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		20/07/06 - BLICKLING HALL, NORWICH Everybody who went to this show was tested to the max as an electric storm took hold. Early on in the set Bryan played a very apt song (something which hadn't been regularly in the set since the late 80's)....'Only The Strong Survive'. This, coupled with new stage design was quite a surprise considering the shows on mainland Europe earlier this week didn't see any of this. Review by Rob Sykes (Norfolk Press): Blickling Hall opened its gates to Bryan Adams for another sellout gig in its Summer Nights programme. The grounds were packed with rock fans old and young and the buzz they were giving off promised a good night, writes Rob Sykes.. Adams kicked off with a run of upbeat songs including Open Road and Can’t Stop This Thing We’ve Started before stopping for breath. He used the opportunity to introduce his guitarist Keith Scott and informed the crowd that it was his birthday, which prompted a mass rendition of Happy Birthday. As the opening chord of Summer Of ’69 rang out, a huge cheer from the audience threatened to drown it out. After giving an all-out performance, he slowed things down as an even bigger cheer greeted Everything I Do (I Do It For You). Looking out over Blickling you could see the obligatory lighters swaying in time to the music. Norwich knowledge Hailing from Canada, you could forgive Adams for never having heard of nearby Norwich but he surprised everyone. “Norwich, that’s where Sale Of The Century used to come from right? Great show," he exclaimed. It may be just because it was his birthday, but guitarist Keith pulled out all the stops. His fingers were up and down his guitar fast enough to make Hendrix blush. He even managed to perform that classic rock ‘n’ roll manoeuvre – playing your guitar behind your head! Whether it was over-exuberance or not, it went down a storm and highlighted the tightness of the music. Adams put a lot of effort and energy into the gig. Rarely still for long, he tore up and down the stage making sure that everybody had the chance to feel he was singing to them. Gig-goer's star turn Throughout the night Adams involved the crowd in his performance. The crowning moment was when he performed When You’re Gone. He scanned the crowd and sent his roadies to extract a girl from the audience to sing Mel C’s part. Whether or not it was set up in advance didn’t matter. It worked perfectly. The backchat she came out with only went to reinforce the idea that Adams is at home on stage. He rounded off the evening with The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You before returning to play Cloud Number Nine, Best Of Me and a rousing version of Run To You. Second encore Wary of the logjam in the car park, people began to drift away. Adams had other ideas though and came back for a second encore. Picked out by a single spotlight, he performed solo acoustic versions of Please Forgive Me and Straight From The Heart. The crowd, however, were still not satisfied. A shrug of the shoulders, and he finally brought the show to an end with All For Love. Bryan Adams and his band are one of those rare creatures - a rock band that are happy playing large outdoor gigs while sounding great at the same time. Setlist: So Far So Good Somebody Open Road 18 Til I Die Lets Make A Night To Remember Can't Stop This Thing We Started Back To You Summer Of '69 I Think About You Everything I Do Cuts Like A Knife When You're Gone Only The Strong Survive It's Only Love Hearts On Fire Heaven The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You Cloud #9 Run To You The Best Of Me Please Forgive Me Straight From The Heart All For Love ******** Review by Moya Stinson & Maria Heutz: Maria flew in from Germany on Wednesday 19th. Graham and I went to Leeds Bradford to pick her up and we drove home ready to begin our first concert at a Stately Home. On Thursday 20th July (my birthday – not telling what age!) we had an early breakfast and set off for Norfolk at 7am. The weather, thankfully was cloudy, but warm and we had a comfortable three and a half hour drive thanks to some special friends who gave me good driving instructions. Maria and I had never been to Norfolk before, which for me, is rather shameful, as I have visited most parts of the country and several countries abroad. We we reached our destination at 10.30 and checked in to our hotel, a “Golfing Hotel” which was recommended to me by friends. It looked quite nice and was situated in a quiet seaside village and it seemed as though we had stepped back in time. Here we were, two mature BA fans, in a country hotel where the residents were perhaps more “traditional” than us. We unpacked and got ready for our new “adventure”. After a half hour taxi ride to Blickling, we walked up the drive, not really knowing where to go. I had meant to telephone and ask where we were to stand, but I had been so busy, I forgot. So, when we saw a notice saying “Concert Entrance” we obviously took that route. As we walked towards the entrance, we were shocked, but delighted to see just four people in front of us. We didn’t say anything at first, but then felt rather suspicious about this, and asked the others if there was another entrance. We find out, that there was, but the others said this entrance was nearer the stage. So we stayed there. However, some time later, a security man came to see if we had sun cream, because the sun was beginning to get very strong. We asked about the other entrance, and he told us, that the people there, would be allowed in one minute before us. He went on to say that this was because these fans were “hard core” fans. Which meant of course, that we were just then lesser enthusiastic fans. I felt quite cross about this, and challenged the security man, but to no avail. He said