Nearly 40 years since his debut single, Never Gonna Give You Up, catapulted him from drummer turned studio 'tea boy' into a #1 charting international pop star, Rick Astley is the first act to ever return to headline a show at the UK's largest indoor arena, Manchester's Co-Op Arena. As he builds towards releasing his tenth studio album, he is celebrating his back catalogue, which has hit 40 million sales internationally, on his Reflection tour.

Ahead of the infamous Rickroller taking centre stage, 90s icon Gabrielle is on hand to warm up the packed arena. Her soulful back catalogue has soundtracked homes around the world since 1993, so it is little surprise that she is met with a warm sing along as she delivers key moments from her striking back catalogue. A humble, warm presence, the audience love every moment of her set which naturally crescendoes with her unforgettable debut, Dreams.

After a brief interlude, Rick Astley and his very impressive band slink on stage following a whole arena sing along to Human League's Don't You Want Me, and launched into the song which saw him return from the musical wilderness back in 2010, Lights Out, before taking a trip back to the late 80s for Together Forever.

Noting to the audience that he is 60 and may never get to do this stage again, he promised he'd deliver the classics if the audience indulged his desire to perform songs that featured on his overlooked third and fourth albums too. What followed was a set that jumped back and forth between the old and new.

With a voice that is undeniably ageing like a fine wine, it is on the more soul and gospel tinged moments; Dance, Keep Singing and Raindrops that the raw emotion is allowed to really melt hearts, while there is no denying the classic cheesy appeal of Whenever You Need Somebody.

As the set draws to a close via the forgettable Take Me To Your Heart, it nearly peaks with the awesome Angels On My Side before catapulting into epic euphoria for the glorious sing along Never Gonna Give You Up, which sends his loving and loyal audience home on a high.

At 60 years young, Astley is honest about needing moments to catch his breath and is ever thankful for the privilege of being able to perform on such a large stage, but easily proves why he is afforded this honour.