Photo musicfest.pt and Marta Ribeiro / @marta.takes.photos
Gordon Ramsay
This week started with Friday night dinner at Gordon Ramsay Restaurant in London
The day before Penny appeared on the panel was on Loose Women and on Friday she was on Vanessa on 5.and gave updates on Rod’s recent oxygen story Penny said on Loose Women “looked a lot scarier than it really was”. “He had to cancel a couple of shows prior to that because of a respiratory infection,”
“He was recovering and well enough to perform. But he wasn’t aware that Salt Lake City, where he was performing, was way above sea level. So the altitude levels, just for your regular person, is a challenge. If you’re not acclimatised, like sportsmen would arrive before an event, a week before to acclimatise.”
She added: “Rod just flew in on the day of the show, wasn’t aware of this particular altitude. So he was already down on his juice because of recovering from his respiratory infection.
“And then he was also down another 17% of oxygen because of the altitude. So when he’s on stage, and of course, his two-hour show involves him running around, he doesn’t sit still for a minute, it suddenly hit him.”
“But there are oxygen tanks at these particular shows for that reason,” Penny clarified. “Because even the young ones, if they’ve had a late night out before a show, they can suffer. And they do.”
She told fellow panellists Jane Moore, Charlene White and Coleen Nolan: “When I woke up, I got a message from Rod about what had happened.
“Because we’re always, whether we’re side by side or miles apart, we’ve got a very good type communication. So he let me know.
“So when I saw it, it was still hard to watch because Rod is, as you know, a fitness king. I mean, he’s fitter than most people my age. So it was uncomfortable to watch.
Fridays other guests were Tre Lowe and Simon Lipkin.
Rock in Rio Portugal
On Saturday night Rod was headlining Rock In Rio In Portugal, Special thanks to our friends musicfest.pt and Marta Ribeiro / @marta.takes.photos were who were at the show and were happy to share their stunning photos with SMILER and Karla Fernandes was also at the event and also got some great shots and here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt
Rod Stewart rocks Lisbon – hundreds of thousands join in
Music legend Sir Rod Stewart threw a spectacular party in Lisbon yesterday evening. As part of the Rock in Rio festival, Stewart performed at the event for the first time since 2008 and thrilled the crowds with a set lasting just under two hours, which was kicked off by atmospheric fireworks and songs such as “We Will Rock You”.
There was no sign of any vocal problems or other health issues for Sir Rod Stewart as he took to the stage in the Portuguese capital at around 11.40 pm Central European Summer Time, wearing a white jacket and dark-striped trousers. The audience, who had already enjoyed performances by Cyndi Lauper, the 4 NonBlondes and Shaggy, were fully engaged from the very first note. The joy of experiencing the evening’s grand finale live was written all over the faces of many of the attendees.
By the second song, ‘Having a Party’, at the very latest, the theme of the evening was clear: celebrating together and simply having fun. Rod Stewart didn’t forget the Portuguese people’s great enthusiasm for football either. After the second song, he turned to the audience and asked: “Do you think Portugal can win the World Cup?” The response was a thunderous cheer. Stewart then assured the fans that he, too, was keeping his fingers crossed for Portugal as the tournament progressed.
Despite the summery temperatures, Rod Stewart gave it his all on stage. On the night of the concert, it was a sweltering 26 degrees in Lisbon – and under the blazing spotlights, it quickly got even warmer for him in his white jacket. He soon took it off, without even slowing down for a moment.
Unlike his recent concerts in North America, Rod Stewart made a few changes to the setlist. “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” returned to the set, as did the 1975 global hit “Sailing”, which provided the emotional finale to the roughly two-hour show. During these songs, tears of joy streamed down the cheeks of some in the audience; during “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”, the crowds sang along at the top of their voices – something that never fails to bring a beaming smile to Rod’s face.
In addition, the audience were treated to numerous other classics. Stewart opened the evening with “Infatuation”, followed by, amongst others, “Tonight I’m Yours”, “Forever Young”, “Hot Legs”, “Maggie May”, “Young Turks”, “People Get Ready”, “Baby Jane”, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “I’d Rather Go Blind”.
Lisbon was treated to hit after hit in a fantastic atmosphere. An impressively lit stage, around 100,000 spectators in front of the stage, a band in superb form and a Rod Stewart at the very top of his game made for an unforgettable concert evening.
