REVIEW: Lionel had us smiling 'All Night Long'

Lionel Richie, supported by Anastacia, at the Lincolnshire Showground...

A few years ago we ran a competition offering tickets to see Madness in Lincoln and I was bemused when someone commented under our web story: "I live in Spalding, why would I go to Lincoln?" Really? When world-class acts come to Lincolnshire I'm going to try my best to see them, and a 70-minute car journey for Lionel Richie, supported by Anastacia, was well worth it on Sunday evening.

It was a lovely, sunny day at the Lincolnshire Showground and the legendary American singer/songwriter really pulled out all the stops for a sell-out crowd.

Richie may be 68-years-old now but he looks no different than he did in his 80s heyday, save shorter hair, and his voice and dance moves are just as good too.

He belted out hits from his 36-year solo career, including 'Hello', 'Stuck On You', 'Say You, Say Me', 'Penny Lover' and 'Dancing On The Ceiling', ending with an epic encore of the 20 million-selling charity single he wrote with Michael Jackson 'We Are The World' and the classic 'All Night Long'.

Looking resplendent in a white suit, he also reacted wonderfully with the audience, poking gentle fun at some of the outfits and our 'summer' weather.

He even rolled back the years for a Commodores set, including 'Easy', 'Brick House' and 'Three Times A Lady', and let the delighted audience take up Diana Ross's vocal role in 'Endless Love'. I wasn't a Richie fan before this 90 minutes of super soul and honestly didn't know how many smash hits he'd had over the years. I'm a fan now.

Earlier in the evening, Chicago-born pop powerhouse Anastacia entertained, the Red Arrows coincidentally flying over just as she started a super hour-long set. Belting out hits such as 'I'm Outta Love', 'Paid My Dues' and a great cover of Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love A Bad Name,' she is a star in her own right and certainly got the crowd in the mood.

What a pair of performers, what a night and what a coup for our county.