Richard Ashcroft

Absolutely brilliant.

Richard Ashcroft is back and back with a bang. He jumped from songs from his forthcoming album These People to solo hits to Verve classics all of which this semi-intimate but euphoric crowd sang back at him like their lives depended on it.

The gig had the feel of a stadium gig with the unity and importance of it all but in a beautiful more intimate setting.

As someone who does many gigs this was one of those truly special ones that only comes around every few years.

Music is most definitely power!

Having formed in York way back in 1990, there’s no real question that Shed Seven represent one of the great success stories in British rock music of the past couple of decades; starting out as a straightforward alternative rock outfit, they went on to ride the wave of Britpop to serious acclaim; they adapted their sound just intelligently enough for the critics to consider them a part of that scene, but any suggestion that they reinvented themselves entirely purely to make themselves a more viable commercial proposition would be completely unfair. They continued to make records into the noughties, before splitting in 2003 after the departure of guitarist and songwriter Paul Banks and dwindling fortunes that had seen them split from their record label. After reforming for a fourteen date comeback jaunt around the UK in 2007, though, with Banks on board, they’ve continued to tour the UK pretty much annually to rapturous receptions from crowds that consistently sell out academy sized venues. Their setlists span all four of their pre-split albums, and include material from recent EPs, too - a new full-length is now well overdue, so look out for some extensive touring when they do finally manage to put out a follow up to 2001’s Truth Be Told.