From what I saw on Sunday evening, the answer to the question posed in the subject bar at the head of this string is "yes, of course he can".

After a slightly tentative start, Bryan quickly moved into top gear. His voice was strong throughout (bar a five minute spell 2/3rds through the set where it got a bit tight but which he quickly sorted), he was unusually animated and he was very playful at times with the audience. Also, I was well positioned at front of stage so was able to pick up on a lot of small but positive signals between him and his band. In other words, the maestro (and everybody else onstage.... and off?) was having fun and this was the over-riding feel of the gig. I will settle for that any day over the perfunctory performance from most of the participants of the last RM tour. I go to gigs to enjoy myself, after all.

Sure, there is always room for improvement. I have tried hard, and recognise the slick interplay and lightness of touch of the BFO, but now having seen them live, I know that they will never set my pulse racing. Having said that, when they were playing alongside the rock band, they really added to the sound and brought some very nice and surprising twists to the music, particularly on NYC. I think most of us will enjoy their contribution to the full band when we catch the tour. Also, although the set list might not have been entirely to the preference of the devotees, I think that it could have been a lot worse. If the people picnicking around me were a representative sample of the audience then the vast majority of the crowd were locals who turn up for this event every year irrespective of the headline act - and talking with a few in the pubs afterwards they couldn't name a lot of what was served up but still enthused about what they had heard - so I think that Bryan got the balance just right.

I think a special mention is due to the ladies on stage, who all added more than their fair share to the up-beat mood. The flappers were sassy, the singers were classy and Cherisse is just so much fun to watch behind that drum kit.

I was standing alongside a very pleasant young lady from Newcastle who was also at the recent Dublin gig and she thought that Bryan and the band were on the same form over there - so it augurs well for the rest of the tour. So suspend your doubts and prepare to have some fun when "An Evening With Bryan Ferry" hits your home town.

That was possibly me from Newcastle

Here's some of the videos I took:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL179528E67415FD07

judging from Tracy's videos and the camera angle, we must all have been pretty much next to each other right at the very front

Yes Tracy, it was you. I didn't want to use your name just in case you valued your privacy. Your new camera obviously works well because the clips are great. Hope you got the set list (and please don't tell me that another one came up for grabs after I left because that would take a bit of the shine off it for me).

RoxySiren, there was a chap immediately to my right hand side who spotted a pair of sun glasses lying just the other side of the barrier. Was that you? If it was then congratulations on working your way to front row so late in the day. You were quite lucky because the girl who had occupied that spot was only there for Steve Harley.

No problem. Yes I got the set list

I'm pretty pleased with the results from my camera. Need to recharge for Hyde Park now

Set List:
Do The Strand
Avalon
Virginia Plain

Love Is The Drug
The Only Face
Reason Or Rhyme
Same Old Blues
Remake/Remodel
Oh Yeah
NYC
Tom Thumb's Blues
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Jealous Guy

I Thought
This Island Earth
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Casanova
Don't Stop The Dance
Can't Let Go
Let's Stick Together
A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall

Hold on I'm Coming
Editions Of You


He didn't sing 'I Thought' or 'This Island Earth' - he came back on straight into 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes', and I don't remember him doing 'The Only Face'.

I was there with mrs roxysiren as soon as the green rope/string came down, and stayed there for Steve and the Colin Good Orchestra backing acts ( ). I wasn't wearing shades
I was wearing a US navy n1 khaki deck jacket with raw jeans, red wing boots and leather ditty/duffle bag a kinda antidote to Anderson and Sheppard!
Anyway, the vibe was good up there wasn't it? Lovely setting, as Steve H pointed out.

I do. Semi jazzy. Pretty good. I liked it. Not as much as the ATGB tour versions, but still nice. But Tracy, I'd love to enjoy something so much I can't remember the details

That's why. He jazzed it up so it didn't stick in my mind as much as the other songs. Still getting the hang of this jazz stuff

Totally agree. Weren't they great!? I loved them all...
When the two "flappers" (somehow I'm not too comfortable with this term ) did their dance interlude I couldn't stop smiling. Indeed their general contribution with cool looks, great moves and sounds...aah, bliss. I'm in love....

Ah, sounds like a good look. Definitely not the chap beside me. Like you, I went straight to the front when the rope came down, but was not as quickly off my mark as the sprightly Tracy ; she can fairly shift herself ! I agree - it was a very nice atmosphere up there (I like to think we played our part in creating the mood on stage) and everything came together to make the day a bit special. If Steve Harley decides to post the film that he took of the front row at the end of his slot then maybe we will be able to spot one another. He does that sort of thing so we might find ourselves on his website one day. I was standing next to the girl that he lingered on right at centre of stage ( she is a regular attendee at his gigs and well known to him)

I enjoyed Steve's turn. He used to be a bit controversial but has mellowed into a very decent dude. I was going to go through to Edinburgh festival next week to see him again but having checked it out it is just "one -to one" interview with Johnny Walker - so have binned that idea.