ThisIsTheMusic

Britpop nostalgia might be everywhere these days, but when it’s done with this much conviction, it feels less like a re-run and more like a reminder of why these songs mattered in the first place. At Wembley Stadium, Cast and Richard Ashcroft (supporting Oasis) delivered a night that was part history lesson, part communal catharsis.

Cast opened proceedings with a set that reminded the crowd just how many anthems they have in their locker. Free Me and Sandstorm were pure adrenaline, John Power leading the charge with that familiar Scouse rasp.

By the time Fine Time rang out, he stopped to tell the crowd, “It’s a gathering and a happening,” and it genuinely felt like one. Live the Dream was dedicated to the fans, Walkaway turned into the first mass singalong of the evening. Poison Vine, with is stones-y blues’s riff shows that Cast are still writing great songs and were joined by icon that is PP Arnold. Alright brought the stadium to its feet — as vital and infectious now as it was in 1995.

Then came Richard Ashcroft, walking on with the aura of a man who knows he has some of the greatest songs of his generation in his back pocket. He opened with a heavier, grungier take on Weeping Willow, before Space and Time washed over the stadium in all its melancholy. Break the Night With Colour was dedicated to “the mighty Bonehead,” a nod that drew roars of appreciation.

But the night’s defining moments weren’t about jokes or nods to old comrades. The Drugs Don’t Work, dedicated to “everyone we’ve lost,” was sung with such raw emotion it hung heavy in the air, while Lucky Man — offered to wife Kate, “always was, always be” added a layer of intimacy in a stadium setting, while Sonnet proved timeless, its lyrics cutting through the night air with precision.

Of course Ashcroft’s set had to end Bittersweet Symphony. Dedicated to Ricky Hatton, the whole of Wembley was united in one voice. The iconic strings soared as Ashcroft delivered a performance that felt both defiant and celebratory, uniting generations in one of British music’s defining songs.

By the time the final notes faded, it was clear that this was more than just a gig – it was a gathering of memories, friendships, and emotions, held together by two artists who’ve soundtracked lives for decades. Cast brought the energy, Ashcroft brought the soul, and Wembley was reminded of just how powerful music can be when it connects so deeply, ahead of the main event, which you can read here.