Tony Hadley in Portorož: the voice connecting eighties pop with the current phase of his career
Tony Hadley will perform at the Amphitheatre of Avditorij Portorož - Portorose on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 20:30. The concert is part of the "An Englishman in Italy" project, a tour that passes through a series of Italian cities before arriving in Portorož. The programme is conceived as an overview of his career: songs that shaped the sound of Spandau Ballet, selections from Hadley's solo catalogue, newer compositions and reinterpretations that have held a place in his performances for many years.
Hadley's baritone has remained one of the most recognisable vocal signatures in British pop. Big choruses and powerful dynamics are still at the heart of his concerts, while the Fabulous TH Band gives the songs the fullness of a contemporary band. This combination attracts both long-standing fans and younger listeners.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially because of the amphitheatre format, in which the seating arrangement and distance from the stage directly affect the experience.
From the New Romantic period to a solo career
Tony Hadley became internationally known as the singer of Spandau Ballet, one of the key bands of the British New Romantic movement. The band combined pop, soul influences and synthesisers, while Hadley's voice gave the songs drama and a distinctive character.
"True" has remained the central ballad of that body of work. "Gold" relies on a firmer rhythm and an anthemic chorus, while "Through the Barricades" reveals the more emotional side of the repertoire. In the materials for the current tour, these three compositions are specifically listed as important parts of the programme. The titles "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Only When You Leave" are also associated with his contemporary performances, but the complete running order of songs for Portorož has not been published.
After his work with Spandau Ballet, Hadley developed a solo career through pop, rock, swing and performances with orchestras. That is why today's concerts are not merely a return to the eighties. The familiar catalogue is connected with music he recorded as a solo artist, so the same programme can feature energetic pop-rock, a ballad, a swing standard and a carefully selected cover version.
What has been confirmed for the current tour
- Tony Hadley performs with the Fabulous TH Band, his long-standing concert line-up.
- The programme includes "True", "Gold" and "Through the Barricades".
- Alongside the major hits, songs from his solo career and selected reinterpretations are planned.
- Compositions from a newer original project are also performed on the tour.
- The exact running order of the songs, the duration of the concert, a possible interval and additional guests for Portorož have not been announced.
The confirmed combination of hits, solo songs and newer material provides a clear framework: this is a full-band concert, not an evening devoted solely to one album or exclusively to the swing repertoire.
Latest releases and a new musical phase
The 2024 album "The Mood I'm In" brought Hadley back to a repertoire rooted in the classical vocal tradition. The project included remastered recordings connected with the album "Passing Strangers" and five additional songs, including the new composition "Walk of Shame".
The most recent clearly dated release is "If I Can Dream", published on 21 November 2025. The album contains ten songs, including "Too Close for Comfort", "The Good Life", "Sea of Love", the title track "If I Can Dream" and "Avenues & Alleyways" in collaboration with Tony Christie. Several recordings are marked as live performances, further emphasising Hadley's connection with the concert format.
The materials for the "An Englishman in Italy" tour simultaneously refer to a new project of original rock material and the performance of new songs. The title, final track listing and release date of that project are not provided on the tour page, so it should not be equated with the album "If I Can Dream". For visitors, the most important point is that the current performances are not conceived as a retrospective without new content.
The pop hits of the eighties rely on recognisable melodies, swing requires phrasing and rhythmic ease, while the rock material gives the band more space. In a live performance, these differences create a more dynamic programme than a concert made up solely of ballads or solely of fast songs.
What kind of experience the audience can expect
Hadley's concerts are built around his voice and his relationship with the band. The Fabulous TH Band is not an occasional backing line-up, but a group with which he has developed a distinctive concert partnership. Earlier announcements of European performances describe the format as a full live band show featuring major hits and Hadley's personal selections.
With a song such as "True", the audience expects room for a big collective chorus. "Gold" naturally raises the tempo, while "Through the Barricades" calls for quieter concentration and gradual emotional development. Newer and solo songs give the evening a different colour and demonstrate how Hadley sounds outside his best-known catalogue.
The concert will particularly appeal to:
- long-standing Spandau Ballet listeners who want to hear familiar songs performed by the original singer;
- fans of British pop, new wave and the New Romantic period;
- audiences for whom a powerful vocal and a band playing live are important;
- listeners interested in Hadley's solo, swing and newer rock phases;
- visitors who prefer an amphitheatre concert with a clear view of a large stage.
Seats disappear quickly at concerts with different viewing zones, so when choosing a ticket it is useful to pay attention to the position within the amphitheatre, rather than only to admission to the venue.
The Amphitheatre of Avditorij Portorož as part of the experience
The concert has been announced for the Amphitheatre of Avditorij Portorož, not for the smaller main hall of the same institution. The amphitheatre is a covered summer venue with 1,777 seats, while in a configuration with standing zones it can accommodate up to 2,300 visitors. The stage measures 24 x 15 metres, and the venue is intended for concerts, opera, dance, multimedia performances and festivals.
The covered structure provides the feeling of an open-air summer concert while offering greater protection than a completely open venue. The amphitheatre layout directs the view towards the stage and suits a performance based on direct communication with the audience.
