Last night, Stevie Wonder opened the Lytham Festival to a sold-out crowd of 20,000, kicking things off with a fantastic start. He’s one of many exciting acts playing the 5-day festival this year and it will certainly be a tough gig to follow someone as acclaimed as this.
The crowd was in high spirits from the get-go, chanting ‘Stevie, Stevie’ as he walked out onto the stage with his son and daughter. Before starting his performance, he wanted to take a moment to express the importance of leading with love and how disappointed he is in the leaders of the nations for not doing so. It was a moment of calm before his set that he chose to talk about the issues that meant the most to him. From this, he transitioned into ‘Love’s In Need Of Love Today’, beautifully using his political message as further added nuance to such an important song, still relevant in the modern day.
From start to end, Stevie spoke with peace and love, but also with an undeniable wit and humour. He shouted “We’ve got to have fun because I don’t miss a beat”, starting with undeniable enthusiasm that he carried throughout, only added to further by excitement from the crowd. It goes without saying that Stevie Wonder has a legendary presence on stage and impeccable vocal talents. We looked on in amazement at how talented the star is.
Mid-set, Wonder played ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’. The crowd was bursting with excitement to hear such a timeless song. The energy was somewhere between adoration and celebration as fans playfully danced, loving every second whilst Wonder sat smiling ear to ear at his keyboard. The saxophones, trumpets and trombone created a punchy backdrop for Wonder’s soulful vocals.
Whilst Stevie Wonder took a short break, team Wonder seamlessly swept in to play some more classics, Kj, Jada and Sanura were fantastic. Their bluesy, R&B vocals had the whole crowd swaying and grooving to infectious, jazzy rhythms.
As Wonder returned, fans were in awe once again. The energy was brought right back up as Wonder drew the crowd in having them sing along to the beat of ‘Sir Duke’, building anticipation even higher before he transitioned into the song. The stage lit up like an old-fashioned jukebox, flicking through the vast discography that he has amassed over his lengthy career. With a bass so powerful you could feel it in your heart, it was another perfect opportunity to dance. By the end of the song, even the band were clapping for Wonder’s breathtaking vocals.
The crowd gasped as he took to the piano once again for the start of ‘Isn’t She Lovely’. The crowd were swept up in the magic of the performance. Being such an important song in music history, everyone was holding up their phones to catch a glimpse of the moment on camera. Wonder led his audience in song, delicately harmonising with them. After playing, he paused to dedicate the tender moment to his wife, highlighting family as a cornerstone in his music.
As the sun set and the night was drawing to a close, there was an overwhelming cheer for ‘Superstition’. Wonder asked the crowd to count him in and their reaction was explosive. Nathan Watts’ playing the infamous bassline giving an even funkier backbone with the crowd loving every second of it.
For many, this will be the only chance to see the legendary Stevie Wonder, and he did not disappoint. As he embarks on tour, many more people will have the privilege of seeing the huge star live and it’s sure to be a phenomenal show.
WORDS BY KATIE LEE
PHOTO CREDIT – SIMON LEE
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