Richard Ashcroft – Birmingham Utilita Arena – 04 April 2026

After being for him quite quiet for a few years, Richard Ashcroft has had a mad for it 18 months or so. After a really well received support slot to Oasis, a new album, and follow up shows, this tour is just before a small break and some very large outdoor gigs in the summer.

In a packed-out Utilita, he showed us all how to be epic. Striding onto the large stage with a swagger and confidence, acknowledging in his own words that he’s written a few big songs. Or, like I say, epic songs. The staging was quite simple, a large, illuminated “R” and “A” – not too much as to compete with what we are about to hear. It’s all about the songs. Ashcroft’s words to the audience about how we’re told to feel by the media, and his words about belief in the power of music and communal power, and for the crowd for paying out their money to come together to see him tonight, really seemed to be sincere. Obviously, there were a fair amount of The Verve songs, kicking off with, ‘Weeping Willow’, setting the tone for tonight. And within a few songs, an anthemic ‘Music Is Power’ closely followed by ‘A Song For The Lovers’ and ‘Break The Night With Colour, hardly giving the crowd time to take it in. There was a song, ‘Hold On’, dedicated to John Lennon, closely followed by ‘Lover’ and ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, with Ashcroft playing the first part solo with acoustic guitar. With ‘Lucky Man’, you could feel the momentum building, then for the four-song encore, bang straight back at it, ‘C’mon People (We’re Making It Now)’, ‘Sonnet’, ‘History’ and of course, ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’.

With the fear of repeating ourselves, EPIC! These are songs that sound and feel better the bigger the crowd and venue, so those lucky enough to have tickets for the summer shows, have a something epic to look forward to.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe