The Illegal Eagles At Lighthouse, Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Helen O
Ever since my former colleague introduced me to The Eagles nearly 20 years ago, I’ve been a fan of their music. So, I couldn’t wait to ‘Take It To The Limit’ in my seat tonight, as the Illegal Eagles made a welcome return to Lighthouse, Poole for the last night of their Desperado Tour 2025.
Bringing a brand new production, ready to celebrate over 50 years since the formation of the legendary West Coast Country Rock band, The Eagles way back in 1971! The Illegal Eagles are now in their 29th year of performing themselves! Having achieved a number of critically acclaimed UK & European Tours, they’ve established themselves as the ultimate celebration of The Eagles.
The show was held in the Concert Hall this evening, with a packed audience, providing an electric atmosphere. We were seated in the stalls, which gave us a great view of the action on the stage.
Produced by Phil Aldridge, who was in the audience tonight, the show featured an all star line-up, including Tony Kiley (formerly of 80s sensation, The Blow Monkeys) – drums, Trevor Newnham (Dr Hook) – vocals & bass, Greg Webb – vocals & guitars, Mike Baker – vocals & keys and Garreth Hicklin – vocals, guitars & keys. Wow, what a phenomenal band.
These incredibly talented artists delivered exactly as they promised by effortlessly capturing the vocal style and delivery of Henley, Wash, Fry, Schmit and Meisner, delivering tight harmonies and an acute attention to detail.
It was clear from the outset, when they burst onto stage with their delivery of ‘Take It Easy’ that we were in for a real treat- the bar was set very high. The Illegal Eagles have clearly immersed themselves in the heart of the original band, studying in meticulous detail to recreate that unmistakable sound with authenticity and passion.
Beyond the music itself, what truly stood out for me, for tonight’s performance, was the clever use of the big screen, which displayed videos and lyrics that encouraged audience participation. It added an extra layer of energy and connection to the performance. I also appreciated the way the band introduced certain songs, giving context and personality to the set. Trevor Newnham in particular provided hilarious moments that had the crowd laughing too.
With such an extensive catalogue of The Eagles music, it wasn’t difficult for The Illegal Eagles to deliver hit after hit, with all the very best songs showcased, including ‘Life in the Fast Lane’, ‘Take it to The Limit’, ‘Boys of Summer’, ‘Desperado’ and, of course, ‘Hotel California. Tonight was the last night of their Desperado tour, with their Hotel California Tour starting next year, with a new set list, to keep the show fresh.
The standout moment for me was the delivery of ‘Desperado’, absolutely brilliant. Those vocals – phenomenal.
I loved that the band encouraged the entire audience to get on their feet to dance to some of the higher energy songs, including ‘Life in the Fast Lane’. You could really see how much everyone was enjoying themselves.
The ticket prices started from £35, which I think is great value for such a high quality, high energy performance. It was an exceptional evening’s entertainment. The sound quality was particularly brilliant tonight. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely be booking to see The Illegal Eagles, when they return to Lighthouse, Poole for their 30th anniversary, next year. I can’t recommend the show highly enough.
Rating: 5/5
Ticket prices from £35
Buy Tickets here: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Full Tour Dates can be found here: www.illegaleagles.com
Address: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG