Saturday, June 17
Hampton Court Palace Festival
Rick Astley delivered all the hits and then some as he launched into a summer of shows at the spectacular Hampton Court Palace.
Appearing as part of the historic landmark’s annual festival on a superb line-up including Grace Jones, Kool & The Gang and Kaiser Chiefs, the eighties pop icon kicked off a 90-minute set with Together Forever; the fourth single from his debut album, ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’ (1987), and the first of two US No. 1s from the LP.
Looking sharp in a turquoise suit, the hitmaker – who was quick to point out his short commute from the nearby East Molesey, Surrey – covered his decades-spanning career with an expansive setlist, including classics like It Would Take A Strong Strong Man and She Wants To Dance With Me, featuring elements of Lizzo’s global hit Juice, along with more recent cuts like Beautiful Life and Angels on My Side – from his chart-topping comeback LP, ‘50’, which he dedicated to his live band.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Grade I listed building, dating back to the 1500s, all eyes were on Rick who was every inch the superstar and, never one to shy away from a cover or two, Rick dug out his classic takes on When I Fall In Love and Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, before commanding guitar on a bouncy rendition of Harry Styles’ recent chart-topper, As It Was. Meanwhile, a mash-up of the Stock Aitken Waterman-penned Whenever You Need Somebody and Chic’s Good Times breathed new life into one of his earliest recordings.
But the highlight of the evening came in the form of Dippin My Feet – the live debut of the lead single from Rick’s forthcoming album, ‘Are We There Yet?’, which is out later this year and was yet to be announced at the time.
Admitting the track had, up until that point, “only been played in my garage”, the response to the first taste of new music from the pop icon since his 2018 album, ‘Beautiful Life’ indicated he’s on to a winner.
As the sun set over the capital, there was only one song that could close out Rick’s first headline show of the summer, and not even the rain could dampen the crowd’s spirit as the opening bars of Never Gonna Give You Up kept the party going as the showman led a singalong to one of the defining tracks of the eighties.
On the back of celebrations marking 35 years of his debut album and a tour of the US over the past 12 months, his heart is no doubt full with the outpouring of love for his iconic recordings which, more than three decades later, hold up as some of the finest pop tracks of a generation.
But in his live show, Rick proves himself to be a multi-faceted artist, segueing between playful pop classics and soulful ballads, and if the reaction from the crowd at Hampton Court Palace is anything to go by, there’s no doubt that his massive run of arena shows in support of his new record will be his best yet!
