Bryan Adams At Lytham Festival

If ever there was an act that should play the prestigious Lytham Festival on a Saturday night it was Bryan Adams. He is the perfect fit for the audience at Lytham, hence one of the reasons why the gig was sold out.

Last year he released a new album, Get Up, it's one of the best of his career, co-produced by ELO's Jeff Lynne; the album sounds at times like Adams has joined the Travelling Wilberries. It was one of the tracks off the album that he opened up the show, Do What You Gotta Do, but it wasn't long before we are back on familiar territory with one of his hits, Can't Stop This Thing We Started.

He sings the track at one end of the stage so that all the fans can get to see him. He is one of the few performers who play at either end of the stage as well as centre stage so that all can see him. "What a nice place" he informs the audience as he then asks them all to perform a Mexican Wave so he can record it on his mobile phone. At this point he never actually mentions that he is in Lytham, he probably knows of Blackpool but after tonight's rapturous welcome from the fans he will definitely know where Lytham is.

He carefully mixes in new tracks off the new album with the hits, which are many, Run To You, Heaven (which sounded like he was backed by a woman's choir as the female fans take over the singing) and of course (Everything I Do), I Do It For You.

Backed with a great band including guitarist Keith Scott who has been with Adams from the early days, his guitar playing was superb. New recruit for the tour, bass player Richard Jones from The Feeling has fitted in well to the band too.

It wouldn't be a Bryan Adams gig without an acoustic slot which includes Only When You're Gone. He looks genuinely surprised by the warm reaction he received. "We didn't know what to expect, it's such a beautiful place" he says. Wait till he gets to Scarborough on the tour!

Summer of 69 has the words displayed on the huge screen behind him, not that the fans needed to remember the words to the track!

18 Til I Die and The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me is You closes the 2 hour show before he is welcomed back on stage to perform Brand New Day another new track. Then the band loosens up for some rock covers such as C'mon Everbody and All Shook Up. He gives the fans a lasting memory performing solo with She Knows Me and Straight From The Heart.

A resounding success all round for the fans, the promoters and Adams himself. Even the weather played ball too. It felt like you had seen a brilliant show from one of rocks top performers.