Ashanti performing at Rock City Nottingham on Wednesday 8th March 2017


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

For a concert that was announced with a flourish of anticipation, then cancelled and then re-announced, it was a sold out predominantly female crowd that turned out to see Ashanti last night at Rock City.

With an audience resembling a rather large and boisterous hen party, they had to wait for Ashanti to take to the stage which she did after keeping them waiting for ten minutes. With a strict Rock City curfew, it was a short one hour five minute set that followed.

Having toured last year with Ja Rule, this time out Ashanti had solo vocal duties. Appearing on stage dressed in a black low cut leotard, large belt and that long glossy hair, she was joined by a DJ who kept well out of the limelight, and two backing dancers who flawlessly mimicked her every step.

With dance routines that were energetic and songs that the crowd belted out the words too, Ashanti and her dancers rocked and twerked to everything from Happy, Rock Wit U and her chart topping single Foolish from her Grammy Award winning 2002 self titled debut album.

She delivered fans favourite What’s Luv? which had the crowd singing back the words to her, whilst her break up ballad The Way I Love You was really well received. She announced tracks from her new album (which was released in 2014) and treated the crowd to the title track, Braveheart and a lively Count which called out for audience participation.

Whilst it was great to see Ashanti grace the stage at Rock City, it would have been nice if she had performed a longer set. With her vocals often being drowned out by the backing tracks it was sometimes difficult to hear her, but with her cheeky smile and enthusiasm for her craft, she certainly knows how to entertain.

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