Following some strong support by the Royston Club, and a 1972-Olympic-inspired DJ warm up set, Mad Richard strolls on stage for a prompt 8.50 start to a sold out Arena.  A sharp 1-2 punch of “Weeping willow” and “Space and Time” kicks thing off in Urban Hymns style though it’s third song “Music is Power” which sends the show into orbit – Dicky, still trim and youthfully energetic, digging deep into his psyche to deliver strongly on an extended version of the solo hit, complete with a 5 piece string section, 2 backing vocalists, and some comprehensive electric guitar solo’ing.  Keen to point out that everything is coming off the stage live, fourth song “Song for the lovers” maintains Richard’s high as he conducts his musicians through gesture and a forceful vocal performance – proving that when he’s in this spirt he’s unmatchable.  Elongating songs where he sees fit, preaching to the crowd, and forcing lightning to strike, Ashcroft is in complete control – a master craftsman – any by 30 minutes in we’ve just finished the fourth song.     The rest of the 90 minute set follows just as strongly, we get one new song (“Lover”), three more solo tunes (“Break the colour” is superb), and 6 more from The Verve (including the 4 ‘big ones’ from Urban Hymns).  He says it himself towards the end, but when you match up his back catalogue with his live showmanship, Ashcroft really is as good as you can get.