Back on home turf (the group famously first got together in Birmingham more than 30 years ago), Ocean Colour Scene took the city’s Utilita Arena by storm on Saturday night.

From the very first notes of The Circle to the closing bars of The Day We Caught The Train, hit followed superlative hit, showcasing the very best of this well-loved band’s impressive repertoire.

With nine albums to their name, including three which made the top-five, Ocean Colour Scene have a wealth of fantastic tunes to choose from, and Saturday night’s set treated their fans to the best of the very best.

These songs were the background to many lives in the 1990s. Surely even those who didn’t buy the albums can’t fail to recognise the distinctive melodies of classics such as The Riverboat Song and Get Blown Away.

Heavy, catchy rhythms and arresting lyrics feature strongly in OCS’s songs, and the audience was soon singing along to every word - re-living, no doubt, heady memories of younger days.

The atmosphere was electric; it takes a compelling performance to fill a huge arena with such a buzz, and Ocean Colour Scene did not disappoint. Alongside rocking singalong songs were more mellow tunes. Stand-out moments included beautiful, acoustic renditions of Robin Hood and She’s Been Writing, a moving tribute to Sandy Denny.

With a distinctive sound and a clear love of performing, OCS are masters of creating mood. Frontman Simon Fowler’s engagement with the audience was minimal, but referenced the group’s Birmingham roots and paid tribute to their loyal following. “Who’d have thunk it?” he said, alluding to the band’s evolution, from performing in local pubs to filling a stadium in the city centre.

This was an evening filled with nostalgia, reflecting a journey from modest beginnings to musical superstardom and placing Ocean Colour Scene firmly in the ranks of the greatest of 90s bands. 

5 stars

Ocean Colour Scene’s Utilita Arena concert was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Saturday 29 March.