Some voices you recognise within a few seconds. Anastacia is one of them – and 25 years after she first arrived with “Not That Kind”, that distinctive, slightly husky voice is still at the centre of everything she does.
The Brighton Centre was full for the final UK date of Anastacia’s #NTK 2026 tour, celebrating a quester of a century of her debut album.
The affection for Anastacia at this Brighton show was palpable. There were plenty of loyal fans in the room, alongside a surprisingly wide mix of ages.
People were on their feet almost immediately, singing along to songs they had known for years, and the excitement around the room showed just how many loyal fans she has built up over 25 years. It was obvious that many had been waiting a long time to see her again.
The set moved quickly through songs from across her career. From “One Day in Your Life” through “Staring at the Sun”, “Paid My Dues” and “Sick and Tired”, her voice was as strong and distinctive as ever.
There was a quieter part of the show with “Heavy on My Heart”, “You’ll Never Be Alone”, “Overdue Goodbye”, “How Come the World Won’t Stop”, “Welcome to My Truth” and “Wishing Well”.
“Heavy on My Heart” has particular weight in Anastacia’s story. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and has spoken openly about the effect it had on her life and music. The song remains one of the more personal moments in her catalogue.
Then it was back to rock. The band’s performance of Free’s “All Right Now” led into “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, before “Boxer” and “Left Outside Alone” brought the energy back up.
Anastacia has always moved between pop, rock, soul and r&b, and the set covered all of them. She has also written or co-written many of her own songs, with song writing credits on some of her best-known material, including “I’m Outta Love”, “Paid My Dues”, “Sick and Tired” and “Left Outside Alone”.
Her career began before her first album. She worked as a dancer and appeared on MTV before reaching the final of the television talent show “The Cut” in 1999. “Not That Kind” followed in 2000, with “I’m Outta Love” becoming the international breakthrough.
“Freak of Nature” arrived in 2001 and her self-titled album followed in 2004. Since then she has released eight studio albums, toured extensively and sold more than 30 million records worldwide.
There have been difficult periods along the way, but Sunday night was about the music and the audience. Anastacia looked completely at home on stage, whether she was tackling a rock classic, singing one of her biggest hits or her quieter songs.
The set covered those 25 years, several genres and a lot of musical ground, yet it passed too quickly.
Before Anastacia, Birmingham alt-rock/pop band ACROBVT opened the show. Fronted by Ben Edwards, the four-piece brought a younger, more contemporary rock sound to the Brighton Centre.
They were an energetic start to the evening and fitted comfortably into a tour that brought a newer British rock act together with an established pop and soul sound.
Anastacia has something for everyone: big pop songs, rock anthems, soulful ballads and songs that have stayed with people for years. “I’m Outta Love”, “Paid My Dues”, “Sick and Tired” and “Left Outside Alone” sounded as relevant and full of energy in Brighton as they did when they first came out.
Anastacia is clearly enjoying this next chapter, and after a career that has already taken so many twists and turns, there is plenty to look forward to. She is in full swing, and it is exciting to see where the next part of her musical journey will take her.
Words & Photos by Manja Williams
Setlist
One Day in Your Life
Now or Never
Staring at the Sun
Paid My Dues
Nobody Loves Me Better / Don’tcha Wanna
Sick and Tired
I Like It Like That / Smells Like Teen Spirit / Barbie Girl
Made for Lovin’ You
Vogue / This Is How We Do / Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
Heavy on My Heart
You’ll Never Be Alone
Overdue Goodbye
How Come the World Won’t Stop
(Acoustic)
Welcome to My Truth
(Acoustic)
Wishing Well
(Acoustic)
All Right Now
Sweet Child o’ Mine
Boxer
Left Outside Alone
(With Intro & Outro from Kashmir by Led Zeppelin)
Encore:
Not That Kind
I’m Outta Love
Recent Comments