Review and Images by Jonathan Taylor

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During the summer months and blessed with fine weather, Newmarket Racecourse derived the amalgamation of an afternoon of horse racing followed by an evening of live music.

Tonight is the turn of The Verve’s iconic frontman, Richard Ashcroft. Following an afternoon of sunshine and an abundance of trips to the bar, somewhat predictably the Newmarket crowd are in fine form and poised of an evening Northern penned classics.

The set opens ‘Sonnet’, one of The Verve’s most exemplary tracks from the album Urban Hymns. To have such an iconic musical offering so early in the set, is testament to the fact that over the decades, Wigan born Ashcroft has woven a top tier tapestry of fine musical invention. Up next is ‘Space in Time’, which sees the crowd singing every word back to the stage during a seamless rendition of the classic.

As the sun starts to set over the backdrop of the racecourse the evenings anthemic masterclass continues, with the likes of ‘Song for the lovers’ and ‘Break the Night with Colour’.  ‘Drugs Don’t Work’ and ‘Lucky Man’ get the biggest reaction from the crowd, both of which confirm the importance of great song writing, the power of live music and its capability to transcend an audience into a sense of solidarity and togetherness.

Ashcroft’s latest musical offering ‘Lover’ gets an airing and the evening is brought to a close somewhat predictably by the string laden powerhouse that is ‘Bittersweet Symphony’.

Icons in music are very few and far between. But tonight, it was clear that Richard Ashcroft confirms yet again and continues to do so, that he is worthy of such an accolade. His music from over the decades is timeless, remains relevant in both lyrical and musical content and its ability to unite the generations was truly an incredible site to behold.

Full Set List:

Sonnet

Space In Time

Music Is Power

A song For The lovers

Break the Night with Colour

Drugs Don’t Work

Lover

Lucky Man

Bittersweet Symphony