Express & Star

The Beautiful South's Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott and support Billy Bragg, Forest Live - review and pictures

Nestled in the calm and picturesque realms of Cannock Chase, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott returned to impress at the beauty spot's second day of live music.

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Jacqui Abbott on stage. Picture: Dave Cox

It's fair to say the northern duo are no strangers to the stunning venue, after previously rocking the crowd at the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live concert series in 2016.

The pair, who together rose to fame as The Beautiful South, were at the venue on the back of last year's third record Crooked Calypso.

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott wowed the crowd at the Forest Live gig on Saturday night. Picture: Dave Cox
Paul and Jacqui perform. Picture: Dave Cox

This time though, they were here to welcome singer-songwriter Billy Bragg with them, who opened the evening's affairs on a splendid night in Staffordshire.

It was fitting in many ways for the political icon to share a stage with Heaton, who helped his first group The Housemartins get signed back in the '80s.

Comrade Bragg joked with the audience and treated us to the likes of There Is Power in a Union, The Milkman of Human Kindness, a spin on Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin', before closing with classic A New England.

Billy Bragg on stage. Picture: Dave Cox
Billy Bragg performs. Picture: Dave Cox

It was a perfect warm-up for the main act.

With the sun setting over the acres of fern and fauna, soon after it was time for headliners Heaton and Abbott.

The sell-out evening saw them perform material from their series of albums as a duo as well as hits from their previous bands.

They kicked-off with new track Lord Is A White Con before moving on to Beautiful South classic One Last Love Song.

Paul and Jacqui get the crowd dancing at Cannock Chase. Picture: Dave Cox

"And the women tug their hair, like they're trying to prove it won't fall out. And all the men are gargoyles, dipped long in Irish stout!"

The crowd were on their feet and dancing as Abbott belted out Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) after Five Get Over Excited got the locals dancing.

Paul Heaton on stage. Picture: Dave Cox

It was great to see her enjoying herself after a back problem forced her and the group to pull out of a show in Tunbridge Wells earlier this month.

Hips were swinging for I'll Sail This Ship Alone, DIY and Old Red Eyes Is Back before Paul whipped out a box of radishes he'd grown to share with the audience - a first for him and his fans too, no doubt.

MORE PICTURES as fans bath in the sunshine

The crowd gathered for the gig
There was time to relax before the show
Louise Shaw and Darren Shaw, both of Stafford
Sunglasses on! Louise Shaw and Darren Shaw ready for the show
Lynn Arnold, of Stafford, and daughter-in-law Lauren Arnold, of Cannock
Peter Ellis and Karen Archer, both of Lichfield
Julie Allatt and Julie March, both of Hednesford
Natalie Gaynor, of Birmingham
A large crowd gathered for the show at Cannock Chase
This fan wanted to capture the moment on camera
Always time for a selfie

Perfect 10 and Don't Marry Her were crowd highlights before it sadly came to an end - or so the crowd thought.

Not only did the band return for one encore but two, as giant inflatable balloons soared through the sky for A Little Time, You Keep It All In and Caravan Of Love for a huge finale.

It might have only been two years since they were last at Cannock Chase but it did not matter. They are simply a group that never fail to impress.

Paul, Jacqui (and Billy) - you're welcome back anytime.