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The X Factor judge and Take That star has announced a full UK tour starting in November – with Edinburgh one of his first concerts. The "Gary Barlow: In Concert" tour follows his two solo shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year, his first in 11 years. The singer-songwriter has promised to perform songs spanning the entirety of his career.

 

“I’m really excited about these dates,” Gary said. “Playing live is my favourite thing and I haven't played a solo show for over a year now. “Last year playing two London shows was brilliant, we all had such a good time, so I thought right let's get out and see the rest of the country!” Gary plays the Edinburgh Playhouse on Wednesday November 21.

 

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 19 October from www.gigsinscotland.com, www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk. After 20 years in the business, over 50 million records sold, eight number one albums, fourteen number one singles and six Ivor Novello Awards, there should be no shortage of material to choose from.

 

The full UK tour is as follows:

 

November 2012

Tuesday 13 – Bournemouth International Centre,

Wednesday 14 – Plymouth Pavilions

Wednesday 21 – Edinburgh Playhouse

Thursday 22 – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

Tuesday 27 – London Royal Albert Hall

Wednesday 28 – Sheffield City Hall

 

December 2012

Thursday 6 – Manchester O2 Apollo

Friday 7 – Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Friday 28 – Newcastle City Hall

Sunday 30 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Monday 31 – Blackpool Opera House

 

January 2013

Wednesday 2 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Friday 4 – Ipswich Regent Theatre

Saturday 5 – Cardiff St Davids Hall

 

Gary was recently named in the Queen’s birthday honours list and was awarded an OBE for his contribution to British music, as well as his significant charitable endeavours.

 

I'd LOVE to go the Ipswich date cause it's closer to me but I bet it'll be a lottery for tickets!

Edited October 15, 201212 yr by ThePensmith

I would love to see go see him solo but no irish dates, as i always say though i hope he perform lie to me and yesterdays girl and then i get to see them on you tube, interesting to see how this tour will sell for him.

I would love to see go see him solo but no irish dates, as i always say though i hope he perform lie to me and yesterdays girl and then i get to see them on you tube, interesting to see how this tour will sell for him.

 

He shouldn't have any problems selling them out - the venues aren't very big at all (I think Bournemouth and The RAH are the biggest). The Philly in Liverpool only has a capacity of around 1,600. He shouldn't have a problem selling these venues out at all - and probably very quickly. Also - he'll be doing his back catalogue of stuff he's written for Take That and some solo stuff - so everyone going will know what they're going to hear - it isn't as though he'll be promoting any new stuff.

 

I think if he tries to release a fresh album though - it'll be a different story.

I agree about releasing new material, im not sure how it would be recieved and while there is a part of me that would love as i loved his solo work there is a part of me that doesnt want it to happen in fear of what happened before.

All these tickets will almost certainly sell out in the same way Take That's did and Robbie's ones did. I read today that Gordon Smart (The Sun) asked Gary why he didnt just do the O2 or arena gigs in general cos the demand is there for that. He said that he preferred the atmosphere and that big arenas are more suited for Robbie and not him.

 

It will probably be roughly the same set list as the two he did for the Princes Trust, but songs such as Forever Love, Open Road, Lie To Me etc would have been big hits for Take That if Gary had written them a couple of albums earlier so they are by no means weak parts of his concert. I would imagine that most of the fans there would prefer him to sing a few more solo songs than TT songs. I'd love to hear Before You Turn Away, Yesterdays Girl and FATYW live.

 

I'd love a solo album and I reckon he could make it to number 1, just look at the success of Sing. Realistically without Gary being involved in writing, performing etc in the process it wouldn't have done half as well. That shows that Gary's name still sells on its own. And now with the X Factor increasing his image beyond the lead singer of TT he has probably attracted a few new fans. Even if 5 or 10% of Gary's twitter followers bought a single and album he would fly to the top of both charts.

 

I suppose the best indication will be when Mark releases his next album. If it bombs then I doubt we'll see another from him and it will probably persuade Gary not to bother either, but if it's successful then there's no reason to think that a solo album from Gary wont follow after the new TT album next year.

 

 

There are some Irish dates, have a look:

 

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a43...tour-dates.html

I'd love a solo album and I reckon he could make it to number 1, just look at the success of Sing. Realistically without Gary being involved in writing, performing etc in the process it wouldn't have done half as well. That shows that Gary's name still sells on its own. And now with the X Factor increasing his image beyond the lead singer of TT he has probably attracted a few new fans. Even if 5 or 10% of Gary's twitter followers bought a single and album he would fly to the top of both charts.

