With the dark clouds gathering, eyes were cast upwards as rain threatened to pour instead of the vino at this picnic gig. The pregnant clouds drifted over leaving 10,000 fans untouched, but the weather must have briefly consumed most of their attention as the headliners walked out on to the stage to a warm but tempered welcome. The Ginger One might be letting the grey hairs come through at the sideburns, but he certainly hasn’t let his Lothario image slip. The ladies lining the barrier were shouting an ear-catching stream of compliments in his direction which he rewarded with a teasing wave – albeit with a hand adorned with what looked like a wedding band. Those who preferred to tuck into their picnic treats rather than feast their eyes on Mick Hucknall in the flesh, could throw admiring glances towards the big screens which flanked the stage - a new addition to Blickling's summer gig series this year. While the Mancunian's striking appearance can still command attention, it was his voice that captivated - as glossy and as glass-shattering powerful as ever. Simply Red may have gathered their critics over the years for being too middle-of-the-road, but gripers would be hard pressed to carp at Hucknall's stunning vocal delivery and the timeless essence of some tracks. Greatest hitsFor the band’s last Norfolk visit in 2003, songs from their album, Home, released that year, dominated the set. This time around, the concert was more of a greatest hits run-through and stronger for it. Five songs in, and Hucknall picked up the guitar for an acoustic rendition of Holding Back The Years, greeted by the night’s first big cheer. The pace then slipped again as forthcoming single Oh! What A Girl got an airing, but the tempo went up several notches when he ventured back into familiar territory.  | | Mick was backed by a strong band |
The back-to-back snapshot of vintage Simply Red included the night’s crowning moments, Something Got Me Started and Fairground – by which time most of the fans had found their dancing feet. When you see someone struggling to cut a few shapes with a leg encased in plaster, then you know it’s a good gig. Talented bandHucknall was in his stride as he threw back his head, while stretching out the microphone in his hand - without dropping a note. It was big-lunged flourishes like these along with a tight, talented band that meant the performance was flawless, without leaving you wishing that you'd just sat at home and popped on their records. While Simply Red could otherwise be known as Mick Hucknall, the concert's scope would never have been realised without the polished musicianship of his 10-piece band. A three-song encore rounded off with the coupling of the soulful pop of first chart hit Money’s Too Tight To Mention and the lighters-aloft If You Don’t Know Me By Now showed how Simply Red, live, have retained their light and shade. Simply Red played at Blickling Hall on Friday, 21 July, 2006.Photo credit: Zoe Applegate | 
