Celebrating 50 years on the road appears to have put a spring in Mr. Clapton’s step. He certainly seemed more energised than usual as he bounded out on stage for the first show of this half-century anniversary European tour. Kicking off with a ‘70s favourite, ‘Hello Old Friend’ he began in blistering form, following it with another classic in ‘Tell The Truth’ and a soulful ‘My Father’s Eyes’. Looking younger than his 68 years, in fine voice and working the fret-board of his Fender Stratocaster as impressively as ever, he continued with a version of Ray Charles’ ‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’ and the funky, ‘Gotta Get Over’ from current album Old Sock. From there he revisited his early years with the Cream classic ‘Badge’ which he co-wrote with George Harrison.

Taking to a stool for a more ‘intimate’ interlude he delivered a much jazzier ‘Layla’ than the Unplugged version; a sprightly ‘Lay Down Sally’ from his most successful album, Slowhand and, from the same period, the inevitable crowd-pleaser, ‘Wonderful Tonight’, which he still performs with heartfelt passion after all these years. Sadly, there was nothing from 461 Ocean Boulevard, often regarded as his best album.
Other highlights included a trio of Robert Johnson numbers – a fiery version of ‘Crossroads’; a smouldering ‘Love In Vain’ and the aching slow blues burner that is ‘Little Queen Of Spades’. Predictably, finishing up with his huge hit version of JJ Cale’s ‘Cocaine’, he returned for an unexpected highlight in Cream’s ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ and departed with the appropriately-titled ‘High Time We Went’.
The band, which included former Squeeze and Mike And The Mechanics’ keyboardist Paul Carrack, was superb, the sound mix excellent, the lighting just right and the full auditorium in party mood. A great gig.