Change Tour Explained

Concert Tour Name:Change Tour
Artist:Sugababes
Type:UK
Album:Change
Start Date:12 March 2008
End Date:1 May 2008
Number Of Legs:1
Number Of Shows:30
Last Tour:The Greatest Hits Tour
(2007)
This Tour:Change Tour
(2008)
Next Tour:The Sacred Three Tour (2013)

The Change Tour is the fourth concert tour by British girl group Sugababes. It supported their fifth studio album, Change. The tour began with 2 nights in Brentwood on 12 March and 13 March 2008, with the final show on 1 May 2008 in Derby. The 30-date tour is their longest yet. Harvey B-Brown, director of the "Denial" video, directed the tour.

General information

Although they could "easily sell out arenas,"[1] the majority of the shows are in more intimate venues. Amelle Berrabah said of the show that they will "be dancing a bit more" and that "the costumes are brilliant." Overall, there are ten costume changes.[2] Keisha Buchanan stated "This is probably the most we've done on the tour, so it was a bit full on."[2] They use doppelgängers to do much of the dancing and interpreting. Sugababes performed a shortened version of the tour at 2008's V Festival,[3] and the Liverpool Summer Pops.[4]

The band pulled out of a scheduled appearance at Scotland's T in the Park music festival, which angered many Scottish fans. While the band had been widely advertised as a Main Stage act, management for the girls' claimed that they were never booked for the festival. Geoff Ellis, organiser of T, refuted these claims. Just a few days after they pulled out, the band announced a concert with fellow popstars McFly in London on the day they were due to be at T. It was later revealed, by the Daily Record, that the real reason the girls pulled out was fear by tour management that they would not be well received by fans of festival headliners Rage Against the Machine waiting at the Main Stage to see the aforementioned act.

Support acts

Setlist

  1. "Hole in the Head" (contains elements of "Don't Stop The Music")
  2. "Round Round"
  3. "Never Gonna Dance Again"
  4. "In the Middle"
  5. "Ugly"
  6. "Freak like Me" / "Virgin Sexy"
  7. "Back Down"
  8. "Too Lost in You" (Piano version)
  9. "Don't Let Go (Love)" (En Vogue cover)
  10. "Denial"
  11. "Change"
  12. "Mended By You" / "Stronger"
  13. "3 Spoons of Suga" / "Overload"
  14. "Red Dress"
  15. "My Love Is Pink"
Encore
  1. "Push the Button"
  2. "About You Now"

Critical response

The critical reaction to the tour was extremely positive, with reviewers praising their vocals and their first attempt at extravagant costumes. A critique from The Times noted that the use of doppelgängers was applauded, because "no incarnation of Sugababes has been able to execute even relatively simple choreographed routines with flair." The reviewer joked that the band "even did a bit of dancing." The tour was described as "refreshing," inspired by Kylie Minogue's "stylish concerts."[1] The Daily Star stated that "it's only minimal fine-tuning that will soon make this one of the best live shows of 2008 – with faultless singing." The review called their cover of En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)" a breathtaking highlight.[8] It has been called "a slick, polished show" and that "for all the flashy sets and multiple costume changes...it was the harmonies and sheer power of the voices which most impressed."[9] The Express & Star labeled the show "a classy, grown-up affair devoid of tack and at times truly outstanding."[10] The Daily Record went as far as saying that "Keisha, Heidi and Amelle - who have been hailed the most successful UK girl group of the 21st century - belted out 20 tracks and thoroughly earned the title."[11]

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
12 March 2008BrentwoodEnglandBrentwood Leisure Centre
13 March 2008
14 March 2008BrightonBrighton Dome
16 March 2008PlymouthPlymouth Pavilions
17 March 2008OxfordNew Theatre
18 March 2008Southend-on-SeaSouthend Cliffs Pavilion
20 March 2008LondonRoyal Albert Hall
22 March 2008PortsmouthPortsmouth Guildhall
25 March 2008NewcastleNewcastle City Hall
26 March 2008GlasgowClyde Auditorium
28 March 2008WolverhamptonEnglandWolverhampton Civic Hall
29 March 2008BlackburnKing Georges Hall
31 March 2008BradfordSt. George's Hall
1 April 2008ManchesterManchester Apollo
2 April 2008
4 April 2008GrimsbyGrimsby Auditorium
5 April 2008BristolColston Hall
7 April 2008SheffieldSheffield City Hall
8 April 2008CambridgeCambridge Corn Exchange
9 April 2008LeicesterDe Montfort Hall
11 April 2008HarrogateHarrogate International Centre
13 April 2008LiverpoolLiverpool Philharmonic Hall
18 April 2008ReadingHexagon Theatre
19 April 2008PrestonPreston Guildhall
21 April 2008BournemouthBournemouth International Centre
22 April 2008SwindonOasis Leisure Centre
23 April 2008CardiffWalesCardiff International Arena
27 April 2008EdinburghScotlandEdinburgh Playhouse
28 April 2008CarlisleEnglandCarlisle Sands Centre
1 May 2008DerbyDerby Assembly Rooms

Notes and References

  1. News: Sugababes at the Albert Hall . . 22 March 2008 . 2008-03-24 . London . Lisa . Verrico.
  2. Web site: Sugababes sleep on bus . My Park Magazine . 19 March 2008 . 2008-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090108104501/http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/celebrity/sugababes/sugababes-sleep-on-bus.html . 8 January 2009 . dead.
  3. Web site: 2008 Line Up . VFestival.com . 2008-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080404132735/http://admin.vfestival.com/index.html?pid=3413 . 4 April 2008 . dead.
  4. Web site: Sugababes sign up for the Summer Pops . . Jade Wright . 11 April 2008 . 2008-04-12 .
  5. Web site: Gabriella Cilmi on tour with the Babes . Sugababes.com . 10 March 2008 . 2008-04-03 . 3 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603184623/http://www.sugababes.com/site/news/337/gabriella-cilmi-on-tour-with-the-babes . dead .
  6. Web site: Luigi Masi supports Sugababes . Sugababes.com . 2008-03-25 . 2008-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080413021645/http://www.sugababes.com/site/news/345/luigi-masi-supports-sugababes . 13 April 2008 . dead.
  7. Web site: Sugababes welcome Van Tramp on tour . Sugababes.com . 2 April 2008 . 2008-04-03 .
  8. Web site: Sugababes hit Essex . Julia Kuttner . . 14 March 2008 . 2008-03-24 .
  9. Web site: Sugababes @ King George's Hall, Blackburn . . John Anson . 31 March 2008 . 2008-04-03 .
  10. Web site: Sugababes hit with sell-out crowd . . Stella Stokes . 29 March 2008 . 2008-04-03 .
  11. Web site: Sweet sounds of the Sugababes . . Beverley Lyons and Laura Sutherland . 29 March 2008 . 2008-04-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090503043507/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2008/03/27/sweet-sounds-of-the-sugababes-86908-20364221/ . 3 May 2009.