New Year’s Eve: Simply the Best! at The Bridgewater Hall
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New Year's Eve: Simply the Best!
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Every good party ends up in the 1980s and 90s eventually. Simply the Best!, The Bridgewater Hall’s New Year’s Eve party, skips straight to that bit, handing the biggest hits of both decades to a full live band and three seasoned West End and touring vocalists. Capping off the hall’s 30th anniversary year, it’s seeing 2026 out with pop, rock, funk and soul classics from the likes of Tina Turner, David Bowie and Madonna.
The setlist also casts an eye over the venue’s ticket stub collection. Dolly Parton performed here when the hall was only a few years old, and ‘9 to 5’ is a chance to raise a glass to the late Queen of Country. More recently, Lulu brought Take That out at The Bridgewater Hall to sing ‘Relight My Fire’, the hit that finally got her to number one almost 30 years after her chart debut. Rick Astley has graced the stage more than once, too – and you can probably guess which of his songs makes the cut here.
Host Miranda Wilford knows the gig, having fronted the hall’s New Year’s Eve concert for several years running. Andrea Grant, a long-serving lead vocalist on Strictly Come Dancing, has worked with everyone from Lisa Stansfield to Robbie Williams. Damien Edwards has played Roy Orbison in no fewer than three touring shows. Musical director Toby Cruse, who has more than 200 theatre productions under his belt, leads the band, with backing trio The Vox Pops supplying the harmonies and the big gang-vocal choruses.
If you’re after a New Year’s Eve that’s heavy on nostalgia and light on pretension, this might be just the ticket.
