Paul Weller @ TK Maxx Presents Live at Scarborough Open Air Theatre - 12th June 2026
- John Hayhurst
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
Paul Weller Digs Deep For Scarborough's Summer Gathering
Rare revivals, timeless classics and a spectacular 31 song setlist prove the Modfather still follows his own path.
Words and Photos - John Hayhurst
There are easier ways for Paul Weller to fill a venue on the opening night of his 2026 Tour.
He could roll out the obvious crowd-pleasers, throw in a few Jam classics, collect the applause and head home. Instead, on a glorious summer evening at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, he delivered a 31 song set that felt like a reward for the faithful; a sprawling 2hrs+ journey through five decades of music packed with surprises, deep cuts and enough familiar favourites to keep everyone happy.
Following an energetic support slot from Miles Kane and his Bolan inspired rock songs, the atmosphere around the Yorkshire coast venue was already buzzing. As seagulls circled overhead and the sun began its slow descent behind the hillside, Weller emerged to a warm welcome, dressed in a denim jacket and looking every inch the elder statesman of British music.
Before a note had been played, a Palestinian flag hanging beside the stage and appeals for donations to a Palestinian charity served as a reminder that Weller remains as politically engaged today as he was during his days fronting The Jam.
Opening with Rip The Pages Up, he immediately signalled that this would not be a straightforward nostalgia trip. In fact, much of the evening felt deliberately curated for the long-term fans. The return of Precious and Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up, both absent from live sets since 2019, drew appreciative reactions from those who know Weller's catalogue inside out, while the revival of The Weaver and Up In Suze's Room demonstrated a willingness to dig far deeper than most artists of his stature would dare.
That's not to say there weren't moments for the casual fan. My Ever Changing Moods, Have You Ever Had It Blue and Shout To The Top! brought a welcome blast of 80's Style Council sophistication, while You Do Something To Me provided one of the evening's most heartfelt singalongs. As darkness slowly settled over the coast, thousands of voices carried the chorus out into the sea air.
Backed by a phenomenal band, Weller's catalogue never felt trapped in the past. Long-time collaborator Steve Cradock was outstanding throughout, while the rest of the eight-piece ensemble (including 3 x horn section) moved effortlessly between soulful grooves, biting rock, folk influences and moments of pure pop craftsmanship.
The Jam material naturally generated some of the biggest reactions. Strange Town, Man In The Corner Shop and later That's Entertainment reminded everyone why Weller first became one of Britain's most important songwriters. Yet perhaps the most striking thing was how seamlessly those songs sat alongside solo favourites such as Broken Stones, Stanley Road, Out Of The Sinking and Peacock Suit. These tracks are no longer the "new" songs. They have become classics in their own right.
One of the evening's most unexpected moments came with Shadow Of The Sun, making a welcome return after an absence stretching back to 2008. It was exactly the sort of left-field choice that made this set feel special.
The encore perfectly captured the many sides of Paul Weller. English Rose offered a moment of reflection before The Changingman reignited the crowd. By the time The Eton Rifles arrived, making its first appearance since 2018, the audience was in full voice. Wild Wood felt tailor-made for the setting, while closer Rockets provided a fittingly understated conclusion.
At one point Weller casually lit a cigarette on stage. In an age of carefully curated images and social media-approved behaviour, it somehow felt entirely appropriate. He has never followed trends, and at 68 there is little sign of him starting now.
As the crowd filtered back towards Scarborough's seafront, conversations centred not on what Weller had played, but what he hadn't. That's the luxury afforded to artists with a catalogue this deep.
Many musicians spend their later years celebrating their past. Paul Weller continues to explore it, reshape it and occasionally surprise himself with it.
On a beautiful Yorkshire summer night, that refusal to stand still made for a truly memorable evening.
