Paul Carrack – Birmingham Symphony Hall – Thursday 7th May 2026.

An enviable career

You’ve heard him a thousand times; a golden voice and a golden anniversary. Paul Carrack. Paul Carrack. It rings a bell. Which bands has he been in?

Let me see… Ace, Mike + the Mechanics, Squeeze, Roxy Music, The Smiths… Carrack’s songs have been recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Michael McDonald and Jools Holland. He has worked with Elton John, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, B. B. King, the Pretenders, Madness and more. While you may or may not have heard the name, you have absolutely heard the voice.

Starting with Ace back in the 1970s, Carrack is touring yet again, celebrating his 50th anniversary in the industry. You build a career of such longevity without being a bit good and Carrack is all of that and more. His repertoire is as broad as it is long and his effortless, relaxed presentation squeezes every ounce of talent from the excellent musicians he’s brought on tour with him.

Effortlessly beautiful

First up is Amy Meehan, a singer songwriter from Donegal who sounds like Karen Carpenter and complements Carrack’s style and set perfectly. Her effortless delivery of beautiful songs tugs at even the toughest heart strings. Both her supporting set and her first album feature a selection of her own songs and a few covers that have inspired her along the way. Well worth checking out.

Another cup of Carrack

Carrack and his band entered the stage with minimal fuss and nothing more than a thumbs up. Straight into Mike + the Mechanics’ 1995 hit Another Cup of Coffee, the evening was off to a great start. In previous tours, Carrack has played a range of fan favourites and better known hits. This time around, his mission seems to be to show off the breadth of his abilities and influences. We got a nod to his contribution to the Eagles with Love Will Keep Us Alive and smooth easy listening with Groovin’.

A bit of everything

Carrack has been around so long that his core audience are less likely to be dancing in the aisles as sitting back, relaxing and treating their ears to some properly good music. Songs such as Satisfy My Soul and Eyes of Blue are perfectly rendered for this purpose, Carrack’s silky voice sounding as good now as it ever has.

Most of the band departed for a break while Carrack shared four acoustic songs. The breadth of Carrack’s repertoire was evident even here. Everything from light reggae to rock, pop and even country in the form of Take These Chains From My Heart, a track from his album The Country Side Of Paul Carrack Volume 1. Watching Over Me was more typical of Carrack’s style, a retrospective song, sharing his gratitude for his career.

Legendary

The band returned with everything the crowd had been waiting for; Silent Running, Living Years, How Long and Over My Shoulder. A neat medley rounded off a superb evening and that was it. No pyrotechnics, no video walls, no light up bracelets. Just exquisite musicianship from an incredibly experienced band, led by a consummate professional. A legend, no less.

Amy Meehan: Website

Paul Carrack: Website

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