It’s rare to see a megastar in Cornwall. Tucked away at the tail-end of South-West England, the county is more well-known for its surfing, sand and seafood than it is for its knack of attracting musical superstars to its shores. Okay, so you might catch a glimpse of a minor celebrity on a stag do in Newquay. Heck, you might even spot Prime Minister David Cameron on one of his frequent family holidays to Polzeath, but the chances of that happening are pretty slim. Luckily for you, we’ve got a little trick for spotting your favourite megastar during your trip to Cornwall. It’s pretty simple, actually – all you need to do is head down to the Eden Project.
Set in the heart of the county, the Eden Project’s notorious Eden Sessions are swiftly becoming the music industry’s go-to setting for gigs in the Cornish sunshine. This year’s Sessions headliners include the likes of Paloma Faith, Ben Howard and Spandau Ballet, but the Sessions’ most spectacular act is given the task of kicking off their summer season.
Elton John may be sixty eight years old, but he’s definitely still got it. The Rocket Man’s epic two and a half hour set is packed full of classics news and old, with a handful of album tracks and fan favourites thrown in for good measure. Hits like Candle in the Wind, Tiny Dancer and Daniel are interspersed with a host of tracks from Elton’s 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and the crowd lap them up. An energetic run-through of Philadelphia Freedom gets the crowd moving, and the ever-anthemic Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) is an early highlight.
The six thousand capacity Eden Project is the perfect location for an Elton John gig. Not only is it strikingly intimate, but Eden’s famous biomes serve as the perfect backdrop for the legendary singer-songwriter’s swelling orchestral pop songs. A mid-set triple blow of Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, The Bitch Is Back and I’m Still Standing is the highlight of the night, and ensures that every member of the capacity crowd is singing, dancing and swaying along to the music. Elton is a charismatic and charming frontman – he immediately jumps to his feet at the end of every song, and the sight of him lying sprawled over his piano during The Bitch Is Back is something that we’re not going to be forgetting any time soon.
An airing of crowd favourite Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting closes the main section of the show, before Elton and his band return for a triumphant encore of Crocodile Rock. His voice is on top form, his back catalogue is astounding, and his live show is second-to-none – ladies and gentlemen, Elton John is definitely still standing.