Richard Ashcroft - Forest Live

27th July, 2026

Westonbirt, Arboretum, Gloucestershire, UK

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Ex=Verve frontman dishes out the hits until you can't see the wood for the trees

Richard Ashcroft **** Forest Live is a series of concerts across the Forestry England sites, which we have joined in Gloucestershire at Westonbirt Arboretum. I’ve been plenty of times to walk through the woods before, but my first experience of an event. Well I say Westonbirt, I think the parking might have actually been at a different site as it seemed to take about half an hour to get from car to the stage, sorry again to the person holding the tickets who we told “we’d just parked, we’ll be five minutes”.

Richard Ashcroft stepped out to great fanfare, straight into Verve number ‘Weeping Willow’. It was clear the crowd were all of the age whereby they’d seen the Verve back in the day and so knew all the hits. Of which a second quickly followed in the way of ‘Sonnet’, one of their biggest hits to get any wavering people in the mood, he pretty much had the crowd in his hand by this point.

He exudes confidence on stage, owning the space, while there is a swagger there is also humility too. As you might expect, the set was heavy with numbers from The Verve, with ‘Space and Time’ coming up next. We get a run of his solo hits next ‘Song for Lovers’ probably the biggest of them. He has a very good band around him too; sunglasses are mandatory for all band members.

This is semi home town gig, having relocated to Gloucestershire about thirty years ago, or “before the twats arrived” as it could apparently also be measured. Half of the traders from Gloucester that had worked on the house were there along with the family too. One way to make sure the plumber comes out next time you need him in an emergency I guess.

In fact the friends and family get dedications for the last few songs, although ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ intended recipience had already “fucked off home”. That song probably got the biggest sing along of the night, and a wall of phones, a trend I wish we could stop. Anyone short like me, any of the big hits and I see a wall of phones, with videos that I bet 99% of them are never watched again. Anyway gripe over, but the songs continued with a very heartfelt tribute to his wife for ‘Lukcy Man’.

All too quickly we were onto the final song, which was dedicated to the most important person, Mum. I think most can guess what the closing track would be, as the first few notes chimed through the air ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ rung out. OK, perhaps I was wrong about the previous song have the biggest sing along. It is a feel good anthem, to end what was a massively feel good evening of music. No pack the supplies, back to find the car.