Simple Minds - Murcia

There’s a cinematic grandeur to the Plaza de Toros in Murcia—the perfect stage for an evening in which nostalgia and raw energy collided, forging a new chapter in the Simple Minds legend.

When the strobes hit and the opening bassline of “Waterfront” thundered across the bullring, it was clear: this wasn’t a perfunctory throwback—it was a rejuvenation. With nearly 5,000 fans—Spanish locals and Brit–expats alike—under a warm summer sky, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill looked every bit the immortals they’ve become.

They launched into “Once Upon a Time” and “Glittering Prize”, weaving familiar anthems into fresh textures, balancing perfect duets of yearning vocals and shimmering melodies. The vibe captured both wistfulness and kinetic bounce—this band knows how to reawaken the past without being trapped by it.

The band’s synergy pulsed through “Oh Jungleland”, darkly epic, then softened into the evocative strains of “Let There Be Love”—delicate yet grounded. Occasional quieter gems like “I Wish You Were Here” gave the sprawling showroom of the Plaza rare moments of intimacy.

Sarah Brown, on vocals and backing duties, emerged again as a revelation. Front and center, she delivered crystalline harmonies—a vital complement to Kerr’s magnetic, ever-soulful delivery. The seven‑member ensemble moved as one, lean yet powerful.

As the gentle guitar intro of “Belfast Child” unfurled, the mood shifted. Kerr’s poetic empathy for its tragedy—the IRA bombing in Enniskillen—gave the crowd a moment to breathe, to grieve, to feel. When voices rose for the chorus, it was a shared catharsis: vocal cords intertwined in mourning and hope Onda Regional de Murcia.

Then “Theme for Great Cities” led into a hard-charging drum solo by Cherisse Osei that turned the Plaza into a drum circle of electricity—a visceral reminder that Simple Minds is more than memory. They’re atmosphere in motion.

The home stretch delivered everything fans came for: “Promised You a Miracle”, “All the Things She Said”, “See the Lights”, culminating in an unforgettable “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. By Kerr’s count, the crowd sang “la‑la‑la” longer than any setlist prescribed—until he finally drew a velvet curtain on it with a grin.

But even when they took a bow and stepped off stage, the energy insisted on more. The encore came: “Book of Brilliant Things”, tender yet resolute, and then the bombastic showstopper “Alive and Kicking”, surging as if to prove: after all these years, Simple Minds still kick hard and live louder.

In Murcia, on July 19, Simple Minds delivered more than a concert—they revived a beat, a memory, a communal pulse that blurred generational boundaries. From Jim Kerr’s impassioned stage banter (he even escaped the ramp to serenade the front row) to the wide-angle resonance of signature hits, the band reminded us why they’re more than ‘80s nostalgia—they’re timeless storytellers of hope, defiance, and heart.

This concert was part of the Murcia On 2025 series of concerts, for more information: Murcia On

Words and photos: Rhyan Paul