Embrace

Thetford Forest

A glorious summer's evening, thousands of jubilant football fans and an incredible forest park setting - the world really was at their feet.

The script couldn't have been more perfect as indie/pop band Embrace marked the beginning of their first UK open-air tour in style.

Buoyed by a heady mix of sun, beer and an England victory, the singers of the team's official World Cup song were always going to get a rapturous reception at a sold-out High Lodge concert on Saturday.

But the instant adulation of the 6,000 fans showed no sign of abating throughout a cracking set of classic and new material, which has seen the Yorkshire band enjoy a second coming in the music charts of late.

Frontman Danny McNamara has never been blessed with the best of singing voices, but compensates with some soaring sing-a-long anthems and melodies.

Lighter-raising tunes from the band's new No1 album, This New Day, were well received.

But the real highlights were Britpop anthems All You Good Good People, Come Back To What You Know, the rousing Save Me, and the Coldplay-inspired Gravity, which marked the band's recent resurrection.

However, the biggest cheer of the night came for the official World Cup song World At Your Feet, which topped off a perfect day for the vast majority of St George's- flag-wearing fans in the crowd.

World Cup groups may come and go, but Embrace look set to be sticking around thanks to another top booking from the people at the Forestry Commission.