At around 1.25 am Central European Summer Time, Rod Stewart finally brought the musical evening to a close with “Love Train”. For many fans in the audience, this was likely the signal to rush to a television as quickly as possible. Just a few minutes later, the Portuguese national football team’s final group match at the World Cup was due to kick off. Following a goalless 0–0 draw against Colombia, Portugal progressed to the round of 32, where they will face Croatia this coming Friday.
Fans in Valencia, Spain, can now look forward to a similarly fantastic show. Rod Stewart will make the next stop on his short but high-calibre European summer tour there on Tuesday. The singer will then take a break from concerts for several weeks before the tour continues at the end of August with further performances in the USA.
Setlist Rock In Rio Lisboa 27/6/2026
Infatuation
Having A Party
It’s A Heartache
Tonight I’m Yours
It Takes Two
Forever Young
The First Cut Is The Deepest
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
Hot Legs
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Rhythm Of My Heart
Jolene (Band only)
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (Band only)
Baby Jane
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Sailing
Love Train (Encore)
After the show Rod and Dave Palmer met Dr. Ivan Rollemberg
Meanwhile Penny posted this fantastic shot from Quinta Carvalhas retreat in Portugal
And still in Portugal.. Did any fans buy any of these Rod themed sardines that are on sale in Lisbon at The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine ?
Roig Arena,Valencia, Spain
On Tuesday night Rod played Roig Arena,Valencia, Spain SMILER photographer Marc Baulisch -Steines was at the show to get some brilliant photos and here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt
Fiesta in Valencia: Good old rock ’n’ roll knows no age
Sir Rod had invited the public to the fiesta, and around 12,000 people accepted the British music legend’s invitation to the Roig Arena in Valencia, Spain.
In the arena, which opened in 2025, it took just a touch of something special to really get the already passionate Spaniards going. Sir Rod therefore opted for his song ‘Infatuation’, the track that set the stage perfectly for an energetic evening. As the show progressed, Stewart repeatedly delved deep into his repertoire of hits, breathing new life into the great songs of his career.
By the second song of the evening, ‘Having A Party’, the audience was well and truly in party mood, dancing and singing their hearts out. And Rod delivered with his usual professionalism: ‘Forever Young’, ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ and ‘Hot Legs’ – hit after hit followed, gratefully received by the Spanish audience. Whether in the stands or in the main area right in front of the stage, hardly anyone could stay in their seats; a daughter and her mother were embracing, whilst a father and son swayed arm in arm to the songs that the whole world knows, but which, when sung live, create a completely different atmosphere.
The Spanish audience kept putting a smile on Sir Rod’s and his musicians’ faces time and again as they sang along loudly and with perfect knowledge of the lyrics to classics such as I Don’t Want To Talk About It.
Time flew by, and by the time the first bars of ‘Sailing’ rang out, the fans realised that this magnificent musical fiesta was slowly drawing to a close. With the encore ‘Love Train’, Rod Stewart bid farewell after around two hours to his enthusiastic audience, who were still chanting ‘Queremos más (We want more)’ minutes after the curtain had fallen for the last time.
Gradually, the arena emptied and the audience made their way to the city’s clubs and bars to round off this unique evening and raise a toast to Sir Rod once more with a variety of drinks.
“Simply spectacular – how could it be otherwise? Bravo, Sir Rod,” wrote Chelo on Facebook. Ana felt the same way, saying: “I was absolutely thrilled – it’s just spectacular how well this man still sings.” Mayka, too, could barely contain her delight at the evening. “It was fantastic. Rod is AMAZING!” the blonde gushed.
Alongside the fans, the organiser also paid tribute to the 81-year-old singer, hailing Sir Rod as “an icon with tremendous charisma and the ability to connect with the audience.” The Roig Arena praised Rod’s performance, saying it “combined elegance, stage presence and musical power”, and concluded that “good old rock ’n’ roll knows no age”.
Set list Valencia, 30 June 2026
Infatuation
Having A Party
It’s A Heartache
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Tonight I’m Yours
It Takes Twi
Forever Young
The Fisrt Cut Is The Deepest
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
You’re In My Heart
Hot Legs
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Rhythm Of My Heart
Jolene (Band only)
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (Band only)
Baby Jane
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Sailing
Love Train
Daniel Beirne bumped into J’Anna at the show and Marvin Torrez got a superb shot with Rod the next day
Joanne Harpers Dad Malcolm met Rod after the show
This week’s Rod Art
This week’s Rod art is a great oil painting on canvas of Rod titled ‘Only A Boy Born Loose Rotterdam 1983 June 10th 1983’
Unfortunately we don’t know who the artist is as it is unsigned
The portrait was painted for Rod who gave it his brother Don back in the day ..And that is about all I know about it
As SMILER organised a trip to this concert there is a good chance the artist was a member?
