I recently had the pleasure of spending a brilliant afternoon and evening at the Audley End Estate for one of the Heritage Live concerts. Thanks to some discounted tickets from the Tickets for Good scheme, I was able to enjoy a fantastic lineup featuring Roger Daltrey of The Who, supported by 90s favourites Cast and Ocean Colour Scene.
Cast kick things off
The first support act of the evening was Cast, a band I’ve always had a soft spot for. I vaguely remember them from they heyday, whilst I was more focused on the Spice Girls, however, it’s been in later years I’ve really started listening to more of their back catalogue of tunes. They’re currently on tour supported Oasis on their reunion, so this was probably a bit of a different crowd, but being first on, they set the tone perfectly, delivering an upbeat and energetic set that immediately lifted the crowd. I was surprised at how many of their songs I recognised, and their enthusiasm on stage made them a real highlight. Flying and Guiding Star I would say are two of my favourites.
A dip in energy with Ocean Colour Scene
After a break, and wander around the food stalls, next up were Ocean Colour Scene, another band that defined the Britpop era. While I’ve always enjoyed their two biggest hits, I found their overall set a little underwhelming. Compared to Cast’s vibrant energy, much of their performance felt a bit flat and slowed the momentum down. I’ve seen pub bands who have given better performances. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t hold my attention in the same way.
The main event – Roger Daltrey
Of course, the evening belonged to Roger Daltrey. I’d last seen him a decade ago during The Who’s 50th anniversary tour in 2013, so it was a real treat to see him again in a different context.
This time, rather than a purely Who-centric setlist, Roger treated the audience to a mix of his solo material, personal favourites and covers, and, of course, a generous helping of classic Who anthems.
Roger opened with Let My Love Open the Door which was a surprising choice given that it was a solo song for his bandmate, Pete. It was fun though to hear some different and less well-known songs as part of the setlist.
Backed by a tight and accomplished band, including Pete Townshend’s brother Simon, Roger showed why he remains such a magnetic performer. Whilst Roger is now in his 80’s, and no longer performs the scream in Won’t Get Fooled Again, his voice is still full of power and grit and he carried the set effortlessly, joking and telling stories along the way. Personal highlights for me included:
- Giving It All Away – a beautiful reminder of his solo career.
- Days of Light – a less well known solo song.
- Won’t Get Fooled Again and Baba O’Riley – timeless Who classics that had the crowd on their feet especially with the orchestral way they were performed.
It was a set that managed to feel both personal and nostalgic, bridging decades of music history with ease.
The venue and atmosphere
Audley End Estate provided a stunning backdrop for the show, with its grand architecture and open-air setting adding to the atmosphere. With the arena being on a hill, you got a good view from wherever you stood. It wasn’t too busy either, so managed to get quite close to the stage.
The crowd was in great spirits, and overall it was a very enjoyable experience.
Final thoughts
While the support acts offered mixed results with Cast delivering an energetic and fun opening, and Ocean Colour Scene falling a little flat, Roger Daltrey absolutely stole the show. His performance was a reminder not just of his legendary status, but also of his ongoing ability to connect with audiences of all ages.
It was a brilliant evening of music in a beautiful setting, and one that reminded me just why live music is so special. This concert will be up there with one of my favourites of the year.
