Posted June 17, 201213 yr Thetford Ten years ago when a young man called Young won the first series of Pop Idol, it was assumed in certain circles that he would be a one-hit wonder and be forgotten once the next TV music talent show star was born. Well, shifting nine million records, performing to sell out UK tours, presenting his own TV show and getting a leading role in a West End musical are fairly good ways to prove you are here to stay. “Not bad for 33!” joked Young as he entertained a 6500-strong crowd at Thetford Forest on Saturday night and showed there are still few signs of his fire burning out a decade after he shot to fame. A showman Young certainly is and he glided around the stage in his own inimitable way and soaked up the adoration from his fans who had guaranteed prime spots at the front of the arena. Fortunately the multitudes in the woods did not have to endure a forecast soaking from above and there was only a light shower towards the end of the gig. Young got his crowd waving, clapping and holding up their phones and joining in many of the 20 or so songs he performed from his best known tracks such as Leave Right Now, Changes, All Time Love and Light My Fire to newer releases. Singer songwriter Nerina Pallot - who has become a regular on Radio 2 - provided excellent support and you sense it won’t be long until she is a headline act in her own right. Young completed the first half of the Thetford Forest concert season, which saw a total of about 17,000 people see the three gigs. The second half will feature Ed Sheeran on July 12 (already sold out), Alfie Boe on July 13 and The Darkness on July 14. http://www.wattonandswaffhamtimes.co.uk/wh...rce=twitterfeed More there than the website originally quoted so looks like more tickets could have been released. Edited June 17, 201213 yr by truly talented
June 17, 201213 yr Had a fabulous time yesterday. The security team was some of the best people I've seen at Will's outdoor gigs. Polite and courteous the whole thing was really well run and a relaxed feel about it all. There to greet us and to wish us a good night on the way out. Nice touch. And we got to keep our tickets too :P As always Will was in fine form and voice, not so much chat and I notice he seems to have dropped the band intro segment for a full set list instead. A big shout out to Nerina Pallot too - one of the best supports I've personally seen - almost as nutty as Will himself. "Aw look at you all, cosy in your hats and coats" :lol: Shame the day wasn't warmer - bit of a chilly wind but I bet the hot food stalls did a roaring trade :P But at least the rain held off although it did 'spit' a bit towards the end of Will's set. He did say he wouldn't mention that word in case he put a hex on the weather :lol: With regard to a blog comment about the crowd, I do feel the weather had a bit of bearing as a warm summer night always lends itself to a happier crowd than having to huddle in a fleece or puffa jacket. But it didn't dampen spirits too much and when Will came on the crowd really perked up. Really pleased with the set list - loved hearing Runaway as the opener. Great night all round :dance: Noticed the newspaper review gave the numbers as 6,500. I thought it was a slightly smaller venue than some of his other outdoor gigs so that confirms it. Had a look back at the crowd and it completely filled the 'arena' right to the back. Oh and Matthew Caine was there: Matthew Cain@MatthewCainC4 On way to see my sister @will_young31 play a gig in a forest in Thetford!Great gig tonight by my brill friend @will_young31 - must have been all those Five Star songs I was singing to him backstage beforehand ;- Edited June 17, 201213 yr by munchkin
June 17, 201213 yr . The security team was some of the best people I've seen at Will's outdoor gigs. Polite and courteous the whole thing was really well run and a relaxed feel about it all. There to greet us and to wish us a good night on the way out. Nice touch. And we got to keep our tickets too Would echo this,very polite and helpful staff and very organised-parking etc
June 17, 201213 yr Here's the blog I mentioned: Saturday 16th June 2012 – Will Young at Highpoint Lodge, Thetford Posted by andrewnickerson in Uncategorized June 16, 2012 Continuing on my eclectic musical journey through this year, after being wowed by Mumford and Sons at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, I spent the 16th June 2012 at Highpoint Lodge, Thetford watching Will Young. I like Will Young. A lot. There’s something about his voice I find really easy to listen too and I think his music is superb. In particular his latest album is fantastic. His greatest hits is an album I dig out for the car every six months or so to remind myself how good he is. I’d heard good things about him live and when I heard he was coming to Thetford, I made such a song and dance of it, my fiancee bought me tickets for Valentines day. Part of the attraction of this concert was also the venue. I love High Lodge. Being a part of the Forestry Commission, it’s basically a large field in the middle of the forest. They allow you to bring in chairs and a picnic and open the field up a few hours before. It’s great to get into the fresh air, enjoy a picnic, relax before listening to some great music. The downside is always if it rains. I’m delighted to say it barely rained at all. There was one time I thought we might get wet, but it held out for us. Despite the relatively dry weather, the crowd around us were best described as damp. People around me seemed more interested in taking photos than watching and participating to the atmosphere. So, despite Will Young (and support act Nerina Pallot) being fabulous, it’s fair to say the crowd were a little bit of a let down. 4/5 http://thewondersof2012.wordpress.com/2012...lodge-thetford/ Edited June 17, 201213 yr by munchkin
June 17, 201213 yr Enjoyed this concert very very much :heart: :dance: Hi shelly, nice to see you posting! :cheer: Glad you enjoyed the show, are you going to any more?