Was it done by you or do you know who it was painted by ? If so get in touch and tell us the story.
Exclusively for Storyteller and SMILER: An interview with Andrea Young
Martin Heidt catches up with Rod’s talented multi-instrumentalist band member
Storyteller: Hello Andrea, we hope you’re well and enjoying your time in Europe. What’s on the agenda today, the day after your spectacular performance in Valencia, Spain?
Andrea Young: Today we’re travelling to Venice, where the next concert is taking place tomorrow. Basically, imagine lots of packing and unpacking, hectic airports and coffee to get us through it all 😉 The audience in Spain last night was fantastic – people knew the lyrics to every song! We’re all looking forward to the concert in Italy and a three-week break at home to catch up on a few things.
ST: You’ve been on tour with Rod Stewart for quite a while now. Our readers would certainly love to know how you came to be part of the band. How did the opportunity to work with Sir Rod come about?
AY: I originally met some of the band members when the position was first advertised in 2016. It didn’t quite work out at the time, but I really enjoyed the time I spent with everyone and stayed in touch with J’Anna. Later that same year, I signed a record deal with my band, so I was grateful that things worked out in such a way that I could focus on my own music. Then, in early 2024, J’Anna and Rod got back in touch with me, and it was the perfect time for everyone.
ST: In your opinion, what is Rod’s most distinctive trait?
AY: Ever since I met Rod, I’ve been constantly impressed by his fearlessness as an artist. Creatively, he does exactly what he wants and doesn’t care what others think of it. He knows what his fans appreciate and delivers that at every show. What’s more, he’s got more energy than anyone else I’ve ever met!
ST: To us fans, the band – including Rod – always seems like one big family. And we know that’s really the case and that you all live by that spirit … What was it like for you when you first joined the band? Did ‘Grandad’ Rod take you by the hand and introduce you to everyone? Or how does something like that usually go?
AY: On my first tour, we had a rehearsal at the venue in Belgium, and everyone was so friendly and encouraging. Rod was thrilled with my sound and said I reminded him of Steel guitar, which I thought was a cool compliment, as I’d built my career in Nashville. That evening, he hosted a welcome dinner in my honour at a lovely little restaurant so we could all get to know each other.
ST: Has there been a gig so far that felt particularly magical to you? We can imagine it must be something really special for you to be on stage in the US with your friends and family in the audience, right?
AY: We’ve played several gigs that were on our wish list, but I have to say that Glastonbury takes the top spot. The connection with the audience was incredible and the energy was infectious. It’s also wonderful when my family comes to see me; the gig in Saint Louis last summer was a (very entertaining) home game.
ST: Are you a bit more nervous or tense than usual then?
AY: After the first few gigs with an artist, I don’t really get nervous anymore, but I have to admit I do get tense when the weather conditions affect my violin. It can be tricky to make adjustments during a show when you’re on a tight schedule. As for certain venues, it’s more about the excitement than anything else.
ST: Not only do you perform with Rod, but you’re also regularly on the road with the country duo ‘The Wildcards’. We can imagine that’s a completely different experience to performing with Rod. How do these gigs differ from one another? And what do you enjoy most about all your performances?
AY: With The Wildcards, we play our own songs, tell stories about the songs, and the show is all about us. My duet partner Ashley (Gearing) is one of my closest friends, and when we sing together, it feels so powerful, especially in many of the more intimate venues where we perform. We’re very much in tune with each other, so there’s plenty of room for improvisation – both musically and in our banter on stage.
With Rod at the helm, we’ve got a legend leading the way, and we play to sold-out arenas and at festivals with a large, supportive band and lots of brilliant crew members. Everyone in the team shares the vision of making every show as good as it possibly can be. There are costumes, dancing, huge stages with all the trimmings. Everything runs like a finely tuned machine. Every evening, the set list is packed with tried-and-tested, crowd-pleasing hits, and throughout the show, our star always ensures there’s plenty of variety and spontaneity.
ST: On your website, you’re also described as a singer and multi-instrumentalist. Apart from the violin, which other instruments do you play to perfection?
AY: I’ve been playing the mandolin and viola for ages, but in recent years I’ve particularly enjoyed playing the acoustic guitar and my tenor banjo.
ST: Let’s talk briefly about you as a singer: which song would you absolutely love to sing yourself one day and give it that typical Andrea Young touch – and why?
