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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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BILLY OCEAN
+ Jason Ayres
@ Adelaide Entertainment Centre,
Adelaide,
15th September 2025
(Live Review)

Review by Avril Hallows

Photos by Elise De Simoni (@elisedphoto)

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Billy Ocean was in Adelaide on Monday night for the second show of the Australian leg of his ‘One World Tour’.

A picture of elegant, suave sophistication in a tailored suit, tie and matching pocket square coupled with his signature super long silver dreadlocks he was the picture of cool.  It is hard to believe that it is 40 years since the release the ‘Suddenly’ album and whilst time has greyed his hair, nothing else has changed and he still has that x-factor.

‘One World‘ the  title track from Billy’s 11th and most recent studio album was perhaps a brave move as an opener but the “new” song so to speak was warmly received by his Audience who were a highly eclectic mix of ages and genres, it was comforting to see a few youthful faces mix in with the rest of us who had enjoyed his music in the 1980s  ..  Billy gave a warm hello and possibly one of the widest smiles in the whole music industry and when he did you couldn’t help but smile right back! He was truly engaging from this moment onwards, embracing the crowd who made regular shout outs of “I love you Billy” to which his response was “I love you more” which lead to him asking the golden words that everyone wants to hear “Are you ready to rock?”  This had the animated crowd instantly out of their seats the second we heard the familiar bars of ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’.  Everyone was singing along and appeared to literally know this song word for word.

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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For a Monday night this was a crowd who came ready to party! Almost everyone up on their feet so early in the night and this is only the second song for the evening. It was at this point I realised that were in for a treat with band and crowd in full party mode!

Well and truly warmed up at this point Billy found his groove quite literally with his cool shuffle from one side of the stage to the next, effortless moves and effortlessly cool leading into song 3 ‘Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)’ the very hip and absolute classic massive R&B hit from 1981.

‘Stay the Night‘ had the majority of the audience, myself included, reaching for our phones to capture king Billy and re-live our youth in this moment.  Imagine seeing him 40 years ago, no phones to capture that moment.  Only four songs in an everyone a classic.

Next was ‘Red Light‘ a track that kept building and building and lead to the ultimate mass crowd sing-a-long. All the while he was getting more and more banter from this extremely animated Adelaide crowd.  Billy was giving back as much as he was getting and dealing with the interjections like a true pro before taking back control of the crowd by saying I think this is a good time to ‘Get Into My Car‘, prompting squeals of excitement at this point!  His 3 female backing singers, including Billy’s daughter Cherie, were more than on point all night but particularly jelled with each other and Billy during this number.

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Then we were slowed down with the vulnerable ‘Colour of Love‘ as once again Billy was showing his smooth moves and depth of his voice accompanied by the master saxophonist David Jean Baptise.  This was an absolute stand out of the night.

Billy then slipped a fabulous rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” was a pleasing addition to the song selection and again seemed to thrill the crowd most of whom pretty much sang it for him!

“Mystery” off the current album was funky and certainly not out of place more than holding its own against his more known hits.

Then to the wonderful 40 year old track “Suddenly” where Billy shared his story of his need to go to America and how he found clarity as-well love and this lead to him writing this song at his new found American record label where he also wrote hits like Caribbean Queen at the same time. Then he changed things up with the playful ‘Lover boy’ and once again this had the crowd truly pumped. After this Billy insisted on asking us several times “what happens when the going gets tough”?  I think the whole of Adelaide could hear our response! ..This was everything you could wish for in this 80’s gem!

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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After a short break they returned with ‘Daylight’ which sounded wonderfully refreshing, another newer song certainly holding its ground next to the old classics ..

Time for the Band intro; six absolutely outstanding musicians it is clear no leader could do what they do without their team and the respect between was obvious all night.

Lastly it was the final icing on the cake, Billy’s 1984 big international hit ‘Caribbean Queen’.  What a way to end, I can’t say anything other than absolute perfection!

The lights came up and we were left feeling completely satisfied with every box ticked and the warm glow of witnessing a true legend live on stage.  His charisma, engagement with his audience, cheeky wide smile and funky moves all summed up that this 75yr old sure does still have ‘it’!

A quick word on support act Jason Ayres who opened up the gig as a solo artist with only his guitar for accompaniment.  Whilst he didn’t really fit the vibe that the crowd had come for he was good and engaging and his version of Chris Isaak’s ‘Bad, Bad thing’ was brilliant.

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Jason Ayres / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Check out Elise De Simoni’s (@elisedphoto) full gallery of this event HERE

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Follow BILLY OCEAN
Website – Facebook – Twitter

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BILLY OCEAN / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Press Release 30th January 2025 (below) HERE

BILLY OCEAN
to bring his swing
back to Australia!

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Billy Ocean by Dean Chalkley

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BILLY OCEAN
ONE WORLD
Australian Tour 2025

Saturday 13th September Royal Theatre, Canberra
Monday 15th September AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Wednesday 17th September Riverside Theatre, Perth
Saturday 20th September Star Theatre, Gold Coast
Sunday 21st September Convention Centre Theatre, Brisbane
Tuesday 23rd September Darling Harbor ICC Theatre, Sydney
Thursday 25th September Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Tickets details available here

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AMNPLIFY – DB