Richard Ashcroft Brings Forest Live to a Fantastic Conclusion at Dalby Forest [Photos]

My first visit to Dalby Forest in the heart of North Yorkshire and it cannot be understated how perfect a location for a Summer gig in the UK this place is. Having already hosted Bryan Adams and Nile Rogers this weekend, Forest Live wraps up with the ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft.

First up, and fresh from an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival, was young singer-songwriter Tom A.Smith. Hailing from Sunderland, Smith gives off the confidence of someone twice his age, and while the Sam Fender references are obvious, they also show the level of artist Smith is deservedly being namechecked alongside.

Next up, is the Yorkshire band Apollo Junction, who bring with them from Leeds a certain splash of glitz to this Sunday evening. With plenty of fans in the crowd, frontman Jamie Williamson jokes that he has been told not to jump into the crowd. Of course, by the end of their energetic set, Williamson is in the crowd high-fiving fans and posing for selfies.

Fifteen minutes late on stage, Wigan indie legend Richard Ashcroft jokes, “I was in my hotel in London a few hours ago with a massive migraine…” and you have to forgive him. That said, there is something so heartwarmingly perfect about experiencing Richard Ashcroft in this setting. Songs like “Sonnet” and “Buy It In Bottles” have an effortless feel about them, with the crowd simply soaking them up, but with temperatures rising in the UK as we finally begin to experience something close to a Summer, the iconic indie frontman couldn’t have been a better provider of the soundtrack to round out this awesome weekend of music in this idyllic location.

Richard Ashcroft Setlist:

1. Space and Time
2. Sonnet
3. Music Is Power
4. Buy It in Bottles
5. A Song for the Lovers
6. On Your Own
7. Break the Night With Colour
8. Lucky Man
9. Bitter Sweet Symphony

Richard Ashcroft (w/ Apollo Junction, Tom A Smith) @ Dalby Forest (Dalby, UK) on June 23rd, 2024

43 photos