David Gray @ TK Maxx Presents Live At The Open Air Theatre, Scarborough – 4th July 2026
- John Hayhurst
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
A glorious summer evening where nostalgia, new music and a touch of seaside charm came together perfectly.
Words and Photos - John Hayhurst
There are gigs that feel like events, and then there are gigs that somehow capture the spirit of where they happen. On a warm July evening overlooking the North Sea, David Gray and The Divine Comedy delivered exactly that. If someone bottled the feeling of a classic British summer by the coast, this would probably be it. All we were missing was a promenade, a stick of rock and an ice cream.
Support came from The Divine Comedy, Neil Hannon's wonderfully dry humour and beautifully crafted songs were the perfect accompaniment to the Scarborough sunshine. Together with his group of talented musicians they set about creating a very country garden feel at the seaside. The beautiful tale of 'Norman and Norma' remains one of many great Hannon storytelling songs, it could have been written by Victoria Wood, while 'Something for the Weekend' and the deliciously sinister 'Bang Goes The Knighthood' showcased his effortless wit.
The biggest moment belonged to 'National Express', with thousands gleefully shouting, "It's hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country," before the entire audience launched into the irresistible "Bah Bah Bah Dah" refrain. Hannon couldn't resist asking if anyone had travelled from the South to be here, earning a chorus of good-natured boos from a proudly Northern crowd. It was the perfect opening set—warm, funny and effortlessly charming.
When David Gray emerged, he began quietly behind the piano with 'Leave Taking' from last year's Dear Life record. It lasted all of a verse and chorus before he leapt to his feet, tambourine in hand, making it immediately clear that this "Past and Present" tour wasn't going to be an evening spent politely sitting down. That energy never really disappeared.
The sold-out Open Air Theatre belonged entirely to Gray, but the loudest reactions were always reserved for songs from White Ladder. The opening notes of 'My Oh My' drew an instant roar, the first of seven songs from that album. More than twenty-five years on, those songs still carry an emotional weight that few records from that era can match.
Midway through the show came one of the evening's most personal moments. Gray picked up an acoustic guitar and introduced 'Shine', explaining that it was the very first song he ever wrote and one he used to play in front of record executives, hoping someone would finally give him a chance. It's a rarity in his live shows, making the stripped-back performance feel like a genuine gift for the audience.
The closing run barely allowed anyone time to catch their breath. An inspired take on Depeche Mode's 'Just Can't Get Enough' had the entire place bouncing before 'Babylon' arrived to provide the inevitable emotional release. It absolutely lifted the roof off—if, of course, there had actually been one.
The encore brought the mood back down beautifully. 'This Year's Love' was delivered alone at the piano with remarkable tenderness before Gray slipped into a clever medley featuring The Eurythmics Here Comes the Rain Again—ironically performed beneath cloudless blue skies—and I Me Mine by The Beatles. It all led naturally into 'Sail Away', a song that somehow felt even more fitting with the sea stretching out beyond the stage.
It was a concert full of warmth rather than spectacle. Two exceptional songwriters, a glorious summer evening and thousands of people singing every word made for one of those nights that simply felt right. A very British 'Seaside Special' in every sense.
