They say you should never work with animals or children, but this certainly wasn’t the case for Pete Doherty who captivated the audience at the historic Tivoli theatre.

Armed with just an acoustic guitar, the singer-songwriter was in fine form and gave an assured and accomplished performance on the night that he was celebrating his birthday which was acknowledged by both the crowd and his wife Katia who also provided exemplary support on keys.

Poetic, contemplative, and always charming, Pete served up a stellar set filled with tracks from his past in the shape of The Libertines and Babyshambles and his solo career which included songs from his forthcoming solo album ‘Felt Better Alive’.

One of the first dates of Pete’s ‘Down In Albion’ tour, which covers a collection of locations namechecked in Babyshambles‘ classic track ‘Albion’, it was something of a hometown glory moment for Pete who revealed to the audience he used to live in the nearby town of Blandford where he was regarded as a ‘model pupil’ at the local school.

Geography and history aside, there were several nostalgic moments throughout his career-spanning set which fascinated and compelled. An invariable creative powerhouse, this was an intimate set that showcased Pete’s prowess as a poetic lyricist and composer which included a fantastic rendition of ‘Merry Old England’.

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Encompassing indie-folk, country, and more, this was a really personal set that truly captures the spirit of the forthcoming album. Joined on stage at random points was his adorable dog Gladys and his super cute little girl, Pete effortlessly engaged with the audience and had them in the palm of his hand.

It was refreshing to hear a more stripped back version of ‘Horrowshow’, typically one of The Libertines’ propulsive tracks which when played live is rather Clash-esque. This still was a foot-stomping moment despite being served up acoustically.

Another ‘Libertines’ highlight was the brilliant ‘Music When The Lights Go Out’ from the band’s eponymous 2004 album. It was almost moving to hear the lines ‘And to lie to you, rather than hurt you?’ in such an intimate setting which elevated the confessional and poignant lyrics.

Of course, the song that shaped the entire tour ‘Albion’ was a standout, a poetic reflection on Merry Old England — yet another perfect moment, meditative almost — with Pete, his guitar, and an enraptured audience.

The serenity continued with new track ‘Calvados’ which takes inspiration from Normany, where he and his family live. Evocative and intoxicating, the song spirits you away to his historic town and the simplicity of living a good life with the line ‘Slow and steady is the way! / The way it was, the way it is…’ and Pete’s more relaxed way of life is certainly proffering him with an abundance of inspiration and creativity.

The reggae-inspired tune ‘Dandy Hooligan’ was also played, which put a smile on everyone’s face as did ‘Dilly Boys’, ‘The boy looked at Johnny’, and what was the Libs debut single ‘What a Waster’ which still sounds as punchy as ever (even acoustically!) 

‘Run, Run, Run’ sounds as vital and immediate as ever whilst the beauty of  ‘Pot of Gold’ could not be denied. ‘Hell to Pay at the Gates of Heaven’ was sublime as was the poetic ‘Time for Heroes’ which all went a long way to deliver a soul-soothing, authentic, and heart-warming performance.

As The Libertines say, “If you’ve lost your faith in love and music, the end won’t be long” which reinforces the importance and life-affirming impact that live music truly has – and Pete Doherty’s set proved once again how lucky we are to have him both as part of an incredible band and as a solo artist.

Catch Pete on tour between March and May throughout the UK and pre-order his new album ‘Felt Better Alive’ from his website.

Photo credits Joe Flanagan (live) and Bridie Cummings (main image)