Setlist

1. The Big L.
2. Sleeping In My Car
3. Dressed For Success
4. What’s She Like?
5. Crash! Boom! Bang!
6. Fading Like A Flower
7. Opportunity Nox
8. Things Will Never Be The Same
9. Vulnerable
10. Milk And Toast And Honey
11. Stars
12. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)
13. It Must Have Been Love
14. How Do You Do!
15. Dangerous

Band presentation

16. Joyride

Encore

17. Spending My Time
18. Listen To Your Heart
19. The Look
20. Queen Of Rain
    
    
    
    

    

    

    

     
    dailyroxette.com: Hands down, the best show of the recent Aussie concerts was Wollongong – the crowd was on fire! Sorry, Melbourne but the “Gong” wins! READ MORE HERE
    
    
    

musicaltheatre.au: Rating: ★★★★1/2

REVIEW: Roxette return to Australia with wonderful performance at the ICC Sydney Theatre

When Roxette last toured Australia in 2015, it was thought that it would certainly be the last time. Indeed, when Marie Fredriksson lost her battle with a brain tumour in 2019, it seemed as though there was no way that the band she fronted could go on as her loss continued to loom large upon the music industry in the ensuing years.

Yet, in 2024, the band has returned to Australia for a tour showcasing all of their biggest hits, with Swedish pop singer Lena Philipsson taking on the lead vocals. After shows around the country, the band, led by founding member Per Gessle, returned to Sydney for a show at the ICC Theatre in Darling Harbour.

The atmosphere was buzzing as the band took to the stage and they immediately got into their stride with uplifting and energetic songs like “Sleeping in my Car” and “Crash! Boom! Bang!” getting the audience out of the chairs for the start of the set. While not quite possessing the same power as Fredriksson, Philipsson displayed significant range and texture to her voice, and she was able to use her strong stage presence to get the crowd going from the outset.

Philipsson’s stage presence prevented the performance from feeling like a cover band performance but even so, the absence of Fredriksson was felt at some of the most poignant moments of the show, with Philipsson dedicating the band’s emotional performance of “It Must Have Been Love” to the late singer. It was fabulously performed, with tenderness and fragility whilst still maintaining power in the soaring high notes and the audience sang along to every word. With such a well-constructed and beautiful song, it was truly special to hear the crowd singing along with the band, which was a nod to Fredriksson and also to the enduring power of music.....

.......Ultimately, this was a fantastic performance, which displayed incredibly high levels of musicality throughout. Roxette’s songs are incredibly catchy and the crowd created a fantastic atmosphere as the band sung through their catalogue with heart and passion. While the loss of Fredriksson will always be noticed when Roxette perform, Philipsson did a fantastic job of mitigating the effect of this, giving a performance for the audience to remember. This was a concert with lots of fun and good memories and while it was not the same as the original Roxette, it had the same heart, soul and connection that the beauty of the songs deserves and for that, it was a superb night. 

READ the full review HERE

LILITHIA REVIEWS:
Roxette: Live In Concert 2025, Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, March 7th 2025 – Live Review
My first exposure to Swedish music duo Roxette, originally consisting of members Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, was through the 1990’s Richard Gere and Julia Roberts hit romantic-comedy, Pretty Woman. Roxette’s ‘It Must’ve Been Love’ was undoubtedly the hero song of that movie, reaching to number 1 on the music charts worldwide, including Australia. From there, I deep dived into the pop rock duo’s impressive discography.

Despite being a Roxette fan for decades, Roxette’s tour ‘Live In Concert 2025’, proudly presented by Mellen Events and Live Nation Australia, was my first time seeing the Swedish band live.

Originally thought to never perform again in 2019, due to the unfortunate passing of Marie Fredriksson from brain tumour complications, Per Gessle announced in May last year that Roxette would tour again. This time with the assistance and talents of singer-songwriter, Lena Philipsson.

Philipsson is already a famous name and accomplished pop artist in her own right. The songstress with a massive Swedish catalogue even represented Sweden at Eurovision in 2004, with her song ‘Det gör ont/It Hurts’. As a Eurovision fan too, I was excited to see Philipsson live and rock some Roxette songs.

The 8-member touring band took to Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena stage on Friday the 7th of March and hit the ground running with their high spirits, catchy tunes and infectious energy, inspiring Melbourne patrons to get up on their feet from the very beginning. The staging set-up was quite minimal, with a projection showing visuals and the occasional band title appearing behind the band.

It didn’t take long before Gessle happily shared, “It’s amazing to see so many people here! It’s been ten years!”, warmly adding that the band has always felt welcome in Australia, especially in Melbourne. Gessle also announced that Philipsson had joined the Roxette family, proudly introducing her to the attentive Melbourne audience, which was received with a very warm welcome. Unlike the other Roxette band members on stage, this was Philipsson’s first time visiting Australia, which ignited more cheers from the Melbourne crowd.

