Tom Jones in the forest amphitheater: an evening of great songs and a powerful voice
Tom Jones will perform at Forest Opera in Sopot on Thursday, July 23, 2026, starting at 18:00. The concert is part of the European leg of the "Come Gather Round Tour 2026" and marks his return before an audience in Poland. The combination of one of the most recognizable voices in popular music and an amphitheater set among forested hills gives this evening a character that is difficult to recreate in a conventional arena.
Jones's career has lasted for more than six decades, but his present-day concert is not merely a sequence of memories from the sixties and seventies. Recent performances show an artist who places familiar hits alongside blues, soul, gospel, country, folk and carefully selected covers. The audience can therefore expect an encounter between two phases of his work: the energetic entertainer behind the songs "It's Not Unusual", "What's New Pussycat?", "Delilah", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "She's a Lady" and "Sex Bomb", and the more mature interpreter who gives songs about time, loss and resilience the weight of his own experience.
Ticket sales for this event are under way. The capacity of Forest Opera is limited to slightly more than five thousand visitors, and the Sopot performance has been announced as Tom Jones's return to Poland.
Why Tom Jones is still more than a catalogue of hits
Tom Jones rose to fame in the mid-sixties with a powerful baritone, precise diction and the ability to sing orchestral pop, rhythm and blues, a ballad or a song with country roots with equal conviction. His distinctive quality was not built on volume alone. The key lies in the way he phrases: the words remain clear, the rhythm can be elastic, and within the same line his voice moves from a conversational tone to a full, rough-edged climax.
His best-known songs carry different parts of that story. "It's Not Unusual" represents the early, buoyant pop that turned him into an international name. "What's New Pussycat?" is associated with the lavish pop of Burt Bacharach. "Green, Green Grass of Home" demonstrates his feeling for the narrative ballad, while "Delilah" became a concert song that the audience spontaneously takes over. "Kiss", his cover of Prince, recalls his ability to adapt to funk and more modern production, while "Sex Bomb" recalls his later major return to dance-pop.
That breadth explains why the audience at his concerts is not a single generational group. Long-time fans come for songs that have accompanied their lives for decades. Younger visitors often know the choruses from films, television, sports stands and family collections. Admirers of soul, blues and interpretive singing receive another layer of the evening: the chance to hear how an experienced singer makes other people's songs his own without imitating their authors.
"Surrounded By Time" and the current phase of his career
Tom Jones's latest studio album, "Surrounded By Time", was released in 2021 and produced by Ethan Johns. The album reached number one on the British albums chart and became an important milestone in the later phase of his career. Instead of trying to repeat the sound of his early hits, Jones selected material suited to his present voice and outlook on life.
Songs such as "I'm Growing Old", "I Won't Crumble With You If You Fall", "Talking Reality Television Blues", "Pop Star" and the cover of "One More Cup of Coffee" reveal several directions. There is a stripped-down ballad, spoken singing, darker folk, contemporary social observation and production that leaves enough room for the voice. The result is not a museum-like return to an old repertoire, but an album by a man who openly sings about the passage of time.
It is precisely this material that has changed the dramaturgy of Jones's recent concerts. Reviews of performances from 2025 describe programs beginning with more intimate songs such as "I'm Growing Old", Leonard Cohen's "Tower of Song" and Bob Dylan's "Not Dark Yet", after which the evening opens toward major hits, blues, soul and livelier arrangements. Such an order is not a confirmed set list for Sopot, and the songs may change, but it clearly demonstrates the kind of concert Jones builds today: less of a linear retrospective and more of a musical autobiography.
What can reasonably be expected from the repertoire
The final set list for Forest Opera has not been published in advance. Nevertheless, recent concerts provide reliable guidance on the balance between older and newer material:
- major hits from different decades, often in refreshed arrangements
- songs from the album "Surrounded By Time", especially those dealing with time and resilience
- covers of writers such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Prince, Cat Stevens or Sister Rosetta Tharpe, depending on the evening
- transitions between pop, soul, blues, country, folk and gospel
- short stories and introductions through which Jones connects the songs with his own career
At performances in Athens, Berlin, Copenhagen and on British stages during 2025, the tight backing band, the clear lead vocal and arrangements that did not treat familiar melodies as faithful copies of studio recordings stood out in particular. "It's Not Unusual" appeared in a more acoustic, rhythmically lighter form, while "Sex Bomb" took on a more pronounced blues character. "Delilah" and "Green, Green Grass of Home" remained moments of communal singing, while longer interpretations such as "Lazarus Man" gave the band more room.
This means that a visitor should not expect only a rapid sequence of choruses. Jones's current concert format also demands attention during the quieter sections. It is precisely the contrast between silence during an intimate ballad and the mass singing of a familiar hit that creates the main tension of the evening.
Forest Opera: a space where the voice matters more than distance
Forest Opera, or Opera Leśna, opened in 1909 and was designed as an amphitheater in a natural hollow above the center of Sopot. The present-day auditorium accommodates 5,047 visitors. The main stage covers more than 500 square meters, and the venue is roofed by a large structure that protects the audience area while the forest surroundings remain constantly present.
For Tom Jones's concert, the venue's acoustic reputation is the most important feature. The naturally shaped terrain directs the sound toward the auditorium, and the capacity is large enough for a powerful collective response from the audience, but considerably smaller than a stadium. This preserves a feeling of proximity to the performer, especially in songs in which the vocal, piano or quieter band are more important than massive production.
