Stereophonics Triumphs in Sold-Out AFAS Live Amsterdam
Three years after their spectacular performance at the Bospop Festival in the South of the Netherlands, and five years after their previous show in Amsterdam, Welsh rock band Stereophonics returned last Wednesday evening to a sold-out AFAS Live in Amsterdam. For the fans who flocked to the venue, it was a long-awaited reunion with frontman Kelly Jones and his band, who have now established themselves as a fixture in the British rock scene.
It’s been almost three decades since Stereophonics started as a cover band in local pubs in Cardiff. Since then, they’ve built an impressive career with eight number 1 albums in the United Kingdom and more than 10 million records sold worldwide. The ‘Spring Tour 2025’ provided a perfect opportunity to celebrate this rich musical history.
Hits and New Work
The evening began energetically after the opening act, Finn Forster with “Vegas Two Times,” immediately setting the tone for a night full of nostalgia and rock. Supported by a strong light show, the audience, ranging from loyal fans who have followed the band since their breakthrough to newer supporters, was immediately swept up in a wave of enthusiasm.
Kelly Jones’ characteristic vocals sounded as powerful as ever and effortlessly conveyed the emotion of each song to the audience. Jones radiated on stage and showed that his passion for the band that made him famous remains undiminished. Between songs, he shared some anecdotes, including a beautiful story about their tour with David Bowie, which was enthusiastically received by the fans. The band delivered a well-constructed set with classics like “Have a Nice Day,” “Just Looking,” and “Superman” that created collective sing-along moments.
With “You’re my star,” there came a quiet moment in the set, with Kelly Jones performing the song solo on guitar and vocals, a song he hadn’t played live for quite some time. He performed it beautifully during this particularly subdued and sensitive number. The typically chatty Amsterdam audience fell silent at once, unfortunately, except for a single rude individual.
A special moment arose when Jones picked up his ukulele for “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio,” where he asked the audience to help with the chorus. This interaction between band and audience showed the warm relationship that Stereophonics has built with their fans over the years, and was immediately followed by the song “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me.” Other crowd favourites like “Superman,” “Geronimo,” and “Maybe Tomorrow” were received with great enthusiasm. “Fly Like an Eagle,” from the album “Kind,” also came across very well in the show, where Jones’ voice was showcased perfectly against the backdrop of the band’s tight instrumentation.
Preview of New Album
In addition to the familiar hits, Stereophonics also played several songs from their recently released studio album “Make ’em Laugh, Make ’em Cry, Make ’em Wait,” which came out this month. New songs like “There’s Always Gonna Be Something” and “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me” were enthusiastically received and seem to fit seamlessly with the band’s familiar sound while still showcasing a fresh new direction.
After an energetic main set featuring “Traffic” and the classic “A Thousand Trees,” the band briefly left the stage, only to return for an encore. During the encore, Kelly Jones surprisingly came on stage with his children. Little Marley would turn 5 on Thursday, and the audience sang a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” before the band launched into “C’est la vie,” followed by “Mr. Writer.” The closing song, “Dakota,” their biggest hit worldwide, provided a perfect end to an evening full of musical highlights. The audience went completely wild and sang their hearts out to every line, leaving AFAS Live afterwards with a satisfied feeling.
Stereophonics’ Spring Tour 2025 continues through Europe, with the band performing in Germany, France, and Switzerland before returning to the United Kingdom for a series of summer shows.
Photos (c) Marjolijn van Veldhuizen
