Main photo thanks to Judy McCullough photo taken at Allentown PA
Rod meets ‘The Jacket Potato’
After Rod’s recent show in Atlantic City Rod, Curt Schneider and Dave Palmer met Richie Sambora and talked about the blues
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT and PPL Center
Allentown, PA.
On Friday it was party in Uncasville here are some great shots of the night from Joanne Ackerman Rousseau, Gordon Perry and President of Live Nation Connecticut and Upstate New York at Live Nation Concerts Jimmy Koplik who said “I rarely sit for any of my concerts I’m covering but I did for Rod Stewart tonight at Mohegan Sun. He’s one of my favorites”.
And here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt…
Double bill to round off the first leg of the tour
Sir Rod Stewart can now ‘put his feet up’ for around four weeks – with two performances in Uncasville, CT (Friday) and in Uncasville, PA yesterday (Saturday), the 81-year-old brought the first part of his 2026 tour to a close. On 15 April, the Stewart Express will be back on the road, with Sir Rod and his band performing in Knoxville.
This weekend’s double bill left nothing to be desired. Rod was in top form and high spirits at both shows, flirting playfully with the audience in the front rows of the arenas and whirling across the stage just as he did in his heyday. The fans rewarded him with thunderous applause and enthusiasm that filled the arena from the very first moment of the evening. Even those who might not have been quite in the party mood were swept up by the atmosphere and could not help but get up and dance, or at least sing along. The opener alone – on both evenings, it was the Robert Palmer classic “Addicted To Love” – ensured that many in the arenas could no longer keep their feet still, leapt out of their seats and began to fidget about.
And Sir Rod, the consummate professional entertainer, immediately followed up with his own classics such as “You Wear It Well” and “Tonight I’m Yours”, or the Faces hit “Ooh La La”.
The crowds in the arenas, both packed to the rafters, were barely given a moment’s respite to catch their breath. Hit followed hit, feet were burning, vocal cords were put under severe strain – but the crowd had a great time and kept the party going. It was only after “Hot Legs” that the fans could catch their breath a little with “Tonight’s The Night” and “You’re In My Heart”. Sir Rod also treated himself to the usual short breaks here and there, only to return no less powerful in a fresh outfit. During “Young Turks”, the first sweaty, dance-crazed fans could be spotted in the audience, whilst elsewhere people rushed to the drinks stand to revive their throats – badly strained from singing along – with cool drinks for the rest of the show.
The audience had a great time in front of the stage, and Sir Rod up on stage was having just as much fun.
The shows were one big party, a wave of musical highlights from past decades that swept through both the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville and the PPL Center in Allentown.
Saturday’s performance was the tenth of the year; all previous shows had been sold out, and Rod Stewart delivered musical entertainment of the very highest quality. The next concert is scheduled for 15 April, when fans at the Boling Arena in Knoxville can look forward to a ‘Night To Remember with Rod Stewart and Band’.
Roland Macher was once again at the show on Saturday to bring us some fantastic pictures and Joy Ward also got a few great shots
Setlist: Uncasville – Mohegan Sun Arena
Addicted To Love
You Wear It Well
Ooh La La
Having A Party
Tonight I’m Yours
It’s A Heartache
Hot Legs
Tonight’s The Night
You’re In My Heart
Forever Young
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Downtown Train
I’m So Excited (Band only)
Mandolin Wind
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (Band only)
It Takes Two
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Love Train
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Fan reactions from Uncasville:
Nico: “Rod Superstar! Fantastic! Rod forever young!”
Rick: “Phenomenal!”
Daisy: “A fantastic evening from start to finish. Rod Stewart – there’s no one better”
Amanda: “His concerts bring back so many lovely memories; this is music that accompanies us through life. Thank you, Mr Stewart!”
Stephanie: “I was here with my mum; I didn’t know much about Rod before. Now I’m one of his biggest fans – what a fantastic show”
Setlist: Allentown – PPL Centre
Happy Birthday Penny
On Sunday Rod was back in the UK for Penny’s birthday
This week’s Rod Art
This week’s Rod Art is actually more Art for Rod than Rod Art …
While Rod was playing the TD Coliseum in Hamilton last week he was presented with a stunning hand painted miniature train painted by tattoo artist Bryce Huffman from Goliath Tattoo in Dundas, Ontario.
Speaking to SMILER this week Bryce told us how the train came to be made
“My sister works for a company (Oak View Group) and one of her responsibilities is getting unique gifts for the visiting artists to our newly updated TD Coliseum. She had mentioned that Rod was interested in the miniature train hobby and if I knew anyone that could paint some trains for him. I’ve always been into some form of miniature painting, to the point I actually dragged my fiancé up to Nottingham a couple years ago to visit warhammer world while we were in the UK.
