With temperatures soaring, the south coast embraced a tropical vibe as Billy Ocean brought his catalogue of feel-good hits to Southampton’s Summer Sessions.
Getting the evening underway was Marti Pellow, whose easy-going charm and soulful sound quickly won over a packed Guildhall Square.
The former Wet Wet Wet singer looked completely at home as he mixed well-known favourites, like Goodnight Girl, Temptation, and Love Is All Around, with plenty of audience interaction.
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By the time he left the stage, the crowd was more than ready for the main event, as fans in shorts, shirts and summer dresses buzzed with anticipation.
When Billy finally appeared, he was greeted with a cheer that suggested many in attendance had waited a lot longer than the 45 minute break to see him perform live.
What followed was less a concert and more a celebration, as Billy’s infectious energy had the audience singing and dancing along by his second song of the night, Love Really Hurts Without You.
And the singalong did not stop there, Suddenly, Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car, and When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going drew equally enthusiastic responses.
The 76-year-old seemed delighted by the reception he received and showed a genuine love for the audience, as his band provided a polished backing that kept the momentum throughout the evening.
But what stood out most was the atmosphere.
There was a sense of togetherness that felt like everyone had collectively decided to forget about the outside world for a couple of hours and simply enjoy themselves, much-needed after the last few weeks of turmoil in the city.
As hit followed hit, the years seemed to melt away for many in attendance. And, judging by the dancing on display, some people may well be feeling it this morning.
Billy Ocean's songs have been making people feel good for decades and, by the end of the night, a balmy Guildhall Square was still buzzing as he closed his set with an extended rendition of Caribbean Queen.
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