Lionel Richie concert at Cooper Associates County Ground

We might not have been Dancing on the Ceiling, but we were sure making some moves on the hallowed turf at the Cooper Associates County Ground more used to sixes and wickets than superstars.

Lionel was in generous mood after discovering the “remote village” where everyone sings and dances, throwing compliment after compliment to his delighted audience.

He dazzled in his glittering jacket, until sneakily swapping it for another one halfway through his 90-minute show.

The moves were understandably a bit slower for a 73-year-old, but the voice and the piano playing brought back memories of his more youthful peak.

There had been fears that after his reported and highly criticised ‘mare’ at the Coronation Concert he would fail to get the Taunton crowd going.

How wrong. The performance was electric, with all the old favourites transporting the less young among us back a few decades, including Stuck on You; Hello; Say You, Say Me; Easy; and many more.

There was a huge cheer when he got a bit preachy about the way we’re damaging out planet ahead of belting out We Are The World, which he co wrote with Michael Jackson.

Ever the tease, Lionel took a few sips of the “local drink” and reckoned it played with his head.

And his interplay with the saxophonist was entertaining.

He then tricked the odd gullible person into believing Diana Ross was about to appear on stage for a duet – funny, but perhaps a little cruel.

Throughout the lights and videos on the backdrop were outstanding. And the flames shooting up during Brickhouse looked as though they could have burnt the house down.

It was all rounded off with his rendition of All Night Long, with most of us wishing the show had gone on all night.

The thousands of highly entertained people at the ground will remember for years to come the night Lionel Richie came to Taunton.

But it wasn’t all just about him, with two warm up acts on the humid evening going down a storm.

First up was Matteo Bocelli, whose half-hour slot could be heard by the hundreds of people in the queue outside snaking scores of metres down St James Street as well as the early arrivers already inside the ground.

His tender harmonies were divine and his classical opera style offerings sung from the heart were reminiscent of his father, Andre Bocelli.

Then came grandmother – her proud description of herself – Gabrielle, whose debut single Dreams was released 30 years ago.

Out of Reach, Sunshine, Rise, If You Ever – I never realised quite how many hits she’d had.

All in all, a great night and testament to Taunton’s ‘pulling power’, with big music nights now a common part of the town’s annual calendar.

Lionel Richie pledged he’d be back to “Tantun” one day – let’s hope that wasn’t another joke.

“Check out our picture gallery from the Lionel Richie concert on this website tomorrow (Tuesday, June 13).