Looking into Rods history I decided it would be fun to do a couple train cars from Canada (a TH&B car and a Canada Pacific car) and paint one representing Hamilton Ontario and one representing Rod and some London based imagery. I picked the London bridge and some highgate residences, with a European robin and oak leaves for his car. Just to add a bit of an Easter egg for Rod and his fans I included the Celtic FC logo in the moon. To mirror his car, on the Hamilton car I included the High Level bridge, some of our steel factories (Hamilton is a large steel manufacturing city), a North American robin and some maple leaves.
I knew the trains needed some sort of display, so bought some tracks and used my own miniature supplies to build the base. I actually had to watch some you tube videos to learn how to get the ballast (rocks) to sit in between the tracks. Took a bit of trial and error figuring it all out, but I can see why Rod likes the hobby, it’s satisfying when it all comes together. Glad I got the chance to work and the project and for our town (and family) able to gift Sir Rod with this display”.
Someone Like Penny
On Saturday Penny was in Waterstones Bishop’s Stortford to sign copies of her new paperback Someone Like Me
Rod’s a Muppet
Conor at mr.mudbelly has included Rod in his 70’s music icons on his Music & Puppet Parodies site
To see Rod with Elton John go to https://www.instagram.com/mr.mudbelly/
What’s On
The popular Boswell Book Festival has announced another jam-packed programme of events for 2026.
Now in its 16th year, a superb schedule of speakers will travel from near and far between 8-10 May to create a fascinating weekend.
The festival, named in honour of Ayrshire writer, James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography, is held at the magnificent Dumfries House.
On the opening night, Penny will make her first appearance at a Scottish book festival to talk about her remarkable life peopled by royalty, rock legends and renegades.
Tickets for this year’s event go on sale on Thursday, March 19, with a full programme available to view on the Boswell Book Festival website.
For a fun family day out the Boswell Children’s Festival will also host many great events, with a hands-on, interactive element both indoors and outdoors.
While making the most of the festival’s setting the outdoor programme includes forest bathing sessions and woodland walks.
More Vegas
JUST ANNOUNCED! Additional show dates added for Rod Stewart at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace!
August 18 – 29
Caesars Rewards Presale: Thurs, 3/19 at 10am PT – 10pm PT
On sale now
Ticketmaster.com/RodStewartVegas
Tracks Of My Years
Bob Mortimer was guest on Vernon Kay’s Tracks Of My Years on Radio Two this week on Tuesday he chose Faces Ooh La La saying the Faces were the best band around around at the time when he went to gigs every week in the early 70’s , and younger listeners wouldn’t believe what a great front man Rod was.
Greatest Gardens on BBC
Greatest Gardens with Diarmuid Gavin and Carol Klein is coming to BBC iPlayer, The six part series starts with restaurateur, broadcaster, cookery writer, novelist – and keen gardener – Dame Prue Leith joining Diarmuid and Carol to visit three stunning gardens: Fernhill Garden in Ballynahinch which is filled with more than 4,000 plants; a suburban garden in Jordanstown; and Holly House, a six-acre farmhouse garden near Crumlin, County Antrim.
Later in the series Penny, Patrick Grant, Katie Piper and Fred Sirieix join Diarmuid and Carol.
Greatest Gardens With Diarmuid Gavin And Carol Klein, produced by Waddell Media for BBC Northern Ireland, starts Monday 23 March at 8.30pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.
The first five episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer after episode one airs on Monday 23 March. The grand final will broadcast Monday 4 May on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.
Original Art For Sale
A few months ago we featured this brilliant pencil drawing by Chris Burns in our Rod Art section
Many of you bought prints of the drawing from Chris who is now offering the original for sale for offers in the region of £550
Artwork by Chris usually sells for double that amount so someone will get a really good deal,
If you are interested or want more information email me and I will pass it on to Chris.
And Finally..
Rod’s gold disc for sales of the album Atlantic Crossing turned up on this week’s Antiques Roadshow on BBC One filmed in Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders’ the disc was swopped for a Scotland international cap from Scotland legend Sandy Jardine.
The value ..over £2500!!
And Penny will be guest on James Martin on ITV tomorrow..
See you next week….
One reply on “This week’s news and gossip”
Rod please consider slowing down. Your recent shows appear that you’re outa breath. Space out the dates. Too much