James and support act Shed Seven perform at Forest Live, High Lodge, Thetford Forest

James, Forest Live, High Lodge, Thursday

I was once told I should grab any opportunity to see James live. And watching the reformed Manchester indie nine-piece band captivate the crowd in Thetford Forest last night, I could see why.

A year on from strutting their stuff at Glastonbury, frontman Tim Booth and his band-mates oozed class throughout as they followed on from Rag'n'Bone Man’s opening night of Forest Live with their unique distinctive trumpet-backed offering of alternative rock/pop.

But in a summer buzzing with the anticipation of Oasis’ reunion tour, it was definitely a case of two for the price of one in an indulgence of the Britpop scene at High Lodge, with Shed Seven providing a memorable warm-up set. It came after Liverpool singer-songwriter Jamie Webster opened up night two.

The former’s charismatic singer, Rick Witter, soon got the middle-aged heavy crowd going after another baking hot day with ‘Going for Gold’ before launching straight into Elvis’ ‘Suspicious Minds’ to keep the energy up.

The chorus of ‘Out By My Side’ was boomed back at him before a set which also included some of their numbers from not one but two 2024 number one albums concluded after ‘Chasing Rainbows’ with a boogie along to ‘Disco Down’.

As the sun began to set, it was then time for the main event, with James also having a 2024 number one album, Yummy, to intersperse into their 90 minutes.

Looking like he had stepped out of a yoga retreat with his familiar baggy white shirt and trousers, initially with a beanie hat and black jacket, Tim Booth launched into ‘Sound’ on a multi-coloured megaphone.

He declared he had only just come off crutches so may have to be careful, but there was no sign of that as he soon embarked on a walk through the middle of the crowd in ‘She’s A Star’.

And Tim’s unique losing-himself dancing was far from absent throughout while every member of the band had their moment to shine, be it a violin or drum solo or Chloe Apter taking over on vocals.

The energy went up with ‘Say Something’ as the crowd had their chance to shine while fluorescent butterflies on the back screen provided a spiritualist passage through ‘Tomorrow’, ahead of the powerful ‘Beautiful Beaches’.

But the magical moment the crowd had been waiting for then arrived with 90s anthem ‘Sit Down’ beginning to a throng of waving hands and providing a chance for Tim to let the crowd take over the chorus.

The Manchester outfit wrapped up a spiritual performance – the music seems to conduct through Tim – on a summer’s night with fellow crowd-pleasers with 2001’s ‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)’ followed by 1993’s iconic American Pie anthem ‘Laid’. It was a special end to a nostalgic evening.

The Forest Live series continues at High Lodge with The Script tonight followed by Gary Barlow tomorrow.