Astley came to prominence through production trio Stock Aitken Waterman’s (SAW) “Hit Factory” in the 1980s, the pop conveyor belt also behind the music careers of Kylie Minogue and Samantha Fox. But Astley’s soulful voice outlasted the SAW melee and he has released five well-received albums since 2000. A critical reappraisal has occurred. Astley played Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 2023 and has fronted a Smiths covers band with indie darlings Blossoms. Hence the big room.
Backed by a tight nine-piece band, Astley oversaw a colourful pop party. “Let’s not be cool about this,” he said (no chance). “Get out of your seats and shake your a—.” Old hits – Together Forever, Cry For Help – mixed with newer, sunshine-pop tracks such as Dippin Your Feet. Some inevitable filler was leavened by a constant cheeky wink. At one point Take That’s Gary Barlow left a message on a fake payphone saying how much he loved Astley. It was like an old-school Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.
The highlight was, naturally, set closer Never Gonna Give You Up. The pinnacle of SAW’s brand of galloping plastic pop, it was the first of four number one songs that dominated the autumn of 1987, preceding Pump Up The Volume by MARRS, You Win Again by the Bee Gees and T’Pau’s China In Your Hand. A blue-blazered Astley dancing on Top of the Pops, merrily side-scything his arm like he was feeding chickens, is seared into my skull. We had all that tonight. The crowd belted the song back in a state of nostalgic nirvana.
Earlier, Astley talked about narrowly missing out on being on two of the biggest-selling movie soundtrack albums of the 1980s and 1990s, Cocktail and Pretty Woman. “So that’s 32 million albums I’m not on,” he said, only slightly exaggerating the missed sales. “I can’t complain. I’ve had a very, very, very good life.” You’d better believe it.
Tour dates: rickastley.co.uk