that there were only about 20 people there, so we could easily join the queue. We all thought about doing this, but in the end decided to stay, as we did have some shade and we did seem nearer the stage. Later, the same man came back to tell us that both entrances would be allowed in at the same time. We felt good about this, and settled down to have a very enjoyable afternoon with our new BA pals, Laura, Felicity, Andy and Jon. As the afternoon passed, suddenly, a thunder storm developed. Maria and I sheltered under a tree!!! This, perhaps, was not such a good idea, as the lightening apparantly, was quite bad. Never the less, we stuck it out, and managed to remain remarkably dry which was not so, for some of the people in the queue. We found this queuing experience quite bizarre to say the least. We had never been to a concert where people were bringing picnic tables, champagne, strawberries and all sorts of food items. The drink situation seemed to get out of hand during the afternoon. On one occasion we all were surprised to see a large limo arrive, where the cheuffeur got out, carried a cool box and then helped out the passengers. We thought this must be somebody quite special, but to our horror, two men rushed into the bushes, and two women stumbled out of the car, one of them collapsing on to the ground. This was before they began their drinks and picnic at Blicking, Goodness know what they would be like by the end of the concert. As the time drew near to us being allowed into the ground, we felt good. We weren’t stressed as we normally are; we had good company and were in good spirits. We were told that this entrance was actually the “disabled entrance” and so first of all the disabled were allowed to make a line ready to go in. Suddenly I heard a cry “They have opened the other entrance” and to our horror, we saw people dashing across the field towards the stage. When we finally managed to get through, I saw the right hand side of the stage was more or less empty, so I began to run, or try to run as I was so hot and my legs did not want to bother. I reached the stage and Maria, sensibly walked to where I was because there was plenty of room, and I needn’t have bothered running. Here we were, once again, with a reasonable place ready and waiting for the concert to begin. At 7.30 Reammon came on stage. I thought they were brilliant. The lead singer “Rea” was absolutely fantastic. I liked the type of music, and he certainly got the crowd going. Reamonn played for more than half an hour and we both enjoyed the music and this bands enthusiasm. They hadn’t played in England before, and I was confused as I was told that they were a German band, and Maria knew of them, but Rea had a thick Irish accent!! When they finally left the stage, we were both really excited and ready to see BA and his band once again. As time went on, we became very hot, thirsty and very sticky. Maria opened her bag to take something out, and I saw what looked like a banner tied with red ribbon. I felt suspicious about this, and asked Maria, had she brought a banner. She told me that she had prepared a long banner asking BA to sing “”When the Night Comes” for me for my birthday and also to wish Keith, best wishes for his birthday too”. This scared me a little, but I did feel better when she said she had not put on my name. We had tried to get BA to sing this when we were last in Cologne. He did see the banner, and spoke to us, but sang “Back to you two”! instead. Bryan came on stage at about 9 and opened up with his now “usual number” SO FAR SO GOOD. Maria and I both enjoy this now, as we feel more familiar with it, although we still (shamefully) don’t know all the words. We promised ourselves we would learn them for Blickling, but we didn’t!! Bryan seemed very happy, in good spirits, and we both thought he looked much better than he did in Gelsenkirchen, where he looked rather tired, pale and very thin! The crowd were enthusiastic right from the beginning and he went straight into SOMBODY, which I always think is a good song to get everyone joining in. Both Maria and I felt that the majority of the crowd were not “hard core fans” because they didn’t seem to know how to participate in the songs, but never the less were really “fired up” and excited. Bryan said good evening to everyone and said it was a special day because it was Keith’s birthday. Everyone began to sing “Happy Birthday”. Keith reluctantly came forward and thanked everyone, certainly, the first time we’ve heard him speak to the crowd. BACK TO YOU, was performed with the usual zest and enthusiasm and everyone joined in and had a great time. The “hard core fans” did their usual “Back to you bounce” including Maria and I, and seemed to cause one security man at the front to laugh uncontrolably at us all bouncing up and down, probably quite a hilarious sight to someone who, by his own admission, had not been to a Bryan Adams concert before. Bryan dedicated “I THINK ABOUT YOU” to a blonde in a blue convertable who he had followed into the concert. “Lucky woman”! He certainly was enjoying himself. The evening was so lovely, and he commented on the fact that it was a lovely summer’s evening, something quite extraordinary, really. I don’t remember which song, but Maria picked up the rolled up banner and tried to attract Bryan’s attention whilst he was at “our end” of the stage. He didn’t see Maria, so she waited for another opportunity. The time came for the WHEN YOU’RE GONE girl to be invited onto the stage. He picked Sarah from Blickling Hall, who originally came from Scotland. She worked in Norwich. Sarah tried to tell her name over and over again, which sounded like “Seera”. Bryan called her, Cilla, Seera, Ceda. I couldn’t tell what she said. She had a thick Glaswegian accent. Bryan continued to call her Ceda, as he always makes up his own name for the girl anyway. I thought she seemed very nervous, but she did a good job, but was rather tentative. