The last time British popstar Becky Hill performed in Newmarket, she was onstage with Pete Tong and The Heritage Orchestra in 2019.
Five years later and she's no longer the special guest, instead returning to the same racecourse for her biggest solo headline show in the UK.
With a sold-out crowd of 21,000 in front of her, she brought a proper party to the field after a day of horse racing on Friday (August 9).
Joined by a full live band and several backing vocalists, Hill delivered a crowd-pleasing set full of fan favourites from across her career - as well as a handful of songs from her new album ‘Believe Me Now?’.
Towering over the huge mixed-age audience - which stretched the length of the racecourse - everyone at the show was up for a good time.
(Image: Alice Howard)
“Anyone here love a bit of drum n bass?” Hill asked before professing that her love of the genre started when she was just 10-year-old.
With a shape-shifting lighting rig and neon strobes behind her, rave anthem ‘After Glow’ had a sea of phones lighting up the sky soon after sunset. Immediately followed by ‘Disconnect’, that same energy was maintained without any dip.
The house section of the set later demonstrated her love of another dance music genre.
After speaking about a recent month where she fell out of love with playing shows, Hill told the crowd "this is my whole life, I don’t have anything else”.
That wasn't the case last night, however: “I can honestly say that I’m stood here so full of this juvenile joy and having the best time,” she confirmed, going on to thank everyone for spending their money on tickets to her gig.
(Image: Alice Howard)
The night’s two surprises - guest RILEASA, who joined Hill for ‘One Track Mind’, and a performance of upcoming Andy C collaboration ‘Indestructible’ - added even more value.
The fans up front also got to be within touching distance of their music hero, as Hill walked to the front of the stage while ‘Multiply’ and ‘Lose Control’ transformed the field into a club; the latter came to life with rumbling bass pumping out of the stacked towering speakers.
After a euphoric ‘Wish You Well’ got everyone jumping together, Hill took the time to acknowledge those on stage with her - "please make some noise for these incredibly talented people on stage with me tonight" - before closing with Remember’.
After a hit-filled singalong-packed 80-minute show that showcased her flawless vocal range, it's clear that Becky Hill was always destined to play shows the size of Newmarket Racecourse.
The kind of artist you can see again and again and never got bored, the fun she has on stage radiates and spreads through the audience wherever she plays.
(Image: Alice Howard)
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