June 17, 201213 yr Ash was wearing a t shirt the same as one of those from the backdrop of t shirts and trousers :lol: Will has Tweeted: Will Young @will_young31 Mental result at queens? Wonderful results in thetford and sherwood. Great crowds, great band , great fun Edited June 17, 201213 yr by munchkin
June 17, 201213 yr Hi shelly, nice to see you posting! :cheer: Glad you enjoyed the show, are you going to any more? Yes luckily :dance: Myself,Phil and Emma are going to Bedgebury next week-can't wait! Have you been to any yet?
June 18, 201213 yr Yes luckily :dance: Myself,Phil and Emma are going to Bedgebury next week-can't wait! Have you been to any yet? oh that's brilliant, have a great time! I went to Sherwood last Friday which was great! :yahoo: Also going to Dalby and Kew. :D Where's Bev these days? Edited June 18, 201213 yr by ros
June 18, 201213 yr Nottingham Ten years after Pop Idol, sell-out forest gig shows Will's appeal is Evergreen Monday, June 18, 2012Nottingham ACCORDING to our hero, he has a pair of observations to share with us from the recently concluded Queen's Jubilee celebrations. Firstly, that he shall be naming his as-yet unborn first daughter, "Flotilla". And secondly, that not even our own royal family know the second verse to the National Anthem. Walking on stage wearing a cream jacket, dangling watch chain and black zoot suit trousers – it's the first of four costumes (including an encore wearing spandex leggings) – the performer's self-effacing humour and ready-with-a-quip wit has undeniably added to his enduring appeal. And he's been at it a while, has Will Young. It's ten years since the now 33-year-old controversially saw off bookies' favourite Gareth Gates to win the first Pop Idol – from right under the nose of disapproving patriarch, Simon Cowell. 5,000 devotees have made it out on a potentially thundery night to this clearing in Sherwood Forest. It is the first of the star's seven-night woodland jaunt and despite the weather, this gig is a sell-out; the crowd reinforcing Young's status as a favourite with the ladies. He sings all the hits. Beautifully. His 90-minute set touches on jazz, soul and pop and includes favourites Leave Right Now, Light My Fire and the 21st century's biggest-selling single, Evergreen. It is all part of a back catalogue that has seen Young shift nine million records to date. His eight-piece band, including three sensational backing vocalists, are note perfect throughout. Never better than during fan favourite, Who Am I. He starts and finishes with tracks from latest album, the critically-acclaimed Echoes. His final and most extreme wardrobe shift sees him adorned in metres of green neon tubing and singing atop a cherry-picker staircase. In shape and form, the outfit alludes to the flowing lines of another famous lead singer's ermine cloak, sans crown, giving Young the appearance of a radioactive Freddie Mercury. He may not possess the chutzpah, bravado and machismo of the fondly remembered Queen frontman, but he is undeniably a fantastic singer. Support came in the form of Nerina Pallot. She and her band performed, accompanied by the most perfect rainbow. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/years-Po...tail/story.html
June 18, 201213 yr Review: Will Young at Sherwood Pines Will Young Published on Monday 18 June 2012 09:29 THE GUARDIAN sent Worksop Post-16 Centre student Megan Pengelly to review Will Young at Sherwood Pines. GREY skies did not manage to dampen a soulful performance from Will Young at Sherwood Pines on Friday as the star performed a mix of his well-known hits and mellow ballads. The singer-songwriter has enjoyed a decade in the limelight after winning Pop Idol in 2002. As part of a series of concerts for the Forestry Commission, a large crowd of old and young alike donned waterproofs and settled in for the muddy night. A stage set with an unusual washing-line backdrop added a colourful backdrop to the evening. Nerina Palot provided a relaxing support with her acoustic set as the crowds poured in with her own ballads such as being Sofia offset with a cool cover of Rihanna’s Umbrella. A charismatic Young opened with Runaway which set the tone for the confident set ahead. Come On and All Time Love set the partying crowd alight. Of course it was his biggest hit Light My Fire that stole the show, performed with the help of a well versed audience. Will Young was joined by a trio of singers, talented jazz drummer and keyboardist . Fans that were used to Young’s pitch - perfect style were impressed by his dynamic approach to well-known songs. Young gave a relentlessly energetic performance, transforming even the slowest of ballads into moments which filled the forest with atmosphere. Young was a capable host, interacting with fans and leaving the stage to perform closer to the crowd. If concert-goers left unsatisfied, it was only at the fact Young did not perform all of his numerous feel good hits. http://www.retfordtoday.co.uk/news/review-...pines-1-4655516