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, one of our favourites as sang with the usual passion, and we both enjoyed this number. Bryan’s rendition of PLEASE FORGIVE ME was a bit jumbled. He forgot the lyrics, because both Maria and I were singing something else. Never the less, it is a song, I love, and Maria too. HEARTS ON FIRE was really well done. There was something different about this number this time. He sang it with more energetically than usual, it is a wonderful song. We both love this. At the end of the concert, Bryan sang STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART and ALL FOR LOVE. During one of these songs, he asked the crowd to use their mobile phones to show a light and hold the in the air. We have never known him do this before. One surprise was an old “blast from the past” – ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. Neither Maria or I remembered the lyrics for this song. Although I really like this and it was nice to hear the old stuff once again. The highlight of the concert for us, probably was SUMMER OF 69. We just never get fed up of this classic. Now it is better than ever, because he is doing the original version. It really took off this time. Even if you are not a “hard core fan”, this song, really gets everyone going, and it really did “rock” the place. However, one “hard core fan” next to Maria, never sang one word. Really strange!!!! At the end of the front row, inside the barrier were some people with a young baby of about 6 months. Maybe belonging to the previous band “REAMONN”. Certainly the youngest fan we’ve seen. Well we were all waiting for THE BEST OF ME just to see if Bryan would come down into the crowd. He did, but Toe seemed to be a little late helping him down, and therefore Bryan only managed to touch the fans from the middle to the left hand side. We, at the right hand side of the stage, didn’t manage to see him, or touch him. During the encore, as usual, Bryan started off with CLOUD NUMBER NINE. Maria and I were the only fans at the right hand side of the stage who automatically put their arms in the air when this began. No-one seemed to know what to do. Obviously at the other end of the stage, I suppose, fans were doing this. Bryan actually had tell the crowd what to do. This seemed very strange, and certainly unusual at any concert. This seemed to reinforce our idea that the majority of the crowd had come for a good day out, and were not necessariy “hard core fans”! RUN TO YOU was peformed with the usual gusto, but Bryan did stop to slow clap at the audience to illustrate that they were not joining in as well as they should have, so everyone stepped up a notch. Keith did not join in with his usual energetic dancing in ITS ONLY LOVE, maybe, he had been celebrating his birthday too hard, and was a little tired! His guitar playing was never the less up to the usual fantastic standard. The security men once again, looked absolutely amazed at THE ONLY THING THAT LOOKS GOOD ON ME IS YOU when they saw the fans joining in with the pointing and the “YOUS’ They had stopped laughing by this stage though. The old greats we all love, 18 TIL I DIE, CAN’T STOP THIS THING WE STARTED, OPEN ROAD, EVERYTHING I DO, HEAVEN were fabulous as usual. We know them all well, we’ve heard them all before, but we never ever get tired of them. It is now Sunday afternoon, Maria is getting ready to fly home after a hectic few days. We have had a great time, we have done many things, including getting lost in the middle of Kings Lynn, and we now have to look forward to another concert together. We may have not mentioned all the songs, because we want to post this review before she leaves. PLEASE FORGIVE US! but we are hungry!!!! Once again, we have had a blast, and we just keep on doing it. It was a great birthday for me, made special by Maria being here for us to enjoy another concert together. Unfortunately, Maria was unable to give Bryan her banner, which was a pity because she had gone to so much trouble. She was unable to throw it onto the stage herself, because there was a camera in the way, and the security man would not help her. WE CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT!!!!! ******** Article by 'Norwich Evening News': My duet with my pop idol Sarah Gray with Bryan Adams Singing a duet with Bryan Adams was beyond Sarah Gray's wildest dreams when she set off with her husband and brother to see the star in concert at Blicking Hall. But the Canadian rocker spotted her jumping up and down in the fifth row and picked her out to sing a duet he recorded with Mel C called 'When You're Gone'. The 23-year-old even got to chat to the star and during the instrumental part of the song he danced, cuddled and kissed her while 10,000 fans screamed. The combined effect of the evening left Sarah on cloud nine when she arrived for work at Broadland District Council's building control offices in Thorpe St Andrew yesterday. Sarah, who lives with husband Kenny, 36, at Blickling Hall, where he works as a house steward, and Sarah's brother Jonathan Kitchen, 16, who was visiting on holiday, each paid £40 for the tickets. But she said it was worth every penny and the experience on Thursday night had left her a bigger fan than before. Sarah, who is originally from Scotland, added: “He's my idol now. I used to be a big fan of his music, but now I'm his biggest fan. When he spoke to me he stared into my eyes as if I was the only one there, even though thousands of fans were watching us. He put me totally at ease.” “Everyone at work asked me how it went and I said it was the best day off I ever had, and it was true.”

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