Forest Opera has hosted international music festivals and concerts for decades. Performers from different generations and genres have appeared on its stage, from major pop names to rock, soul and jazz musicians. That context suits Jones, whose repertoire also crosses the boundaries of any single genre.
Seats disappear quickly when an internationally known performer and a summer date on the Baltic coast come together in a venue with slightly more than five thousand seats. When choosing a seat, it is useful to consider one's own way of listening: the closer sections emphasize contact with the stage, while the elevated parts of the auditorium provide a broader view of the band, lighting and forest setting.
The atmosphere of the evening: from concentrated silence to a shared chorus
Jones's recent performances show that energy is not built by continuously increasing the tempo. The program often begins in a restrained, almost chamber-like manner and then gradually introduces rhythm, humor and familiar choruses. Such a structure suits Forest Opera well, where quieter moments do not have to disappear into the noise of an enormous hall.
The audience could be particularly diverse. For long-time listeners, this is an opportunity to hear a voice associated with several periods of popular music. For an audience that knows Jones primarily through "Sex Bomb" or "Kiss", the concert opens a much broader catalogue. For admirers of vocal interpretation, the less obvious selections may be the most interesting - Cohen, Dylan, gospel, folk and songs from the latest album.
An important part of the experience will be the relationship between the performer and the band. Reviews from 2025 often emphasize that the accompanying musicians do not serve merely as a background, but change the color of the songs: acoustic guitar, accordion, keyboards, percussion and a tight rhythm section allow old hits to sound livelier and less predictable. Between songs, Jones uses humor and brief memories, giving the concert a conversational tone without losing its musical focus.
Getting to Forest Opera
The venue's address is ul. Stanisława Moniuszki 12, 81-829 Sopot. The amphitheater is located above the compact city center, on the edge of the forest, so the final part of the journey involves walking uphill. For visitors arriving by train, the most practical starting point is Sopot Centrum.
- The distance from Sopot Centrum station to Forest Opera is approximately 1.5 kilometers, or about a 20-minute walk.
- Bus line 144 runs from the Sopot PKP 01 stop toward Osiedle Mickiewicza; passengers should get off at Herberta 01, followed by approximately a 10-minute walk.
- Lines 143 and 117 depart from the Sopot PKP - Marynarzy 01 stop toward Sanatorium "Leśnik"; passengers should get off at Sopot 22 Marca 02, followed by approximately a 10-minute walk.
- Parking for cars is located along Moniuszki Street, approximately five minutes on foot from the entrance.
- A designated parking area is provided for bicycles.
On the day of the concert, increased traffic and a larger number of pedestrians on the access routes should be expected. Arriving by public transport or walking from the center may be easier than searching for a parking space immediately before the start. The opening time of the entrances is not stated in the published concert information, so it is reasonable to arrive early, especially because of security checks, finding the correct section and the uphill walk to the amphitheater.
Forest Opera states that the venue is adapted for people with disabilities. Visitors who require special assistance should verify the entrance, access to their section and available services according to the venue's information before arriving.
Sopot as part of a concert trip
Sopot is a Baltic resort known for its sandy coastline, green spaces, spa architecture, the Bohaterów Monte Cassino promenade and its long wooden pier. The city lies between Gdańsk and Gdynia, making it easy to include in a broader stay in the Trójmiasto area.
The concert begins at an earlier evening time, leaving visitors the opportunity to spend part of the day by the coast or in the center before heading toward the amphitheater. However, Forest Opera is not located by the sea or immediately beside the main pedestrian zone. Enough time should be allowed for the journey toward the forested part of the city.
For visitors arriving from other countries, it is practical to plan the return journey in advance. After the concert ends, a large number of people head toward the center along the same pedestrian and road routes. Accommodation in Sopot reduces the need for a late transfer, while a stay in Gdańsk or Gdynia requires checking evening rail and local transport connections for the date of the event.
Preparing for the concert without unnecessary assumptions
The duration of the performance, a possible interval, a supporting act and special guests are not stated in the published event information. No particular song, guest or production effect should be assumed in advance. The best preparation is to become familiar with both poles of Jones's repertoire: the major hits and the newer, more reflective material.
Before departure, it is useful to check the weather forecast, current traffic notices and the rules concerning items that may be brought into the venue. Although the auditorium is covered, the approach passes through an open forest area. Comfortable footwear is more important than at a concert in a level city hall, and a light additional layer of clothing may be useful after sunset.
It is worth securing tickets in good time. This concert is particularly attractive to an audience that wants to hear recognizable songs, but also to witness the way Tom Jones reshapes them today - more slowly, more deeply and with more space for the lyrics, the band and the experience accumulated during more than six decades on stage.
Sources:
- Opera Leśna - information about the date, time, tour, return to Poland, the performer's career and the album "Surrounded By Time"
- Tom Jones - reviews of concerts from 2025 and examples of recent repertoire, arrangements and audience reactions
- Opera Leśna, Tożsamość - history, capacity, architecture, stage size and the venue's acoustic characteristics
- Opera Leśna, Zwiedzanie - address, pedestrian access, bus lines, parking, bicycles and accessibility
- Visit Sopot - context concerning the city, coastline, green spaces, architecture and tourist offerings