BRYAN Adams last night lifted the curtain on what promises to be a memorable weekend for Hampshire music lovers.

The Grammy award winning Canadian belted out all his classic chart hits as he took to the stage at Hampshire Cricket’s Ageas Bowl stadium in West End.

It was his first tour date in the Southampton area since he brought his solo acoustic tour to the city’s Guildhall eight years ago.

Adams’ eagerly-awaited return to Hampshire was being followed today by the fourth staging of the ever popular 80s retro festival Let’s Rock at Southampton Common.

And tomorrow night The Ageas Bowl holds its second concert in three days, with Adams’ sing-a-long anthems replaced by the far more ‘poppy’ Little Mix. A different crowd beckons there.

Let’s be honest, though – of the three gigs, and even though one has ‘Rock’ in its title, the only one which will REALLY rock was last night’s.

Bryan Adams has rocked audiences ever since the first of his 13 albums was released in 1980.

As last night comfortably underlined – in front of thousands of fans – he is still rocking them now at the age of 57.

For the long-standing fans, the gems on offer from Reckless – released 33 years ago now, where does the time go? – never lose their sheen.

The album spawned no fewer than six US Billboard top 15 singles – Run to You, Somebody, Heaven, One Night Love Affair, It’s Only Love and the truly wonderful Summer of 69 – which was a feat only previously accomplished by Michael Jackson (Thriller) and Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA). Some impressive company to keep, methinks.

Those songs set Adams on the road to worldwide fame, though his place as a UK chart immortal was guaranteed in 1991 when (Everything I Do) I Do It For You spent 47 weeks at number one.

OK, the smash hit theme from the film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves only – only! – spent 16 weeks at number one, but it seemed more like 47 for those of us who can remember it.

The opening chords of the ballad still raise a huge cheer, even though for those of us who can remember his mid-80s heyday it’s the Reckless era which provide the best excuses for opening our vocal chords and practicing some air guitar.There are so many other familiar anthems, though – Cuts Like a Knife, Please Forgive Me, Can’t stop these things we started and It’s Only Love – the latter which featured a storming guitar solo from Keith Scott.

The next few words you read are a cast-iron fact – there has never been a better song for driving along to on a nice sunny day than Summer of 69. As soon as you hear the opening guitar riff, up goes the volume. That has always been the case and, I’m happy to report, that remained the case at The Ageas Bowl as Adams followed in the footsteps of others who have appeared at the stadium such as Oasis, Billy Joel, The Who, R.E.M. and Rod Stewart.

Introducing himself five songs in – “Hello, I’m Bryan and I’m here to sing you a few songs” – the tempo started high and never dropped as Adams worked his way through his radio-friendly back catalogue as the sun slowly set on a great evening of classic rock.

And what a catalogue to select from, be it the foot-tapping anthems or the hold-your-lighters-in-the-air ballads.

Everything I Do... is the best known of the slower ones, and it even got those watching from the comfort of their Hilton Hotel balconies swaying along (hope they had to pay a bit more than the usual Friday night rate for their prime view!). But the ballad which got the crowd singing the first few lines was Heaven, one of Adams’ 80s classics that never seem to sound dated.

Bryan Adams has a sound all of his own, and he’s perfected his craft throughout the last four decades. Last night he sounded as good as ever and his voice as good as ever – not bad for someone who has been touring all over the world since February (and will carry on touring until mid November).

Today Southampton Common will echo to the sound of many 80s classics. There will be lots of people dressed up at Let’s Rock and a good day of nostalgia will be had by all.

It wasn’t such a nostalgia-fest at the Ageas Bowl last night, even though Adams’ seminal work was recorded in that era. No, Bryan Adams has proved many times over that he didn’t just rock in the 80s; he has continued to rock ever since.

Last night, to the delight of thousands at Hampshire’s cricket ground, he carried on rocking...