ASHCROFT AT THE HYDRO: A NIGHT OF PURE DEVOTION

There’s a certain reputation that follows Richard Ashcroft, one built on swagger, soul, and a catalogue that has soundtracked generations. At Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, that reputation felt very much alive.

Popped collar and shades firmly in place, Ashcroft strode onto the stage with effortless rock ’n’ roll poise. Shedding his black leather jacket within moments, he looked every bit the seasoned frontman, here not to prove a point, but to remind a packed arena exactly why he’s still selling it out decades into his career.

By the third song, the performance had already settled into something special. It was a masterclass in musicianship: every member of the band played a pivotal role in building a rich, layered sound that carried effortlessly across the huge space. Ashcroft, ever the focal point, guided it all with a quiet authority.

The energy inside the Hydro was undeniable. At times, the crowd sang back almost as loudly as the speakers themselves, turning the arena into a shared chorus of devotion.

The addition of backing singers and sweeping string arrangements brought a cinematic quality to the performance, while extended outros allowed songs to breathe and evolve, passing seamlessly between band members. 

Ashcroft sparks one of the most electrifying moments of the night; an explosion of passion, completely lost in the music, one moment using his shades to play the guitar, the next using a tambourine. 

There’s something uniquely affecting about a sell out show at the Hydro: 14,000 people gathered for the same reason, in a collective moment. For a while, the world outside pauses, and all that remains is the music. In those moments, Ashcroft wasn’t just performing, he was being celebrated as a defining voice of the Manchester scene.

Between songs, he paused with a cup of tea in hand, an understated, almost humorous contrast to the grandeur, while acknowledging the recent tour alongside Oasis. 

“Nice to play intimate venues again after last year,” he quipped, a knowing smile passing between artist and audience.

But it was “The Drugs Don’t Work” that provided the evening’s emotional core. Delivered with deep sincerity and dedicated to those no longer with us, it was as moving as ever. Thousands of voices joining in, each carrying their own meaning, their own memory.

By the end of the night, one thing was clear: this wasn’t just nostalgia. It was a reaffirmation. Richard Ashcroft remains a vital, commanding presence, an artist whose music continues to connect, endure, and, above all, remind us that even in the largest of rooms, something deeply personal can still take hold.

Love, as ever, prevails.