The sold-out Melbourne concert was full of Roxette fans of all ages, ready to dance, sing and fill the Melbourne venue with their shared elation. Gessle wowed the patrons with his gorgeous collection guitars and commanding stage presence, Philipsson stunned Roxette fans with her friendly charm, dazzling smile and strong vocals, and the rest of the touring band each took turns to show off their skills with passion and precision, all while being super interactive with their loving Melbourne audience. The audience felt like an extension of the band, gleefully singing and clapping along, regardless of whether prompted by the band or not. Everyone was ready to party and were just happy for Roxette to be touring again.....

READ FULL REVIEW HERE

Live Review: Roxette in Perth, Australia 2025

 

What a joyride!

We may only be in the first quarter of 2025, but Roxette is already the top contender for the best live show of the year. The last time this photographer and writer sang his heart out – while photographing, was during the final KISS concert at the RAC Arena in 2022. It may be a biased opinion considering each song – or at least the commercial releases – sparked the nostalgia of his high school years, when life was seen through a different lens – for better or worse.

 

“If you know the song, please sing along. If you don’t know the song, just sing anyway, like we do,” said Per Gessle, the surviving member of Roxette.

 

And hit after hit they came, as the capacity crowd of over 6000 fans obeyed the 80s and 90s music commander of Sweden, as they revisited memories of Rage TV on Saturday mornings and Barry Bissel’s Take 40 Australia.

 

“So sit back and enjoy the joy ride,” said MC Jessie James.

The night is sparked by Big L. The crowd rise to their feet – an unfamiliar sight in Perth- followed by Sleeping in My Car. The fans embrace Lena Philipsson at hello – who has taken the role of lead vocalist in recent tours following the passing of Marie Fredricksson in 2019. She’s not official member of Roxette, instead she’s the featured artist of this tour, but that seems irrelevant.

 

As for the alumni of the Barry Bissel era, the moment has arrived. With the punchy guitar riff at the intro, the momentum is set with Dressed for Success – arguably one of the greatest hits from the late 80’s. The single from the Look Sharp! album elevates the crowd to a euphoric level thanks to the punchy projection of Lena, through her sassy vocals that are filled with determination. She constantly weaves across the stage with the stage persona, inducing new blood into a chronologically aging band.

 

But the band formed in 1986 didn’t show any signs of wear and tear. Per scintillates through his guitar, pointing its head to the heavens like a rock god, often raising his right hand, with the crowd mirroring his movement in rock god gestures.

 

The stage is packed with three guitarists and a bass player, keyboardist, drummer and backup vocalist to complement Roxette and Lena. The wall of sound is united on the Swedish front and there are occasions when the lead guitarist soars with his six strings like Angus or Slash would, even taking a moment to play Waltzing Mathilda that induces a roar of patriotism.

 

With the sense of anthemic familiarity, the hits keep rolling in Fading like Flower, commencing with the gentle piano before the snares, guitars and drums hit, signaling the tone of the story that’s about to unfold. Lena thrusts her hips at the crescendo and the emotional depth resonates with the vulnerability and longing that this song deserves.

 

Per had a solo moment in Opportunity Nox, which transitioned to Vulnerable in an acoustic performance. The middle of the concert is filled with ballads as the setlist continues with Wish I Could Fly and the biggest ballad of them, and also “Marie’s favourite song” – It Must Have Been Love, the 1987 track that was used in Pretty Woman over 35 years ago, catapulting Roxette to global fame. At this point, poignancy rains and saltwater drips from the faces of the old-school followers, as we sense the presence of Marie. Perhaps it’s the melancholic piano, setting the love-sick mood of the broken kind, or perhaps visions of the old flame igniting from a world that seems a lifetime away. After all, love never dies. Lena tells the story beautifully, a deserving justice in honor of the late Marie. It is her song.

 

After moments of reflection, the switch is flicked and Roxette makes a home run with the faster tone in How Do You Do, and perhaps the biggest roar of the night so far goes to Dangerous. Lena haughtily walks across the stage towards Per, and once again, the lead vocalist sings with conviction, one that soars to match the lyrics and tempo. The playfulness and flirtatiousness of her tone make this hit the fans’ favourite so far in the live setting of Kings Park.

 

As the show reaches critical mass, the fans are fully unstrapped again with one of the most recognisable whistle hooks in Joyride. Per Gessle’s smooth vocals are full of wit and charm, which makes it a perfect one-two combo with Lena’s soaring voice, before heading backstage for the traditional break.

 

The encore is also packed with the biggest hits of the 80s and 90s, commencing with Spending My Time in an acoustic set with only Per and Lena on stage. Of course, the crowd sing in a beautiful harmony of unity and solidarity. The blend of emotional depth and soaring melodies continues with Listen To Your Heart, as the dreamy piano kicks in a beautiful ethereal propagation, backed by self-appointed singers of 6,000

We sense the end is near.

The Look takes us again to the peak, on a night filled with undulating set of emotions. Per’s talk – singing style at the verse is exactly how it was in 1989. And as she goes “na na na na na”, something tells us this is not a final goodbye.