Deacon Blue kicked off the Bedford Summer Sessions at Bedford Park in spectacular fashion with a setlist packed with warmth, wit and songs that still land with effortless Dignity.
Delivering a masterclass in singaglong nostalgia and classic pop songs, the Scottish legends proved exactly why their nearly 40 year legacy continues to captivate.
For our first live encounter with the Scottish favourites, we were struck by just how powerful Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh sounded, their voices as rich, distinctive and instantly recognisable as they are on record.
The band certainly have no shortage of songs with twelve UK top 40 singles to their name, along with two number one albums.
To whet the crowd’s appetite, the band started with Queen of the New Year and Wages Day, as well as a short cover of Rock The Boat by The Hues Corporation as the opener.
From Your Swaying Arms to Love and Regret, the harmonious vocals between husband and wife were sublime, all made the sweeter by watching the tenderness between the two, with Ricky referring to Lorraine as “the love of my life”.
Taking to the piano before Chocolate Girl, Ricky told the Bedford crowd: “We’ve never been in Bedford before until last night, it’s gorgeous. We walked down the river, the great Ouse, and we thought to ourselves, you know there comes a point in this show when they’re gonna need some country music….”
The line neatly set up a beautiful, country-tinged version of their 1988 hit, its gentle sway and warm harmonies giving the song and laid-back charm.
There was a poignant moment in the set when Ricky dedicated The Great Western Road to their friend and founding member of Deacon Blue.
Ricky said: “A year ago we lost our best friend and our dear brother Mr James Prime and a couple of years ago, we went in the studio and we recorded some songs. We wrote a record The Great Western Road and it turned out to be the last record that Jim played on and he played so beautifully. This really is a song about the great last adventures you have in life and you never see that coming…and I never saw that one coming, so we’re dedicating this to our memory of Jim.”
From old classics to newer fan favourites, Deacon Blue delivered each song with enthusiasm, gusto and love. There was a great reaction to one of their newer songs People Come First, which features on their 2025 studio album The Great Western World, which was performed against a backdrop of the band’s gig clips from years ago.
Unsurprisingly the World Cup was mentioned a couple of times during the set (as it was by Deacon’s Blue support act the Lightning Seeds). Taking a quick break for a drink mid proceedings, Ricky joked with the crowd that it was an “hydration break”, a reference to the now infamous World Cup breaks, to which the crowd joined in with the humour, all booing in unison - as has been the customary response to the breaks in the USA.
Ricky told the crowd: “And you truly believe that football is coming home? I mean if you want to take that line, that’s ok with us. We’re boycotting the World Cup…. Only joking!”
Deacon Blue’s finale was a hit-filled celebration, with Real Gone Kid bringing a burst of bright, brass-lifted pop energy, Fergus Sings The Blues adding a soulful, reflective edge, and Dignity offering the kind of heartfelt, arms-around-the-crowd anthem that has long made it one of the band’s most treasured songs.
The band finished with I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, turning the close of the set into a tender moment that drifted quietly out into the summer evening. The song reached number two in the UK, making it a fitting final note for a crowd who had sung along all night.
Earlier in the evening, Deacon Blue had been warmly supported by The Lightning Seeds, who delivered a crowd-pleasing run of hits from a back catalogue boasting more than 14 UK Top 40 singles.
Lead singer Ian Broudie was on excellent form throughout, joking easily with the audience and clearly enjoying his time on stage, as the band worked through favourites including Marvellous, Pure and Lucky You.
For much of their set, there was a growing sense of anticipation among fans, many wondering whether the band would play their chart-topping football anthem Three Lions (It’s Coming Home), especially with the World Cup currently in full swing.
The fans were not disappointed, with Ian Broudie teasing at the beginning of the song, “anyone see the tele last night?” before launching into a brilliant version of the song they recorded with Baddiel and Skinner. What a moment that was.
As fans chanted It’s Coming Home, three women also made it through the crowd to the front of the stage with an England flag. As the song ended on the words It’s Coming Home, Ian Broudie cheekily added “…maybe”.
Liverpool’s Lightning Seeds finished with The Life of Riley, still instantly familiar to many thanks to its long association with Match of the Day, bringing their feel-good set to a suitably nostalgic close.
Whether you were a staunch Deacon Blue or Lightning Seeds fan or simply a music-lover drawn to the beautiful Bedford Summer Sessions setting, this was an evening of timeless songs, warm nostalgia and feel-good moments that left everyone more than happy to be singing the blues.