Sound quality will depend on the sound system, the soundcheck and the position of the seat. The size of the stage allows for a full-band format, while the venue is compact enough not to create the impression of stadium-like distance.
There is a café beside the venue. It is useful to arrive early, check the entrance specified on the ticket and allow enough time to find the seat.
Key information about the venue
- Location: Amphitheatre of Avditorij Portorož - Portorose.
- Address of the complex: Senčna pot 8A, 6320 Portorož, Slovenia.
- Capacity: 1,777 seats, up to 2,300 visitors with standing zones.
- Stage dimensions: 24 x 15 metres.
- Venue type: covered summer venue.
- Wheelchair access is listed among the institution's information.
Travelling to Portorož and getting around without a car
Portorož is a coastal town on the Slovenian part of the northern Adriatic, in the immediate vicinity of Piran. Traffic in the area is heavier in summer, especially during the evening hours, so it is advisable to allow additional time for the final part of the journey.
Intercity bus connections link Portorož and Piran with Koper, Ljubljana, Trieste, Venice and other cities. Local routes connect Piran, Portorož, Lucija and Strunjan. This makes arrival without a car possible, particularly for visitors staying overnight in Piran, Lucija or other places along the coast. The timetable should be checked for the date of the concert, especially return departures after the evening programme.
Parking and access to the venue
There are public car parks and garages in Portorož, but parking directly beside the main entrance of Avditorij is not permitted. That area is used for technical deliveries, production vehicles and emergency services. Visitors arriving by car should therefore select a public parking area in advance and allow for a short walk to Senčna pot.
During the summer season, it is more sensible to plan the arrival than to search for the first available space nearby:
- check current locations and parking regulations before departure;
- arrive in Portorož earlier than would be necessary outside the season;
- allow time to walk from the parking area to the amphitheatre;
- do not stop the vehicle beside entrances intended for production and emergency services;
- agree on a meeting point after the concert in advance.
Visitors staying in Piran or Lucija can use local transport, but for a late return they should check the final departures or arrange an alternative.
Entrances, box office and arrival time
The concert is scheduled to begin at 20:30. The entrance opening time has not been published on the event page. Avditorij states that the box office in the foyer is available one hour before the start of performances, but this is not necessarily the same as the time when all entrances to the amphitheatre are opened to the public.
The safest option is to be near the venue early enough to pass through ticket control, find the correct sector and take the seat without rushing. Summer traffic, the search for parking and a large number of people arriving within a short period can slow down the arrival. Visitors with special needs may find it useful to check the access route before travelling.
The duration of the performance, any interval and the finishing time have not been announced. Return transport should therefore not be planned with too narrow a margin.
Ticket sales for this event are under way. When purchasing, it is worth checking the date, the 20:30 starting time, the name of the amphitheatre and the seat category, because the Avditorij Portorož complex contains several different venues.
How to combine the concert with a visit to Portorož and Piran
Portorož is known for its coastal promenade, hotels and beaches, while neighbouring Piran offers a compact historic centre beside the sea. For travellers arriving from farther away, the concert can easily be incorporated into a one-day or multi-day stay, but accommodation and traffic in August require earlier planning.
An August evening on the coast can remain warm and humid even after sunset. Because the amphitheatre is covered, clothing is best adapted to summer conditions, with a light additional layer for the later return journey. Rules concerning the admission of food, drinks, larger bags and equipment should be checked before arrival.
Why the Portorož date is interesting within the tour
In the published schedule of the "An Englishman in Italy" project, Portorož is listed after performances in cities such as Milan, Bologna, Turin, Naples, Montecatini Terme, Cervia and Mola di Bari. This gives the concert the character of a continuation of the Mediterranean part of the tour, but outside Italian stages.
For audiences from several European countries, it is a location accessible by road and bus connections, in a venue that is noticeably more intimate than a large arena. Such a relationship between capacity and stage size suits a performer whose concert relies on direct communication, a recognisable voice and the full sound of a band.
No support acts or special guests have been confirmed for Portorož. The confirmed collaborators on stage are the Fabulous TH Band, while the event is organised by Avditorij Portorož and Vigna PR in cooperation with KODA Events and the Municipality of Piran.
In preparation, it is useful to listen to several periods of Hadley's career: the Spandau Ballet hits, the album "Talking to the Moon", the swing phase of "The Mood I'm In" and the more recent release "If I Can Dream". In this way, the transitions between nostalgia, new material and reinterpretations will make more sense, and the concert will be heard as the story of the development of a single voice rather than merely as a collection of familiar choruses.
Sources:
- Portorož & Piran - date, time, amphitheatre location, artist profile and event organisers.
- International Music and Arts - description of the "An Englishman in Italy" tour, confirmed hits, the Fabulous TH Band, newer songs and the schedule of cities.
- Tony Hadley - biographical information, solo discography, the album "The Mood I'm In" and the framework of earlier live band performances.
- Revolver Records - release date and track listing of the album "If I Can Dream".
- Avditorij Portorož - amphitheatre capacity, stage dimensions, address, box-office opening hours, accessibility and the rule concerning parking beside the entrances.
- Portorož & Piran transport - intercity and local bus connections and information about parking in Portorož and Piran.