Fan report by Mark Giles.

Elton topped the bill at the first Magic Summer Live concert held outdoors at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire on July 17, 2011. In an afternoon of typical British summertime weather, which varied from warm sunshine to heavy downpours of rain, the large crowd were treated to acts such as Wonderland, The Overtones, The Pierces and Rumer. A welcome return to the stage for Lighthouse Family after 8 years was the highlight of the afternoons entertainment.

Elton came on stage at around 7.50pm, as and often happens with these long events, played a shorter show than usual, leaving out "Funeral for a Friend/ Love lies Bleeding", "Take me to the Pilot" and "Monkey Suit", from this summers set-list plus 'shaving' a couple of minutes from the now epic "Madman Across the Water". But it was just what the 'partying' crowd wanted ... a show that was full of hits that kept building in momentum.

Elton was in a great mood, helped, I think by the fact that this standing audience just seemed to love “Hey Ahab” (which surely has got to stay in the set-list in the future). Just before the final number Elton thanked his loyal fans especially the faces whom he’d seen at multiple shows this summer.

Just over two hours after he came on stage, Elton’s helicopter took off from behind the stage area ... I suspect he was home before I’d even got out of the car park!

Following is the complete set list of the Hartfield House show on July 17, 2011:

• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Levon
  
• Madman Across The Water
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Hey Ahab
  
• Gone To Shiloh
  
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• Are You Ready For Love?
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• Your Song

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