AY: I’d love to re-record a song I wrote called ‘Ghosts’. There’s an old version of it on YouTube with a different band I used to be in. I’d love to give the song a new twist.
ST: Your favourite place you’ve ever performed is…
AY: So far, the Hollywood Bowl, but I hope that with the postponed dates, I’ll soon be able to say ‘Red Rocks’.
ST: Which song from Rod’s setlist do you most enjoy playing? And is there a reason for that?
AY: I absolutely love playing ‘Maggie May’. It’s a classic, of course, but at the end there’s an extra section where I can play a solo.
ST: What projects are on your to-do list for this year and the years to come?
AY: I’d love to record some new music for the Wildcards and squeeze in a few gigs with other country artists between tours with Rod. All in all, I’m really excited to see where our RS tour family will take us in 2027 and beyond.
ST: What’s been your experience of Rod’s fans on tour? In your opinion, is there such a thing as a typical Rod Stewart fan, and what would they be like? And how do Rod’s fans in North and South America differ from those in Europe?
AY: I’ve found that all his fans are absolutely dedicated and enthusiastic, and form a very close-knit community. What I particularly love about the different geographical locations is that so many of them communicate with one another online by sharing photos and videos of their favourite moments so that others can enjoy them too. They’re one big family!
ST: Over the past few weeks, this story about oxygen and Rod’s health has been doing the rounds; numerous – often false – reports have been circulating in the media. To what extent has this been a topic of discussion within the band, and how does Rod himself deal with such fake news? Do you talk to him about it, or is what the media are reporting not an issue internally at all?
AY: It was quite unbelievable how much the oxygen story was blown out of proportion. Heat, altitude and air quality are perfectly normal risks for everyone at open-air events. The real focus for everyone on tour was on ‘pulling off the show’, and obviously the last few gigs have dispelled all doubts!!!!
Bassono Music Park, Bassano Del Grappa, Italy
This week ended with Rod’s only Italian date this year, SMILER photographer Marc Baulisch -Steines was at his second show of the week and brought us more exclusive shots and here are the views of Martin Heidt
Una notte magica: Rod Stewart’s performance in Bassano del Grappa
What remained were many beaming faces, enthusiastic Tifosi and the certainty that you can certainly miss out on a World Cup and still enjoy some fantastic evenings.
This is exactly what happened last night in the Italian town of Bassano del Grappa, which has a population of 42,000 and is situated in the province of Vicenza, around 100 kilometres west of Venice.
At the Bassano Music Park there – also known as Parco ragazzi del ’99 in honour of the Italian heroes of the First World War – none other than music legend Sir Rod Stewart invited the crowd to dance on Thursday. And 9,000 visitors heeded the Brit’s call and celebrated a magical night under the Venetian sky.
For Sir Rod, it was his only concert in Italy this year and, following Lisbon and Valencia, his third in Europe this summer.
Right on time at 9.30 pm, a Rod Stewart who was once again in high spirits took to the stage and was greeted by the 9,000-strong crowd with thunderous applause and cheers. From the very first beat, the fans were in full swing. People were dancing, singing along at the top of their voices, and everyone – absolutely everyone – was enjoying the evening, knowing full well that this might well have been the British star’s final performance in Italy.
And Sir Rod gave his audience exactly what they wanted. As violinist Andrea Young had said in the big Storyteller interview: “Rod knows what his fans appreciate and delivers it at every show”.
That’s exactly how it was at Bassano Music Park. Hit followed hit, whether rocking, raucous and rousing, as with ‘Young Turks’ and ‘Maggie May’, or gentle and emotionally wistful, as with the world-famous ballads such as ‘You’re In My Heart’ or ‘Have I Told You Lately’. Fortunate indeed is the man who can draw on a song repertoire spanning six decades full of hits and classics.
Rod Stewart’s performance yesterday once again left nothing to be desired, except perhaps that there was hardly anyone in the audience who wasn’t hoping that Sir Rod would return to Italy for yet another magical night.
Stewart and his band are now taking a summer break of just under four weeks. The tour resumes on 31 July with a concert in Wantagh, NY, in the United States.
And Finally…
Fancy a weekend in Buxton tickets cost just £3.75 ? Bet the New York Dolls don’t turn up ….I wish!
Yes Buxton festival was 52 years ago this week!
Don’t forget if anyone spots Wolfie’s Rod cut out on your travels don’t forget to get a snap..That’s if Maggie brings him back!
See you next week…