REVIEW: Idris Elba rounds off Goodwood’s Three Friday Nights

Is Idris Elba the coolest man in Britain? As an actor he’s played Nelson Mandela on the big screen and Luther on TV to critical acclaim. He also drives fast cars and is being talked about as the new James Bond when Daniel Craig hands in his licence to kill.
Idris Elba was a huge hit at GoodwoodIdris Elba was a huge hit at Goodwood
Idris Elba was a huge hit at Goodwood

But at Goodwood it was his skills as a DJ that the crowd had come to see and hear - and he didn’t disappoint. With the last horse safely loaded up and on the way home and the parade ring rapidly transformed into an open air nightclub, it was time for Elba to do his thing behind the decks on the last of the hugely popular Three Friday Nights.

In black leather jacket, white t-shirt, natty cap and obligatory shades, he soon had people jumping up and down and waving their hands in the air. As the sun disappeared and dark descended on the Downs, it could easily have been Ibiza (where, no surprise, he’s had successful residencies).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Banks of synchronised lights flashed and lasers lit up the night sky as Elba took us on a musical journey, headphones clamped on as he expertly linked and mixed rhythms, slowing things down and then building up to a crescendo.

‘Goodwood, make some noise’ he urged, wiping sweat off his face with a towel and dragging on a cigarette as he wove the heavy beats and power vocals of club tracks with mainstream hits from Rock Lobster to Show Me Love and a Fleetwood Mac finale. But he didn’t need to ask.

‘You are beautiful tonight,’ he smiled as he looked out at the sea of partying people below. As they roared back their approval, it was clear that right now he’s a man who can do no wrong.

SIMON TOFT

See the latest from Goodwood in the Chichester Observer, out on Thursday

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Related topics: