Review: Rick Astley – The Reflection Tour at CO-OP Live

For many of us, Rick Astley has been part of the soundtrack to our lives since the late 1980s. He burst onto the music scene with the evergreen Never Gonna Give You Up – a global smash crafted by the legendary Stock, Aitken and Waterman.

It’s a song that has more than stood the test of time, selling over 8 million copies worldwide and now boasting over a billion streams on Spotify.

Back then, The Hit Factory was exactly that – delivering hit after hit and launching the careers of artists like Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, while also revitalising icons including Donna Summer, Bananarama and Cliff Richard.  (Be sure to check out our special programme Trains & Tunes with Pete Waterman OBE for a special hour of Hit Factory stories and memories).

SAW’s formula was simple but powerful: high production values paired with brilliantly catchy pop songs. And it worked.

Rick’s moment came in 1987, with a song written especially for him that propelled him firmly into the global spotlight.

But as last night’s show proved, he was never just a voice behind a hit. He’s an accomplished songwriter, a talented multi-instrumentalist and an artist who has continually evolved beyond his pop beginnings.

There’s something truly special about seeing an artist with such a rich history perform live – and even more so in a packed, sold-out arena.  Actually, the largest entertainment arena in the UK.

The boy from Newton-le-Willows has done more than well for himself!

But despite decades of success, Rick remains grounded, warm and effortlessly engaging. His easy humour and relaxed banter between songs only added to the connection with the audience.

With nine albums to his name, the setlist struck a perfect balance between beloved hits and deeper cuts. The crowd needed no encouragement as they leapt to their feet for classics like Together Forever, She Wants to Dance With Me and Whenever You Need Somebody. There were also welcome moments of new material – including Raindrops, currently featured on our New Songs Playlist.

For me, the standout moment of the evening was hearing The Ones You Love performed live.

It’s a song that has always meant a great deal to me – personally tied to my return to broadcasting in 1993 after a 12-year break. Despite only reaching number 48 in the charts, it remains, in my view, one of Rick’s finest tracks. Hearing it live was a genuine and unforgettable highlight.  Thank you Rick.

Opening the evening was the wonderful Gabrielle – an artist of immense talent with a string of hits since her debut in 1993. Warm, engaging and vocally flawless, she delivered a set that was both nostalgic and uplifting.

While I would have loved to hear I Wish, there’s good news – she heads out on her own tour soon, and it’s certainly one to look forward to.

CO-OP Live itself was buzzing with energy throughout the night. The phrase “feel good” can sometimes feel overused, but here it couldn’t have been more fitting.

From the outstanding sound quality to the superb musicianship on stage and the joy of a fully engaged audience, everything came together to create a truly memorable evening.

As the final notes of Never Gonna Give You Up rang out, the crowd were euphoric.

For a little while, we were all transported back to a simpler time – yet also reminded just how fortunate we are that these two icons of British pop are still performing at the very top of their game.

• Rick Astley The Reflection Tour continues until 25th April across the UK.  Tickets from Gigs and Tours.
• Gabrielle starts her own tour on 20th April.  Details at the official Gabrielle Website.