date City Country Venue
Australia
24 February 2012 Perth Australia Burswood Theatre
25 February 2012
27 February 2012 Melbourne Regent Theatre
28 February 2012
1 March 2012 Sydney Sydney Opera House
2 March 2012
3 March 2012
Asia
23 March 2012 Bangkok Thailand BITEC Event Hall 106
27 March 2012 Marina Bay Singapore Esplanade Theatre
29 March 2012 Genting Highlands Malaysia Arena of Stars
31 March 2012 Quezon City Philippines Smart Araneta Coliseum
2 April 2012 Wan Chai Hong Kong HKCEC Grand Hall
4 April 2012 Colombo Sri Lanka Musaeus Auditorium
5 April 2012
8 April 2012 Jakarta Indonesia Grand Ballroom at Hotel Mulia
North America
12 August 2012[a] Chicago United States Rivers Casino Stage
3 September 2012[b] Vancouver Canada WestJet Concert Stage
6 September 2012 Eagle United States Eagle River Pavilion
7 September 2012 Sandy Sandy Amphitheater
8 September 2012 Layton Kenley Centennial Amphitheatre
10 September 2012 San Diego Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay
13 September 2012 San Francisco Golden Gate Theatre
14 September 2012 Reno Grande Exposition Hall
15 September 2012 Indio Fantasy Springs Special Events Center
21 September 2012 Rama Canada Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
22 September 2012
23 September 2012 Jackson United States Potter Center
24 September 2012 Minneapolis Guthrie Theater
27 September 2012[c] Minot All Seasons Arena
28 September 2012[c]
29 September 2012 Omaha Kiewit Concert Hall
30 September 2012
3 October 2012 Norman Showplace Theatre
5 October 2012 Greeley Monfort Concert Hall
6 October 2012 Cheyenne Cheyenne Civic Performing Arts Theatre
1 November 2012 Jackson Perkins Civic Center
2 November 2012 Thackerville Global Event Center
4 November 2012 San Antonio Majestic Theatre
7 November 2012 Carlton Otter Creek Event Center
9 November 2012 Kalamazoo Miller Auditorium
10 November 2012 Aurora Paramount Theatre
11 November 2012 Sault Ste. Marie DreamMakers Theater
15 November 2012 Huntington Paramount Theatre
16 November 2012 North Bethesda Music Center at Strathmore
17 November 2012 Atlantic City Etess Arena
6 December 2012 Newberry Newberry Opera House
8 December 2012 Pittsburgh Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
9 December 2012 Cleveland Palace Theatre
11 December 2012 Newark Prudential Hall
19 February 2013 Durham Durham Performing Arts Center
21 February 2013 Easton State Theatre Center for the Arts
22 February 2013 Lancaster American Music Theatre
23 February 2013 Shippensburg Luhrs Performing Arts Center
Europe
10 March 2013 Cardiff Wales Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
11 March 2013 Bournemouth England Windsor Hall
13 March 2013 London Royal Albert Hall
14 March 2013 Brighton Brighton Centre
15 March 2013 Birmingham NIA Academy
17 March 2013 Manchester O2 Apollo Manchester
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

^ a This concert is a part of the Northalsted Market Days.
^ b This concert is a part of the Pacific National Exhibition.
^ c These concerts are a part of the Norsk Høstfest.

Cancellations and rescheduled shows
18 March 2013 Glasgow, Scotland Clyde Auditorium Cancelled due to scheduling conflicts[10]

Personnel

References

External links

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