Europe - Salamanca, 2025 - Concert Review

September 14, 2025

Plaza Mayor Salamanca

The Band

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in 1979 with many hits made mostly in the 80s. Since their formation, they’ve released eleven studio albums.

Band Members

Joey Tempest – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, piano
John Norum – guitar
John Levén – bass
Mic Michaeli – keyboards, piano, keytar
Ian Haugland – drums

Continuing their current tour, Europe came to Salamanca to be a part of The Ferias y Fiestas de Salamanca, held from September 7th to 15th in honor of the Virgin of la Vega, which is one of the city’s most important celebrations. Alongside religious events, parades, and cultural activities, music plays a central role, with free open-air concerts attracting thousands of people each year.

This was my second time seeing the band. The first one was in 2019 in Chile, in which they played some hits but a lot of songs from their (at that time) newer albums, which I loved because they had many “bluesy” songs. That added to their classics was an amazing show.

So now, because I had the chance to see them playing live for free in Spain, celebrating more than 40 years of career, to experience again their hits as well as some more recent tracks. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

The Show

The show started at 22.00, the Plaza was packed, and before Europe’s show, the music sounding in the speakers was UFO’s Doctor Doctor, so I almost felt that I was going to see Iron Maiden again, lol.

The band opened up with On Broken Wings, the classic Rock the Night and Walk the Earth. Followed by Scream of Anger, Sign of the Times, Hold Your Head Up, and the massively sung Carrie.

The show continued with War of Kings, Stormwind, and one of my favorites, Open Your Heart, in which Joey played the acoustic guitar.

Half of the concert had gone by when they played More Than Meets the Eye, Last Look at Eden, and another one of my favorites, Ready or Not, in which I sang my heart out.

Then came my lovely Superstitious, in which on the bridge Joey sang the chorus of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry.

The next song began with a mini drum and percussion solo by Ian as the intro to Cherokee.

And of course, the whole show ended with the iconic and highly acclaimed The Final Countdown.

The show finished around 23.30. They played the same setlist that they’ve been playing on their current tour.

Joey came down a couple of times to touch the hands of the people in the first row.

Joey and their impeccable voice, John Norum with all his soulful skills as the great guitar God he is. John Levén keeps things rocking in the bass, along with Ian making the pace with the drums and percussion, and Mic with those unmistakable notes on the keys.

It was an absolute gift to experience these rock legends for the second time, and for free. It’s just amazing to see again how they absolutely rock the night.