Rick Astley - Everyone's favourite 90's Pop singer!!!

July 14th 2024

Derby, Summer Sessions, UK

****

He is never gonna give up!!!

(Derby - Summer Sessions Festival)

In the centre of England, Derby hosted its second TK Maxx - Summer Sessions Festival on the weekend of the 12th – 14th of July. It ran Friday to Sunday with Sunday having the times rescheduled as revellers (and acts) were clearly going to be torn between music and football. The venue for the festival is under the big top in Markeaton Park, which really made a great venue for a selection of the charts biggest acts.

Rick Astley **** was never going to let us down, their has been a bit of a resurgence his popularity in recent times. With him hitting the charts again, to high positions and doing one of the best songs of the last ten years with 'Bring back the Times' with New kids on the Block, Salt and Peppa and En Vogue. So when he opens with a cut down version of 'Never gonna Stop' merging into 'Together Forever'... you know this is going to be a great set. He looked really looked really swarve in his off pink suit, as he moved round the stage like an old school crooner. For the first couple of songs, some of the sound could have been better but that was not Rick's fault.

It's hard to get the soiund totally right, in a big tent in a middle of the field. But I have to say the screens at the side of the stage, made it easy for you to see everything. Talking about things that are easy, Rik is so talented that he seems to do eveything... like playing guitars and surprising eveyone with a cover of AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' with him on drums. He actually learned to play the drums, by listening to AC/DC.One of the best songs in his set, was a great version of 'She want to dance with Me', which is mixed with the Lizzo hit 'Juice'. Making the song sound even more current, than it was first done in the 90's.

From the way he conducts himself on stage, you can see why he sold fifteen million copies of his debut album 'Whenever you need Somebody'. His a true star in every way. He does play a few hits in his set, including The Rolling Stones, O'Chi Brown, Lizzo, AC/DC and Chic, but it is his own songs that really stand out in his set. Showing actually how good his own material is, "I like to do other peoples songs!" - Rik Astley.

When he ends his set with the Stock, Aitken, Waterman produced No.1 hit single 'Never gonna give you Up', you know you have had a great evening. It is sad that for me it did seem a little too short (possibly abridged due to football). Rik Astley actually mentioned during his set, to not mention to him about the football it will make him nervous. Rick left me wanting moreing, and if you want to more then he will be at the Latitude and Bestival in August.

Review by Faye Stacey and Michael Bennett and Photos by Faye Stacey (View from the Pit)

Rick Astley - Setlist
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Never gonna Stop
Together Forever
Beautiful Life
It would take a strong, strong Man
Dippin my Feet
Start me Up (The Rolling Stones Cover) (Snippet)
She wants to dance with Me / Juice (Lizzo Cover)
Hold me in your Arms
Seventeen going Under (Sam Fender Cover)
Cry for Help
Dance
Angels on my Side
Whenever you need Somebody (O’Chi Brown Cover)
Good Times (Chic Cover)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC Cover)
Never gonna give you Up (With Band Introductions)