On the warm summer evening of 28 July 2025, the ‘Palau de les Arts’ in Valencia played host to a very memorable concert by Saving Grace, the genre-bending acoustic ensemble fronted by legendary Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and the gifted Suzi Dian. The performance offered a deeply atmospheric journey through folk, blues, Americana, and reimagined rock, delivered with heartfelt musicianship and subtle intensity.
Band Line-Up:
- Robert Plant – Vocals & Harmonica
- Suzi Dian – Vocals & Accordion
- Oli Jefferson – Percussion
- Tony Kelsey – Mandolin, baritone, acoustic & electric guitars
- Matt Worley – Banjo, acoustic, electric & baritone guitars, cuatro
- Barney Morse-Brown – Cello
Setlist:
- Cuckoo
- Angel Dance
- Ramble On
- Move Along Train
- Too Far From You
- Higher Rock
- Four Sticks
- Everybody’s Song
- As I Roved
- For the Turnstiles
- Friends
- Gallows Pole
Concert Highlights:
“I’ve played cards in England/ I’ve gambled in Spain.” The show opened with a haunting medley of “Cuckoo” . Not long after, we were treated to a stripped-back version of Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” setting the tone for the evening: familiar echoes wrapped in new acoustic textures. Robert Plant’s vocals, though more tempered with age, carried an emotional gravity, while Suzi Dian’s harmonies and accordion added a spectral beauty. Later in the show, Plant quipped about the state of England where the band was formed: “God knows what’s next…Gollum is next!”
“Move Along Train” showcased the group’s gospel influences, with a syncopated drive from Oli Jefferson’s percussion and soulful interplay between Plant and Dian. “Too Far From You” and “Higher Rock” delved into deeply personal and spiritual terrain, with Barney Morse-Brown’s cello weaving a mournful undercurrent that added cinematic depth.
What a riff! The reimagined groove “Four Sticks” was one of the night’s standouts, its complexity transformed through mandolin and guitar into something tribal and earthy rather than thunderous. The dynamic pulse was sustained by Matt Worley’s string work, which brought a raw, Appalachian edge to hypnotic tracks like “Everybody’s Song” by Low and “As I Roved.”
The Neil Young cover “For the Turnstiles” was delivered with sparse instrumentation and haunting restraint, drawing hushed reverence from the audience. At the end of the song, Plant made sure to praise Neil Young’s latest works too. A revisitation of Zeppelin’s “Friends” brought warmth and nostalgia, its modal harmonies delivered with a delicate, almost chant-like quality. Be good to others as you may need help some day was its healthy message.
In the best folk tradition, between songs, Robert Plant proved to be a humble and witty teller of tales, anecdotes and even continual asides about Scotland! He also mentioned that he had never been to Valencia before…”except in 1963, on my way to Ibiza.” This would suggest he was an avid explorer of lands and music…even as a teenager. He also explained to the public that when music journalists ask him to define his latest band’s music…he tells them to “folk off!”
The set concluded with a rousing version of “Gallows Pole,” infused with new urgency and drive, a masterclass in how to reinvent the familiar without losing its soul. With a glass of Spanish “Larios” Gin’n’Tonic in hand, Plant also threw in quite a few verses of ‘Black Dog’ to the audience’s delight too!
The Saving Grace performance at Palau de les Arts was no ordinary concert. It became more like a shared ritual—an immersive, sometimes transcendent experience that blurred genre lines and emphasized emotional storytelling through music. With subtle arrangements, spiritual undercurrents, and Robert Plant’s evolving artistic vision, the evening confirmed that this project is not a nostalgic side act but a deeply authentic and vital expression of timeless musical traditions.
Plant’s voice may not be at his peak of the 1970s but he now has even more experience to transmit the lyrics of heartbreak and joy. In public and private, he has experienced the life of love and loss regarding family and friends as much as anyone. His late son Karac and the late John Bonham come to mind. Connected to the Welsh borders from an early age and with a mother of Romani descent, it’s natural that Plant continues to explore his folk roots with this genre-defining project. At heart, he’s a travelling Celt who just loves music and wants to share his gifts. For someone who is one of the few living ‘rock gods’ left, there’s no airs and graces to this man. You feel he truly connects to his audience and loves the challenge of playing in a band and getting these standards across and giving them new life too.
Suzi Dian is the perfect foil for Plant, the musicality of her voice and accordion playing add a freshness and depth to each arrangement. The rhythm section was powerful and the cellist often played it like a double bass to propel each song forward. Both multi-instrumentalists were superb, either electric or acoustic, adding vital colours to each song. The band was very well-rehearsed but the songs were allowed to breathe and stretch out too.
The audience, clearly moved, responded with standing ovations and long, warm applause—a testament to the enduring power of reinvention and heartfelt performance. Old rockers never die…they sometimes choose to go back to their timeless folk roots…and this band gels and connects. A night to remember and a reminder of the power of music to unite people for the good.
Report by Will McCarthy
Article copyright 24/7 Valencia
All photos copyright @picfromthepit Pedro Hernández
‘SAVING GRACE’ (ROBERT PLANT & SUZI DIAN)
Date: 28 July 2025
Venue: Palau de les Arts, Valencia, Spain
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