Weeping Willow kicked off proceedings before he dedicated Sonnet to the recently deceased artist David Hockney.
He then put together a run of extended tunes with Music is Power a standout performance before A Song for Lovers; The Drugs Don’t Work and Lucky Man closed the first part of the set. Ashcroft asked for a little help of the chorus of The Drugs Don’t Work due to an issue with his throat, and the crowd responded with gusto.
He finished with C’Mon People and an epic version of Bittersweet Symphony.
A fantastic experience for the fans to behold!
Apollo Junction opened up on the night, showcasing their talents with tight set, hinting at Interpol/Editors influences with a dash of indie pop.
The night was tweaked a little so football fans could watch England.
However, the Leeds band put on a lively set to keep the crowd entertained despite a slightly earlier start.
Former Kasabian front man Tom Meighan then took to the stage, prowling like a panther, full of vigour. He also kept his set high octane with fans' favourites Empire; Shoot the Runner; Club Foot; L.S.F and Fire lifting the crowd to new levels.
He was genuinely happy to be on the bill and thanked the crowd on numerous occasions, while also hailing Richard Ashcroft.
He showed exactly what Kasabian are missing, a magnetic character with swagger.
Whoever put these artists together knew what they were doing, each act brought their best version of themselves to OAT, complimenting the others to the max.
1. Richard Ashcroft at Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Fans sing along to Richard Ashcroft's classic anthems. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor
2. Richard Ashcroft at Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Been there, got the T-shirts. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor
3. Richard Ashcroft at Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Two satisfied fans. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor
4. Richard Ashcroft at Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Three great acts kept the fans entertained. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor