Robert Plants Saving Grace - Sublime Musical Mastery At Manchester Apollo
- Paul Dixon
- a few seconds ago
- 2 min read
Manchester Apollo. - 15th December 2025
WORDS STEVE GLEAVE / IMAGES PAUL DIXON
Robert Plant returns to Manchester with tales of The Twisted Wheel and a vocal majesty that is supremely equalled by co vocalist Suzi Dian and their band Saving Grace.
To many people, Robert Plant will always and can only ever be the Rock Demi god lead vocalist of Led Zeppelin; belting out Whole Lotta Love. For others they may have seen this gig as another nostalgia act with little conviction to the art, who can no longer hit the same vocal notes from 30 years ago. How wrong they would all be.
According to Plant, the band Saving Grace were formed with an idea during COVID to play folk music. Although there were four Led Zeppelin songs in the 15 song set list; Ramble On, Four Sticks, Friends and The Rain Song they were instrumentally completely re-imagined by a band that were breathtaking in their virtuosity.
Five songs were also taken from Plants brilliant new Album Saving Grace and although the original template may have been folk, there were Middle Eastern, American country, Blues, Soul, Psychedelic and Rock flavours displayed throughout the night.
Plant the great raconteur amused the audience with tales of previous times in Manchester as well as his disappointment with the weather and his football club Wolves. He is held in such high reverence that when he was telling these tales nobody made a noise except for one person who was jovially admonished by Plant with the words ‘this is my show’.
True the ticket stated Robert Plant presents Saving Grace however, he was continually happy to step away and allow the band the spotlight. Acting as backing vocalist both to multi-instrumentalist Matt Worley on Soul of a Man and to co vocalist and accordion player Suzi Dian especially on Orphan Girl, Plant demonstrated that Saving Grace were indeed a collective unit and that he personally has great musical taste in choosing his band mates.
A favourite from the night was a cover of Moby Grapes It’s a beautiful day today where both Plant’s and Dian’s vocals were the epitome of harmony.
Robert Plant seems to be in perfect sync with this new musical journey. Anyone with a chance to get a ticket for this tour should not hesitate to see a master of his art thoroughly enjoying the ride.
SET LIST
1. The Very Day I'm Gone
2. The Cuckoo
3. Higher Rock
4. Ramble On
5. Soul of a Man
6. The May Queen
7. Orphan Girl
8. Four Sticks
9. It's a Beautiful Day Today
10. Down to the Sea
11. As I Roved Out
12. For the Turnstiles
13. Friends
14. The Rain Song
15. Everybody's Song
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