Richard Ashcroft Brings Another Anthem-Packed Set to Liverpool M&S Arena

L J HUBBARD
1 hour ago
4 min read

M&S Arena Liverpool – 26th March 2026

WORDS / IMAGES L J HUBBARD

After a busy 2025 supporting Oasis on their comeback shows, Richard Ashcroft was back in Liverpool on Thursday night and it was not one to miss with a set packed full of classics from his The Verve years and solo work peppered with some newer tunes from his most recent album ‘Lovin’ You’.

Opening for the show was Wrexham indie four-piece, Royston Club who are already hugely popular in Liverpool, so much so that roughly a third of the crowd were in their merch. They were an absolutely fantastic support, with the lead singer Tom Faithfull throwing himself around the stage and performing with such a formidable energy. They seriously smashed it warming up the stage for Ashcroft, taking it in their stride as they performed to their biggest crowd to date in Liverpool.

The lights went down as The La’s ‘Timeless Melody’ played following a DJ set from Wayne Griggs, the guy who’s been spinning records at every Verve and Ashcroft gig since the 90s. Then came the man himself, Richard Ashcroft, strutting onto the stage donning a leather jacket and his classic sunglasses. He kicked the night off with ‘Hold On’, a brilliant choice for opener, setting up the show with a song that let the crowd know they were in for a night filled with endless bangers.

‘Break the Night with Colour’ was a truly memorable moment. Ashcroft has such a powerful presence in any room thanks to his effortless cool and extraordinary voice control. His band faded away for the song’s bridge, giving him a minute by himself while the audience sang his words back to him. This was a gamechanger, it made the whole arena feel like it was just you and him, an already strong moment in a show that would only keep getting better.

Ashcroft took a moment to praise his guitarist, Steve Wyreman, whose solos and intensity completely tore up the stage during the whole set. I know everyone there would agree that Ashcroft’s praise for Wyreman was so well-deserved.

Without question, the performance of ‘Lover’ from Ashcroft’s most recent album was definitely my favourite. Dedicated to Joan Armatrading, whose song ‘Love and Affection’ Ashcroft sampled. It was the perfect mix of Ashcroft’s signature raw, gritty voice and those iconic Armatrading strings and lyrics. You could feel the song’s drive around the room, as the instruments and voices filled the entire space.

As Ashcroft introduced ‘Lucky Man’, everyone knew they were in for the home stretch, anticipating the legendary run of songs to come. The passion of this performance was unforgettable, with the drummer giving it all his might, violins layering the song beautifully, the bassist moving all around the stage. Both on and off stage, every single person was in the moment. Richard Ashcroft is undeniably a ‘Lucky Man’.

After a brief encore, Ashcroft took to the stage for the final time, just him and his guitar for an acoustic rendition of ‘C’mon People (We’re Making it Now)’. This performance was so captivating, with torches raised and Ashcroft in the spotlight, centre stage. I hardly noticed the rest of his band take the stage until the song intensified instrument by instrument and the arena echoed with the force of the band. What a way to start the encore, it really felt like the night could last forever, it was at an all-time high on the run up to the most awaited tunes of the night – ‘Sonnet’ and ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’.

‘Sonnet’ is a song made for arenas, as the crowd sang the outro back to him, Ashcroft took a moment to take it all in before saying ‘Some songs get better and better every time and that’s one of them.’ How right he is.

You could feel the anticipation rising as Ashcroft introduced the final song of the night, dedicating it to the people ‘bringing home the bacon (or the falafel if that’s your thing)’. It was time for ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, the instantly recognisable violins opened the tune and you could feel the chills run through the place immediately. It was a truly magical moment as Ashcroft gave it everything he had, and the crowd gave him it all back belting the words at unbelievable volumes. As the song came to an end, Ashcroft signed off for the night to an eruption of cheers and applause.

For a man who’s been touring as a solo artist from the early 2000s, Ashcroft has an undeniable aptitude for keeping his performances fresh and exciting for both fans who’ve seen him hundreds of times and people experiencing his stellar act for the first time. His shows are a terrific reminder of the incredible contribution he has made to British music.

SET LIST