Murray Head @ Olympia, Paris - March 5th, 2026

At the Olympia in Paris, Murray Head celebrated his 80th birthday in the most fitting way possible: on stage, in front of a packed house, surrounded by longtime friends and musicians.

Even before the show began, something felt unusual. Above the murmur of the audience and the clinking of glasses, birdsong could be heard drifting through the room. On the closed curtain, the shadows of trees appeared like a set of silhouettes. At eight o’clock sharp, the curtain rose to reveal a window opening onto a living room. With this clever theatrical device, the audience suddenly found itself transported to Murray Head’s home in the Béarn countryside, watching the rehearsal for his birthday concert from the garden outside. It was a warm, slightly mischievous way to begin the evening. Head’s voice may no longer have be as supple as it once was, but its emotional resonance hasn't faded.

For the occasion, he was joined by a group of longtime collaborators: violinist and guitarist Geoffrey Richardson, known for work with Renaud, Caravan and Bob Geldof; multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Maidman on keyboards and bass; guitarist Phil Palmer, drummer Ally McDougal and new addition Caitlin Lang on saxophone, flute and guitar.

The first half of the concert offered a generous journey through Murray Head’s catalogue. Highlights included a funkified version of “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live,” along with “Big City,” “Last Days of an Empire,” and “Pacing at the Station.” A few rarities surfaced as well, including songs from his little-known debut record, an ambitious concept album that, as Head quipped, sold all of nine copies.

After the intermission, the band returned for what Head called “the dress rehearsal.” The tone became looser, more playful, occasionally theatrical. “Who Do You Think You Are,” dedicated to Tony Blair, reminded the audience that Head has never lost his taste for political satire.

His daughter Sophie then joined him on stage to present him with a birthday cake and soon the familiar opening chords of “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” rang out, greeted with enthusiasm by the Paris crowd. A pair of covers helped push the evening toward a celebratory finale. “Gimme Some Lovin’” by the Spencer Davis Group finally got the Olympia audience on its feet, while “Le Sud” by Nino Ferrer was sung back at the stage by a now fully animated crowd.

For the encore, Head stepped into the audience during the inevitable “One Night in Bangkok,” sharing a brief moment with the fans before returning to the stage for a final bow with his band.

In the end, the evening felt less like a traditional rock concert and more like an old-fashioned stage revue: part concert, part storytelling, part celebration. A generous show, full of warmth, humour and memory. And at eighty years old, Murray Head still knows how to throw a party.

SETLIST ( + "With Or Without Me" to start the show)