Billy Ocean – Lincoln Castle – 20th June 2026

GETTING IN THE MOOD

Rising DJ star Katie Owen opens the show in the late afternoon sun, before Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet fame wows the crowd with hits including Wishing I Was Lucky, Sweet Little Mystery, Goodnight Girl, Angel Eyes, Temptation and Love Is All Around. He proved to be a great support act, getting the audience in the mood before the night’s main event.

SNAPPY

As the cathedral clock strikes 9pm Billy Ocean strides onto the stage. At 76 he’s looking and sounding incredible. Wearing a snappy dark purple suit with a crisp white shirt. He’s joined on the Lincoln Castle stage by three backing singers (including his daughter) and a band including a saxophonist who gets several great solos on Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Colour Of Love and When the Going Gets Tough which adds extra energy to some of the evening’s most popular numbers.

Ocean opens with One World which is appreciated by the eager crowd but it’s Love Really Hurts Without You that gets everyone in the groove.

Material from his most recent album including Daylight and Mystery demonstrate that Ocean is still creating new music and they’re really good upbeat songs which means that Ocean barely gets a rest and the energy never dips. 

RED LIGHT SPELLS…

Red Light Spells Danger is a huge crowd pleaser. The song has the audience singing along and dancing in the summer sunshine. And if that wasn’t enough Get Outta By Dreams Get Into My Car and No Woman No Cry send the Lincoln crowd into a frenzy.

When the Going Gets Tough is naturally the biggest number of the night and Ocean milks it for everything its got. By now he’s been singing, dancing and talking to the crowd for over an hour and everyone is having an amazing time. Few performers half his age maintain the same level of energy and enthusiasm that he exhibits and he’s doing it all over the world night after night.

Ocean love the attention and he deserves all of the plaudits as he continues his multi-decade, cross-generational career as one of the ultimate crowd pleasers. He’s a genuine superstar. The affection between performer and audience is obvious throughout the evening and every hit song is greeted with a huge reception.

As the evening draws to a close with Caribbean Queen the Lincoln Castle crowd has witnessed a masterclass in entertainment from Ocean whose songs continue to connect with audiences. We’ve been very lucky to see him. 

All photography provided by Cuffe & Taylor / Rhodes Media

Billy Ocean: Website

At The Barrier: Facebook / X / Instagram