REVIEW: Beyoncé wows with Sunderland gig on Renaissance tour

Fans were wowed with a musical spectacle with pitch-perfect singing from Beyoncé herself, outfit changes a-plenty and stunning production.

Almost 45,000 fans, many donned with pink cowboy hats, descended on the Sunderland stadium for the sixth show of the global icon’s Renaissance would tour, and third UK date.

Read more: Beyonce fans queue for hours outside in baking sun ahead of Sunderland show

Many members of the Beyhive queued for hours throughout the day on Tuesday in the sun to be among the first in the venue.

The Texan kicked off the show at about 8.20pm with a note-perfect rendition of Dangerously in Love. 'Note-perfect' became the theme of every number performed with stunning vocals throughout the night.

In a relaxed start to the show as daylight still shone down upon the Stadium of Light she delivered some of her slower hits including Flaws and All and 1+1 before the first of many costume changes.

Beyoncé wore a stunning light blue dress as she opened the show. (Image: MASON POOLE)

Looking stunning in them all Beyoncé must have changed nine times as the show progressed, going about three or four songs before it was time for a new look. At one point she returned wearing a dress like a bee in a fitting tribute to her name. I will say that some of the changes broke the flow of the concert slightly, although there were some where you hardly realised Queen Bey had gone off stage as her dancers continued their own on-stage spectacle.

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After the first change Queen Bey returned to the stage to declare it was time for the renaissance, kicking off with I’m That Girl – the opening track of her 2022 album of the same name as the tour.

Fans in the Stadium's East Stand enjoying the music. (Image: DANIEL HORDON)

Here it was time for some of her newer tracks including Cozy, Alien Superstar and Cuff It which made the setlist ahead of classics like Halo and Single Ladies – leaving some fans disappointed.

Although Beyoncé made sure fans of her older hits wouldn’t leave unhappy with renditions of Love On Top, and Destiny’s Child’s Say My Name. The crowd took the reigns for Love On Top singing the lyrics at Queen Bey.

The 45,000 in attendance went wild for songs including Break My Soul and Run the World (Girls) screaming out the words as they danced at their seats. Even those seated around the stadium spent most of the night on their feet have a boogie in the aisles.

Famous for her performance Beyoncé doesn’t just sing fantastically but knows how to throw some moves equally well. Despite some reports of previous dates suggesting she wasn’t as physical as previous tours, having never seen her live before her energy seemed never-ending, dancing and walking across the huge stage throughout the almost two-and-a-half-hour concert.

And her backing singers and squad of dancers put in an incredible shift too bringing the performance to life with more high-energy routines.

Read next:

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The staging was equally impressive. Robotic arms danced around the star during one of the earlier numbers while pyrotechnics and confetti wooed the crowd. At one point Beyoncé returned to the stage riding a sort of car-cum-tank, which looked a bit like Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, which took her down the stage.

Beyoncé mounted a silver horse and soared over the crown before leaving the horse and flying back over the audience herself. (Image: DANIEL HORDON)

Towards the end of the set Queen Bey literally flew above the crowds atop a full-size glittery horse, just like the Renaissance album cover. She then soared back over her audience in an incredible end to the night’s music rounded off with Summer Renaissance.

The evening had been a masterpiece from start to finish. Beyoncé fans left thrilled at having seen her live in our region and even those who aren’t mega fans could appreciate the performance.