I’m on my way: Betty Boo returns to celebrate 35 years of Boomania

The Castle and Falcon, Birmingham, 19 November 2025

Thirty-five years after the release of her hit debut album, Boomania, Betty Boo is back on tour! On a freezing night on 19 November in Birmingham, the Castle and Falcon was warmed by the joy of 90s nostalgia as Betty Boo (whose real name is Alison Clarkson) made her triumphant comeback. Tucked away in the back of the pub, the venue was invitingly intimate, filled with dedicated fans who brought a vibrant energy to the room before the music had begun.

A retro-futuristic icon, she brought an energy to the stage that immediately filled the room

After buying a very reasonably priced pint from the bar, it was time to await the arrival of the headline act. Projected at the back of the stage was a flashing collection of pictures and Betty’s trademark comic strip graphics, charting her career as a 1990s ‘pop princess’. The crowd began to buzz, and people made their way to the centre of the room in anticipation. A woman clad in leopard print with a fantastic pair of space buns then appears on stage, who we would later find out was tambourine girl, Rita. She introduces the woman of the hour, Betty Boo.

She looked incredible. Wearing a sparkly black mini dress and fishnets, paired with her glossy black bob and fringe, Betty Boo was back with a bang (no pun intended). A retro-futuristic icon, she brought an energy to the stage that immediately filled the room, and it was easy to see how her brand has endured so long. After a warm reception from an excitable crowd, she opened with her comeback single, ‘Boomerang’. The catchy hook throughout the song instantly transported you back to her earlier work on Boomania; it was an earworm that immediately brought you into the gig and established the excitable vibe that would endure throughout. Despite being a performer for over three decades, Betty’s voice was just as good as it was on the first single she featured on, ‘Hey DJ – I Can’t Dance’, which followed ‘Boomerang’.

It isn’t hard to see why, when recruiting for the Spice Girls, producers were looking for five Betty Boos

‘Hey DJ’ was a huge swing into the 90s nostalgia, which only injected the crowd with more energy. Overall, the setlist was an elated romp through Betty Boo’s catalogue. Songs like ‘808’ and ‘Shining Star’ displayed her incredible production and ability to reel you in and keep you hooked. However, the highlight of the night had to be her most popular songs, ‘Doin’ the Do’ and ‘Where Are You Baby?’, which she performed with such joy and energy that it was hard not to start dancing with her.

I was initially drawn to this concert as my Mum had introduced me to Betty Boo when I was little, and to hear my favourite songs of hers live was an unbelievably fun and exciting blast from the past. With the speed of her rap and the bounce in her step, it was amazing to see that Betty brought her star power to the whole concert even up to her final reprise of ‘Doin’ the Do’. It isn’t hard to see why, when recruiting for the Spice Girls, producers were looking for five Betty Boos.

Following an hour of uncompromising pop and hip-hop madness, Clarkson came down to the merch stand to talk with her fans. It was clear to me that this was a group of people dedicated to her music and that her presence amongst the crowd was greatly appreciated. Now, I know they say never meet your heroes; however, Betty Boo was a pleasure on and off stage. Now clad in an impeccably cool tracksuit, she spent another hour greeting and taking pictures with all who wanted one. With an explicit passion for the music she makes, it was wonderful to meet the woman behind the songs.

This concert was a triumphant and energetic step back into the world of pop royalty, and I can say with certainty, Betty Boo is back “doin’ the do”.

★★★★