EXCLUSIVE – Will Young Newmarket Nights

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Will Young Newmarket Nights

Review By Henry Giles
12/07/16

It now seems many years since Will Young surged to fame as the winner of the inaugural series of Pop Idol (in fact it was 2002). But now here he was starring in the summer 2016 line up at the ever popular Newmarket Nights at the July racecourse of that venue.

Taking place on the day of the Brexit vote results one sensed that 48 per cent of the audience – who had just enjoyed an evening of racing – needed something to take their minds off politics and Will’s set oozed with his undoubted star quality. His pop-y but musical lyrics soared out as we made our way through the premium enclosure at the racecourse.
In fashion terms it was a set of two halves, with Will wearing a bizarre outfit based on a Samurai warrior with a baseball cap (geddit?!)initially, but changing into what this reviewer thought a much cooler look, with slicked back hair and a holey jumper which probably cost 800 quid at a designer outlet on the King’s Road.

The songs warmed up in classic style with some powerful ballads and even a tribute to the late, great David Bowie. Between them, Will showed he is a bright cookie – he attended Wellington public school and read politics at Exeter University – and his on-stage banter was not only warm and engaging but also funny in a self-deprecating way from a man who has sold over 8 million albums, has two BRIT Awards from multiple nominations.
Meanwhile the sun set out west, giving happy punters that midsummer racecourse moment as they added to the atmosphere with the de rigueur display of smartphone torches.

All in all a great night out – doubtless a good warm up for Will who was heading to Glastonbury the next day – and worth the somewhat muddy passage back to our cars in a well marshalled operation by the ever efficient Newmarket staff.

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