It’s been quite a year for Richard Ashcroft, whether opening for the reformed Oasis on their stadium-sized comeback shows or scoring another No 2 album with Lovin’ You. Now, this one-off 23,500-capacity show ahead of next year’s arena tour finds the 54-year-old northerner performing with a rocket-boosted confidence reminiscent of his 90s days in the Verve.
Back then, the music press dubbed the singer “Mad Richard” for his messianic belief in music and eye-rocketing suggestion that on a good night he could fly. Thirty years later, his arsenal of moves – raining air punches on imaginary foes and so on – would alert the emergency services in any other environment. But on stage, they are ridiculously compelling.
