Newcastle really Got the Feelin’ tonight — and it hit hard.
Invited| Review by Aaron Whittington
There’s something almost surreal about seeing Five back together in 2025, especially when you remember just how loudly they crashed into the late-90s pop scene. They never fitted the clean, polished boyband mould — far from it. From the moment they arrived in 1997 (thanks to the same team who created the Spice Girls), they carried themselves with a bit of bite, a bit of attitude, and a lot of cheek. Slam Dunk (Da Funk), Got the Feelin’, Everybody Get Up — these weren’t just songs, they were school-disco staples, the soundtrack to bus journeys, mixtapes and weekend telly. For a while, they absolutely dominated.
Their rise happened quickly, but so did the pressure. By 2001 the band had splintered in different directions, each member stepping into new careers, families and chapters outside of pop. The affection for their music refused to fade, though. When The Big Reunion hit screens in 2013, something shifted again. Festival appearances followed, nostalgia tours popped up across the country, and each time they landed in Newcastle throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, the response was huge. The North East clearly never stopped playing their songs.
Seeing all five members walk out together for the Keep On Movin’ 2025 Tour created a moment fans had waited decades to witness. Bringing the show to the Utilita Arena felt like a homecoming of sorts — a chance for long-time listeners to relive the songs that once blasted through Walkmans and battered CDs. The atmosphere carried a sense of shared memory, the kind that only bands from that era can summon.
The arena shifted instantly once the lights dropped. Slam Dunk (Da Funk) opened the night and the roar that followed set the tone for the entire show. The choreography might have loosened over time, but it still carried that unmistakable Five swagger. The crowd reacted as if the last twenty years had evaporated, singing every line with total conviction.
The setlist covered every key moment of their catalogue. Early favourites like Shake and Got the Feelin’ kept the momentum high, while classics such as When the Lights Go Out and If Ya Gettin’ Down delivered exactly the kind of arena-sized nostalgia fans came for. The second half introduced a few surprises — a blast of We Will Rock You, a nod to Human, and a hip-hop-tinged section before the inevitable full-throttle finale. The encore brought a mash-up of Jump Around, Place Your Hands and Get Lucky before closing with Keep On Movin’, which turned the venue into a complete singalong.
Vocals played a huge part in the success of the show. Sean Conlon’s tone still carried the richness that made him stand out years ago, while Scott Robinson handled the smoother moments with real warmth. With all five back in the lineup, the harmonies locked in naturally. Refreshed arrangements also brought a modern punch to songs that have lived in playlists for decades.
Staging choices helped strengthen the atmosphere. A horseshoe walkway allowed the band to spend most of the night up close to fans, creating a sense of movement and connection. Screens switched between retro photos, old graphics and quick flashes from their early years, blending memory with modern production without leaning too heavily on either. The overall effect felt clean, confident and genuinely celebratory.
Five’s return to Newcastle delivered more than a nostalgia fix. It gave fans a chance to reconnect with songs that shaped entire chapters of their youth, performed by a group that looked genuinely grateful to be sharing a stage again. The response inside the Utilita Arena showed exactly how much affection remains for them in the North East.
Anyone who missed this show — or those already tempted to relive it — won’t have to wait long. Five return to the Utilita Arena on 26th November, promising another round of big hits, loud choruses and feel-good memories.