 

I'm sure if he releases an album of anything it'll get to number 1 right now - but drop like a stone. IF however - he takes his time and produces songs AS GOOD AS HE DOES FOR TAKE THAT then it may have a bit more longevity. I'm not impressed with any of his solo stuff (apart from Lie To Me which I really liked). When he's out of Take That he just seems so dated to me.

 

You can't really go on the success of Sing as any sort of marker - it was a charity record for a once in a lifetime occasion. It would have sold by the bucketload even if it was not very good. And that proved itself as it was indeed not very good.

 

I do like the song he's written with Robbie though.

Edited October 17, 201212 yr by Kath

I would in part disagree about sing, while Sing would not be the ebst thing he ever did, it certainly wasnt the worst and i like the song it has a very catchy standout chorus that stays in the mind. I think the chart run of sing would reflect the song grew on people outside the whole Jubilee celebration. I would have enjoyed his solo material, but i would agree it wasnt of the same quality as some of Take Thats finest moments, that said, Lie to me was excellent, i dont know anyone who is or was a fan that doesnt appreciate that song.

 

Outside Take That musically, Gary doesnt shine as much and im not sure if he would have a successful solo career and i would not be over confident that he would go straight to number 1 even as it stands now. For Gary to do a solo album he would really need to deliver high quality songs, songs that would match the excellence of Rule The World and Patience for example, if not, in short he would be screwed.

 

 

 

 

I think if Gary did release more material on his own it'd be different this time, he's in a position in his career and with the years of experience behind him to make an album, if he wanted to, that'd you know he'd be happy with and that would truly be his. I think especially if you've read his book you'll know that he wasn't entirely happy with what he put out solo certainly on his first album because Clive Davis was making him release country demos and covers in favour of his own material and it was crushing who he was as a writer as well as a musician. And then obviously everyone knows what happened with 'Twelve Months, Eleven Days' (although I did love 'Lie to Me' that was on that album). Although, and here's an idea I've just thought of - maybe he could do like a duets album? Something like Tom Jones' "Reload" album but better!

Edited October 18, 201212 yr by ThePensmith

A duets album could indeed be a great idea and one that could potentially be huge.

Great idea about the duets, who do you think he would duet with if it was to happen, i am sure Cheryl Cole would in for it (unfortunatly).

Great idea about the duets, who do you think he would duet with if it was to happen, i am sure Cheryl Cole would in for it (unfortunatly).

 

Unless duets are instigated by (at least the lead) artist being at the top of his or her game - I always think that duets are a bit of a cop-out - as its relying on fans from both sides (even if they dislike the other) buying the song/album. For instance - when Robbie and Kylie duetted on Kids - that was OK as both were pretty much in the spotlight - and I've no doubt that that song would have been a hit if Robbie had done it solo likewise Kylie - besides - the song was good enough even if an unknown/pair of unknowns had sung it. Otherwise - I just think its a bit naff (especially if its a cover song).

 

I've no doubt Gary will think about doing it though.

Edited October 19, 201212 yr by Kath

Like Pensmith says, Gary's solo career was basically run by an outside force. He was so busy trying to change Gary and make him do covers etc that Gary wasnt happy with Open Road. We all know that Gary has said that he only like Forever Love and Open Road on that album. As for 12 months, his confidence had gone, even though its alot stronger than many people give it credit for.

 

If Gary was to release a solo album now I would almost certainly expect a BW styled album, which would be fantastic. He is older, his writing has matured and his voice is stronger. A solo album written now that he has all the confidence and more back with him would be bloody good in my opinion.

 

For the record though, Gary has had 3 solo number 1s and 2 solo albums. That is a successful portfolio of solo work. Full stop.

 

And regarding the tour, all of the dates sold out in minutes, supposedly faster than Robbie (if you really want to read into thing :lol: ) he's had to add a date or two and neither he or the media believed that the demand would be as strong.

 

Demand is definitely there for him, whether that is as a solo artist in this case or with TT

 

Check a few of the links out here:

 

http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/9157...l-Out-Instantly

 

http://www.contactmusic.com/news/gary-barl...ht-away_3334145

Like Pensmith says, Gary's solo career was basically run by an outside force. He was so busy trying to change Gary and make him do covers etc that Gary wasnt happy with Open Road. We all know that Gary has said that he only like Forever Love and Open Road on that album. As for 12 months, his confidence had gone, even though its alot stronger than many people give it credit for.

 

But Gary's first album wasn't that good. I'm sure it only did as well as it did on the back of the strength of Take That. Its a shame the second album did as badly as it did but in all honesty - there was only LTM on that album that stood out as 'very good'.

 

I knew the tour would sell out instantly - as I said - the venues were fairly small so it was a foregone conclusion. I do think he should have chanced his hand at maybe one big arena gig though.

