23 June: Thetford Forest, Near Brandon, Suffolk

Support: British Sea Power

Pulp were ace once again. Nice set, but maybe F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. could've come a little later; seemed a weird song to open with. it's such a dark song...it could've done with a bit more natural darkness (and a little less daylight and sunshine). Three cheers for the person who decided Pulp were to play in a forest; it was a beautiful venue. No corporate advertisements to distract anyone from the music or the setting, and vendors selling food at *real* prices! A night to be remembered (Tom Draper)

Thetford was excellent. I had a brilliant time. The setting was again very picturesque, the atmosphere happy & relaxed & we passed the time waiting for Pulp, taking this in & discussing Pulpy matters down on the front row. The excitement builds while the stage is set for Pulp. Then, finally, there they were. Well, most of them & all looking happy. Unlike Sherwood, Jarvis did his normal thing of following on after a little interval. No parka this time either. He leaps on the monitor & stares out at us while Pulp play the eerie opening bars to F.E.E.L.I.N.G. Not too sure it's the best opener, but it is one of the best live Pulp songs so it doesn't really matter. Sorted is good to have early on because it ensures everyone is in the mood for a fantastic concert in the trees. On we go through lots of favourite songs, Jarvis is very lively, jumping all over the stage & monitors & onto the platform in front of the stage just inches from us. He tells us he had a bad back, but you'd never know. He got us to chant 'Lumbago is not a crime'. That must be a 1st for a pop concert! He covers many varied subjects as usual, from Norfolk Broad boat trips to how plants breathe. Live Bed Show is now one to really look forward to with the instrumental ending which is wonderful. Here the stage was bathed in blue & Pulp were silhouetted as they played - it was absolutely magical..Jarvis finally did The Jacket Removal during the intro to Hardcore. But was he stuck in his jacket or was it perfect timing to tease us? He finally got free threw it down & gave it a Jarvis-hard-stare just in time to start the lyric. Whatever, it had everyone transfixed. His habit of winding the mic wire round his neck always looks a bit worrying. Not that there'd be a shortage of volunteers to give him kiss of life! Hardcore runs so perfectly into I Love My Life, which leaves Jarvis gasping on the floor 'breathe in breathe out' & this in turn could not be more perfectly followed by anything other than Sunrise. The start of Sunrise still makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up & the instrumental climax is gorgeous, add to that Jarvis jumping & writhing a foot or so away & you could think you're in heaven. Just the idiots behind remind you it's not, by choosing then to try & barge through us again to get to the front. Hard luck. Then they're gone, but soon return with Trees, the 'oldie' slot filled wonderfully by I Want You, how fantastic to hear that one. Babies makes up for it having to end. The second encore is a powerful Underwear & an excellent Common People, making up for the bodged CP at Sherwood. Then it's over. Pulp you were fantastic. (Toni Sutton)

First time I've been to an outdoor gig like this, the surrounding trees made it feel quite intimate, and there was a very relaxed atmosphere (picnic baskets and spliffs all round). I was looking forward to seeing the Coral and Richard Hawley but British Sea Power were a nice surprise (bit like a hyperactive Coldplay). So there was a bit of confusion when the next act came on, was is Richard Hawley's band or Pulp? It was Pulp, and L.O.V.E was a strange opener but Sorted got people going after that. There were some more simple backing images of trees and bushes, although Hardcore kept it's fifties' porno. Musically I think this is the tightest and happiest Pulp have been for a long time. I especially liked the extended version of Live Bed Show. Although I thought there could have been more singing along from the crowd, Pulp seemed genuinely happy, with some top banter from Jarvis, including a survey on whether we'd been boating on the Norfolk broads ("liars"), if any of us had suffered back pain ("repeat after me: lumbago is not a crime") and a repeat of his Brixton science lesson on why talking to plants is good for them, as he said this was one of the few occasions you really could "tell it to the trees. go on, no one will laugh." I Want You was a good oldie, and although Something Changed, Minnie, Joyriders, and Do You Remember The First Time would have been nice, the final encore of Underwear and Common People sent everyone home happy. All this and organised traffic at the end. Beats a soulless aircraft hanger sized arena any day. (Joe)

Wow! what a great gig, they'll have to do it again some time. The forest setting was so beautiful and it seemed really intimate for an outdoor gig. I've never been to a gig before where so many people brought chairs - weird. The mix of songs was terrific, ended up moshing while desperate for the loo, not a good combination after having 4 children! Couldn't have missed a moment of it, though I'm paying for it today - at 43 I should know better, but I'd do it all again tomorrow if I could. The only miniscule disappointment was the lack of the Coral, what happened to them? British Sea Power were ok although I was looking forward to hearing Richard's own stuff. Next stop for me is Reading, what will that bring? I just can't wait. (Lynn Langdown)

Pulp ruled the world last night - best I've seen them since Glastonbury 98... (Andrew Newsham)

Just had to drop a line as I was able to attend the concert at Thetford on Sunday which was brilliant, fantastic, etc etc  - need I say more  - the band were excellent and the atmosphere just brill (Joy Eayres)