Billy Ocean – Live Review – Scarborough Open Air Theatre
By Kirsty Masterman, June 2026
In the 16 years since Scarborough Open Air Theatre threw open its gates, welcoming a new era of live music to the park, it has seen a wide variety of acts grace its stage. From teen heartthrobs to indie greats, rock legends to pop’s finest, it’s fair to say that this place has hosted its fair share of legendary acts.
That said, there aren’t many who can claim to still be selling out venues of this size at 76 years of age. Well, not unless your name is Leslie Sebastian Charles, aka Billy Ocean, who proved that age is just a number as he performed to a sold-out crowd at the Scarborough venue on a balmy June evening.
“Class act”
Former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow is the first to take to the stage this evening. Suited and booted, and backed by a 7-piece band, he looks like the class act he is. However, the Sunday night heat soon has the Scottish singer removing his jacket as he plays what could easily be a headline set to a sold-out crowd.
Getting the audience singing early doors with anthems such as ‘Sweet Little Mystery’ and ‘Angel Eyes’, Pellow’s distinctive vocals take us through his decades of hits, before culminating in what he refers to as “that song from the film” (Four Weddings and a Funeral), a song that spent 15 weeks at the top of the charts back in 1994.
Joking that he “isn’t going to do that one”, it’s not long before the entire crowd are waving their arms, belting out one of the greatest ballads from the last century.
“Ready to party?”
From one class act to another, music icon Billy Ocean is given a huge Yorkshire welcome, worthy of a hero’s return, as he takes to the stage following a lively jam from his 13-piece band. Clad in a dazzling white suit, with a smile to match, it’s clear to see Ocean is pleased to be here as he glides across the stage, his alluring smile never fading throughout the 90-minute set.
Opening with ‘One World’, the Grammy award-winning singer delivers a set packed full of classics from his 50-year career, including the likes of ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’, ‘Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)’, ‘Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car’, ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Loverboy.’
“Are you ready to party?” Ocean asks a rapturous crowd. “Let’s party” – the iconic piano notes of ‘Love Really Hurts’ garnering much cheering and impromptu singing from the crowd. This, Ocean’s breakthrough single from 1976, sounds as fresh tonight as it did when it was first released. It’s hard to believe that this song is 50 years old! This is the first of many singalongs, which many of Ocean’s melodic hits lend themselves to.
“Next level”
‘Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)’ and ‘Stay The Night’ keep the already much-hyped audience in high spirits, before the iconic 1977 hit ‘Red Light Spells Danger’ takes things down a notch, a wave of silence sweeping across the audience. The song’s deliberate slow build-up creates a sense of anticipation and has revellers clapping in unison as that builds, until finally, the signature key change hits and the song explodes.
Ocean’s vocals perfectly match the intensity while seamlessly blending with his three backing singers, one of whom is his daughter Cherie. Following on from this, Ocean keeps the energy high, launching straight into the anthemic chart-topper (and a personal favourite of mine) ‘Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.’ This quite literally has the place bouncing and singing along at the top of their voices.
I have been to many concerts, all of which have some form of singalong, but this is next level. I’ve never heard such a unison of voices sounding so good (or loud) from a crowd. ‘The Colour of Love’ and a cover of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ gives Ocean the chance to slow things down and continue his orchestration of the audience as their voices remain in high spirits.
“Teasing”
The 2020 single, ‘Mystery’ slots in nicely, before the introduction of ‘Suddenly’ receives a euphoric reaction as many reach for their phones, caught up in the moment. ‘Loverboy’ follows, before Ocean asks, “What happens when the going gets tough?” “The tough get going,” the audience reply without a moment’s hesitation. Clearly enjoying the crowd interaction, Ocean insists we shout it louder, before he launches straight into what is, surprisingly, his only number one hit. This has the entire audience singing and dancing along.
‘Daylight’ serves as the penultimate song of the evening, with Billy orchestrating separate singalongs from the men and the women before encouraging us all to sing along in a union of ‘ohh la la las’, bringing a fiesta feel to the evening.
His signature hit ‘Caribbean Queen’ brings proceedings to a close, and what a song to close on. After much teasing throughout the gig, Ocean declaring, “It’s coming, It’s coming”, we are finally rewarded with the hit song everyone has been waiting for, which inevitably results in the biggest singalong of the night.
“Vibrant soul-pop”
As has been the case for much of the evening, revellers sing the classic chorus with their all, which, considering just how vocal they have been throughout the night, is impressive. I’m sure everyone from the North Bay to the South Bay could hear what they were missing out on.
Tonight has been a joyous evening of vibrant soul-pop. I went into this concert afraid that I wouldn’t know many of Billy’s songs, just grateful to listen to one of music’s legends. I left, having surprised myself at just how many I knew, proving Ocean’s enduring appeal across the generations.
Ocean certainly had the crowd united tonight. For one evening, there really was only ‘One World’ and that was at Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre.
Images: Cuffe & Taylor
After studying English and Creative Writing at university, Kirsty started working as an editor for PA Media way back in 2003, joining On Yorkshire in 2023. With a passion for travel and writing, the chance to combine the two became a reality for her in 2010 when she was offered the chance to visit Portugal to review a new resort. Since then, she has never looked back. Live music, theatre and restaurant reviews followed enabling her to combine all her interests. Kirsty now travels the world, reviewing some of the best hotels, restaurants and travel destinations. She particularly enjoys seeking out child-friendly places so that she can showcase destinations and experiences that can be enjoyed by parents alongside their children.
