Oh I do love to be beside the seaside.. especially when you’re in the company of Sir Rod Stewart who’s headlining tonights Lytham Festival Saturday 13th July. This is my first visit to a Festival but I’ve lost count of how many concerts I’ve attended.
The evening started at 7pm with a set from guitar and vocalist Joanne Taylor Shaw she performed songs from her new album Reckless Heart a good way to start the show.Next on stage Wet Wet Wet with their new front man Kevin Simms taking over from Marti Pellow I recognised him from The Voice. We were given many of their hits Love is all around, Angel eyes, Sweet surrender, Wishing I was lucky, With a little help from my friends plus others.
You can feel the excitement building time for stage to be set then around 9pm Big Country plays.. enter Sir Rod Stewart to rapturous applause.clad in Animal print jacket,black trousers with the red stripe and black and white spot shirt looking so so good.
His set kicked off with We’re ‘Having a Party’ and Sir Rod was determined that’s exactly what we were going to do. ‘It’s going to be a good night I can feel it in my water we have a 2 hour music curfew so lets get on with it I’ve got to get as many songs in as possible we were not let down. Four songs in he said he was having a couple of well deserved drinks as he was coming to the end of 3 months touring with only Aberdeen the rescheduled concert next Tuesday. I am in awe how he never fails to deliver the crowd singing the atmosphere electric.
Paying a special tribute to the D-Day Veterans performing Rhythm of my heart’ just beautiful. A fantastic ‘I’d rather go blind’ written by himself and best mate Ronnie Wood always a crowd pleaser this was followed by the band playing ‘Going Home’ by Mark Knopfler giving Sir Rod time for costume change.
The stripped back set followed even with a chair set for the missing backing Katie Dix singer who had had to fly back to L A as her father was ill.The set started with ‘Grace’ a very poignant song followed by ‘I don’t want to talk’ about it, ‘The first cut is the deepest’, ‘You’re in my Heart’ absolutely wonderful crowd singing then my special song ‘Have I told you lately’ always brings a tear to my eyes. The girls then performed a cracking version of Fleetwood Mac’s You can go your own way time for final costume change .
Onto the final section of the show although I didn’t want it to end. ‘Baby Jane’ , ‘Do ya think I’m sexy’ and of course a Sir Rod concert isn’t the same without ‘Maggie May’ brilliant. Last of all ‘Sailing’ brought this beautiful evening to a close not one person wanted it to end.
As Sir Rod left the stage a fantastic firework display lit up the night sky. A perfect ending to what was truly an amazing performance by a true legend that is Sir Rod Stewart .
I’d just like a mention for the guy at side stage I think he was called Tony he sign read every song not only of Sir Rods but all the other artists that are performing throughout the Festival what a star he was.
Saturday July 13th marked a special day for me not only was I seeing Sir Rod it was 45 years to the day that I met my husband. I remember back in 1974 he asked what music was I into Rod Stewart of course was my reply and still is to this day. Sadly I lost my husband to cancer 3 years ago to cancer Sir Rods music is still a great part of my life. Bolton last month Lytham my first Festival bring on Manchester in November can’t wait xx
Thank You Sir Rod for a terrific evening by the sea
Review By Margaret Brennan
Photos By Margaret Brennan
Montage By Tommy Kevitt
Bottom picture Andrew Lea …A fan for many years but it’s taken him over 40 years to get the haircut!!
