21 June 2025 (gig)
26 June 2025
The third night of Nocturne Live saw another perfect summer evening descend upon the majestic grounds of Blenheim Palace. The Saturday night crowd was in high spirits, creating a festival-like atmosphere within the stately Great Court. The historic venue, combined with the excellent selection of food and drink on offer, continues to prove itself as one of the UK's most unique and enjoyable concert settings.
Opening the proceedings were country-pop trio Remember Monday. Their set was built on gorgeous, tight harmonies and deeply personal storytelling. Songs like "Famous," detailing an unsupportive ex, resonated with raw honesty. They showcased a brand-new track, "Happier," joking that while it was new to everyone, most of their songs were likely unfamiliar anyway, a quip that earned a big cheer from a supportive fan in a purple shirt. A smart cover of Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" and their own Eurovision entry "What the hell just happened" rounded out a charming and impressive opening performance.
Next up was Natalie Imbruglia. Revealing she's local to the area and had friends in the crowd, she brought a relaxed and joyful energy. "Anyone else here over 50 and puffing watching me?" she quipped, her self-deprecating humour and easy stage presence making for an intimate set despite the grand scale. Her band was tight, sharing in-jokes with the singer, but the undeniable highlight was the mass singalong for her mega-hit "Torn," which had the entire audience up and dancing.
As the stage was bathed in lights, The Corrs arrived to a huge welcome, with a notable and vocal Irish contingent in the crowd. For anyone who might have forgotten just how musically gifted the Dundalk siblings are, this was a powerful and joyous reminder. Having played the Isle of Wight festival just the day before, they showed no signs of fatigue, launching into a set that perfectly blended their radio-friendly pop-rock with traditional Celtic reels.
Andrea, dazzling in a sparkly dress, possesses a voice that remains stunningly pure, while Sharon's virtuosic violin playing drove the energy, inspiring plenty of jigs on stage and in the audience. The setlist was a masterstroke, moving from hits like "What Can I Do" and a beautiful cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" to rousing instrumentals like "Toss the Feathers." The closing run of "Runaway" and the impossibly catchy "Breathless" was pure pop perfection. It was a life-affirming, musically rich performance that sent the Saturday night crowd home with a spring in their step.
Photo Credit: Russell Fujak