Edited October 19, 201212 yr by Kath

I would disagree about 12 months 11 days, yes lie to me was the standout but i love so many songs on the album, yesterdays girl is just as good lie to me for me, for all that you want, all that's you've given away are also songs i still love. I much prefer this album to open road, on open road forever love, open road and so help me girl are the 3 songs i love and i am delighted he covered so help me girl i think he did a great version. Love wont wait i never liked, it never clicked with me at all, in my own humble little opinion i think 12 months deserved the success of open road and more as its by far the better album but i guess we cant undo the past.

 

I agree with you Kath about the duets and the Kylie and Robbie is a very good example, either could have had a hit with it and both perform it so well solo as well, i think if Gary does a duets albums it heavily needs to be new material, i wouldn't mind an odd cover but new material would be great.

 

Jay727 i agree Gary has had solo success but not on the level that i thought he would have had, and i do fear that Gary without Take That and now X Factor he wouldnt do well, Gary heavily relies on Take That especially, for success, for some reason he doesnt connect with people aswell when solo. However, if he did do solo this time he has worked it far better, he has worked outside Take That and has had success and people are seeing alot more of Gary Barlow rather than Gary from Take That whereas first time round Take That split and he was out there all on his own, if he is plotting a solo career he has definitely managed and marketed himself much much better this time round.

 

My opinion though is i think Gary should only so a solo album/duets as a side project to Take That, Take That need to stay together or they will all disappear like before, as a unit it all works so well and they would be crazy to let that go as without Take That Gary certainly wouldnt be on x factor based on his solo career or name alone.

Unless duets are instigated by (at least the lead) artist being at the top of his or her game - I always think that duets are a bit of a cop-out - as its relying on fans from both sides (even if they dislike the other) buying the song/album. For instance - when Robbie and Kylie duetted on Kids - that was OK as both were pretty much in the spotlight - and I've no doubt that that song would have been a hit if Robbie had done it solo likewise Kylie - besides - the song was good enough even if an unknown/pair of unknowns had sung it. Otherwise - I just think its a bit naff (especially if its a cover song).

 

I've no doubt Gary will think about doing it though.

 

Well if he did some duets in the style of say, 'Shame' that he did with Robbie or even the ones he did at the Prince's Trust gigs last year - 'Shine' with Olly Murs, 'Too Many Broken Hearts' with Jason Donavan etc - that would probably sell quite well if the right songs and artists were chosen. It's just about getting a right balance.

 

If you look at someone like Art Garfunkel (sorry, I probably sound really old here but I grew up with Simon & Garfunkel in my parent's record collection and I was watching him on 'The One Show' the other night and it just occurred to me) he's just released like a songbook-y type album which is a combination of his solo stuff and the stuff he did with Paul Simon, some of it new material. Everyone knows what a great pop writer Gary is despite all the bashing he gets from certain sections of the media/industry and an album like that that had some duets with current artists that complimented him, some older songs and a couple of new ones would (I think) be a surefire winner.

Yes that could indeed work, and as you said its all about the balance and working with the right people, i do wonder though has he any plans to record and form of a new solo album?

Who knows? I'm sure Polydor and/or Decca are interested given the success 'Sing' was met with. I imagine if he was start anything it wouldn't be until after this tour and X Factor is over, certainly.

With Take That planning a new album to be released next year im not sure Gary would have the time.

Gary answered a question on whether he would make a solo album on twitter during last years X Factor I believe and he said that it would be a while. So we will see one at some point but it could be a long way down the line yet. He could even end up doing something like Ronan did with Burt Bacharach on the 'When Ronan met Burt' album.

 

Anyways. Have a look at this:

 

Take That! Gary Barlow solo gigs outsell Robbie Williams' six to one

 

Fans have bought six times more tickets for GaryBarlow’s solo shows than for Robbie Williams' despite being on sale for a weekless, according to ticket marketplace Seatwave.

 

Williams is generally considered to have had the most successful solo career out of the original Take That line-up.

But Barlow has achieved considerable exposure as a judge on ITV's X Factor talent contest.

“This is a dramatic reversal of fortune on a few years ago when Robbie was by far and away the more popular.

 

 

It was published on The Independent but the site is down at the moment, but it's been picked up by other media agencies.

 

http://www.newsrt.co.uk/news/take-that-gar...one-891574.html

Good to see the tour doing well, but at the same time i hate that they are pitting them against each other again as its all old news now. While it kills me to say it Robbie is far far more successful than Gary. Garys success is often under estimated by many but when pitted against robbie the facts are there in robbies favour. Both have done very well for themselves though and have nothing to prove to anyone, 20 years in the business and still relevant and popular is a great achievement.