Saturday night was certainly a contender for busiest gig of the year. The swarms of Richard Ashcroft fans as far as the eye could see descended on one of Europe’s largest venues for a night of nineties nostalgia.
Fresh from supporting a certain Oasis band over the summer (and returning next week to the South American leg), Ashcroft was gig ready and in fine form. Much more animated than the last time we saw him three years ago at the arena.
Ashcroft bounced on to the stage to a delighted audience to join his orchestra and backing band, when you see an orchestra you know it is going to be a special evening. Ashcroft welcomed the crowd and looked a little taken back at the sheer scale of the crowd, for tonight he was no-one’s support, they were here for him!
The first track was ‘Hold On’ and Ashcroft barely stayed still, cavorting and punching the air, delighted to be in front of such an appreciative crowd. Track three saw a lengthy mass sing-a-long as ‘Music is Power’ was belted across the thousands of fans, who sang back all the way thought the many verses, quite a spectacle when you have so many singing in unison.
The latter part of the generous set featured some well received Verve songs, hotly anticipated and a huge cheer erupted as the opening notes of ‘Sonnet’ played out. The live orchestra added a certain touch of class to the two encore songs, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ and of course ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ which was touchingly dedicated to the late Ricky Hatton.
All in all a much more lively Ashcroft gig than I have seen previously, and one that many fans will remember for a long time. For anyone travelling to South America for the next Oasis leg, you are in for a treat!
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