June 18, 201213 yr Will Young, Thetford Forest, Saturday THE evening may have been a tad on the cool side but the dulcet tones of Pop Idol and singing sensation Will Young warmed his adoring followers. His 90-minute set contained all his old favourites and some of his newer material from his 2011 album Echoes and it had the thousands attending the concert swinging and swaying almost in rhythm to the towering trees that circled the venue and were being blow about by the gusting wind. He quipped that he would clamber off stage and join the audience if the weather took a turn for the worse and even joked that he would not make any reference to the dreaded ‘r’-word in a bid not to tempt fate. But even a light shower which threatened to turn into a downpour never materialised ... so he never got to mix it with the audience. However, he did delight them by getting up close and personal during his set by jumping down to get to the front of the arena much to the ecstacy of some of his delighted followers. And there were screams of delight as he carried out two costume changes on stage. But it was his music and his superb seven-piece backing band which were the highlight of the evening as they rolled out the hits including Grace, Evergreen, Changes, All Time Love, his amazing rendition of the Doors’ hit Light My Fire, and his most successful single in recent years Jealousy. With warm up act singer/songwirter Nerian Pallot it was an amazing evening in many ways. Russell Cook http://www.eadt.co.uk/entertainment/music/...orest_1_1413194
June 18, 201213 yr Great reviews - thanks Sunday. It's taken a long time for him to be accepted, but he's finally done it. Loved this bit:- A charismatic Young opened with Runaway which set the tone for the confident set ahead. Come On and All Time Love set the partying crowd alight. Of course it was his biggest hit Light My Fire that stole the show, performed with the help of a well versed audience.
June 18, 201213 yr oh that's brilliant, have a great time! I went to Sherwood last Friday which was great! :yahoo: Also going to Dalby and Kew. :D Where's Bev these days? Bev prefers the indoor shows,she will be coming to Cabaret :dance: . Glad you managed to do a few,isn't he just great as always :heart:
June 18, 201213 yr Bev prefers the indoor shows,she will be coming to Cabaret :dance: . Glad you managed to do a few,isn't he just great as always :heart: I love the outdoor ones, mind you the indoor ones aren't half-bad either! :lol: Tell Bev she should be posting too, her posts are missed.
June 21, 201213 yr Just spotted this: There's a lovely picture but I'm not allowed to post it on here (something about dynamic tags) Will Young shines at wet Sherwood Pines Published on Thursday 21 June 2012 17:30 Summer’s arrived! Not that you can tell by the weather. But you can when several hundred music fans make their annual trip to the Sherwood Pines for the summer concerts. The first one featuring Will Young, who nonchalantly strolled onto the ample stage on Friday night, in a pink and white seersucker jacket that a least suggested sunshine and warmth. A couple of songs later, from fifth album ‘Echoes’, and the crowd were basking in hotness. New release, ‘I Just want a lover’ sounded like another big hit on the way. Relaxed and joking, Will tipped his hat (he wasn’t actually wearing one), to local legend Robin Hood, singing Robin Hood riding through the glen, and proclaimed his favourite Jubilee moment. He went on to announce that his daughter, “When I have one” would be named Flotilla. Smiling and waving to the crowd, through the song ‘Changes’ Will worked the audience, energetically bouncing round the stage, his band and backing singers unleashing their power. A change of clothes, shirt and jacket from the backdrop of his stage design from which hung hundreds of items of clothing, and the affable Will assured us all that “We’re all in this together”. Costume change I wanted to hear him sing ‘Grace’, prompted by a bank advert on the TV, but got so much more - Losing Myself, Who Am I, Light My Fire, All Time Love, The Game - for which he made a second costume change and gelled his hair all in full view of his fans. You’re absolutely right, I thought to myself, as he sang ‘I Thing I’d better Leave Right Now”, and headed out to avoid car park crush, but oddly enough, not the cold or damp as Will said “we’re English, we like tea, Robin Hood and wet summers!” The forest tour was launched in 2001 with Jools Holland and the Levellers performing at four Forestry Commission sites – Sherwood Pines, Dalby Forest, Bedgebury Pinetum and High Lodge, Thetford Forest. The concept was to attract major acts for a series of concerts in outstanding locations. Over the years the tour has grown to the extent that the Forestry Commission is now a major promoter of concerts and, with the addition of Delamere Forest and Cannock Chase Forest. Live Music events are regularly staged at seven forest venues. http://www.chad.co.uk/lifestyle/will-young...pines-1-4668719 Edited June 21, 201213 yr by munchkin
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