Fan report by Mark S. Giles.

Elton and the band performed another super show at Hop Farm in Kent on June 20, 2004. This was the last band show of this period before the much awaited Orchestra shows start next week.

In contrast to the previous three football club venues, this show was situated at the Hop farm Country park. The concert ticket included entry to the exhibitions which featured a journey through Kent's rural history. Also on the grounds was a food festival, where you could sample all sorts of home-made delights.

The weather forecast had threatened rain, and true to its word, torrential rain fell on my arrival at about 3 pm. But, miraculously, it gradually stopped and by the time the show started the arena was bathed in sunshine.

On entering the arena, it was reminiscant of the "Stately Homes" solo shows in 2000. The audience mirrored that, as they were by far the quietest of the tour so far. The only difference from that tour was that this time the stage was around 6ft 10in high as opposed to the chest high stage in 2000.

Once again, the Scissor Sisters opened the show at 6.15pm. They are quite entertaining ... the lead singer split his trousers much to the amusement of his mother who was in the audience. The group stayed behind to watch Elton's set ,enabling me to speak to them and get some autographs.

As in previous shows the band came on quietly before starting "The Bitch is Back". Elton appeared in the same attire as Ipswich, black jacket, trousers and red shirt. What has been nice on the shows I've seen is that he's worn glasses, although tinted (in this case red), you can see his eyes through them ... especially from the super 3rd row seats that I had. He laid on top of the piano before settling into the song.

The set list was the same as the previous shows, the early highlights for me being, as ever, "Rocket Man", "Levon", "Funeral for a Friend" and "Believe".

During "Alice", Elton's cocker spaniel, Arthur made an appearance by the side of the stage.

"Are You Ready For Love" got people on their feet and the signal to "rush" the stage. Although for what seemed like quite a while I was one of only four people who made the move, until the Rocket fans came down from their 7th row seats. Unfortunately, with the stage being so high it was quite an effort to see Elton, and we had to stand back from the stage ,rather than get "neck -ache".

The band really rocked on that last part of the show, Elton and the band looked as though they were really enjoying it ... and as ever although the show was two and a half hours long it was over too quickly.

Due to the height of the stage there were no autographs or handshakes before "Your Song". Another great night ... Elton flew over in his helicopter (he'd flown through that rainstorm earlier) and was away before we'd left the arena.
Over a week to wait for the Orchestra shows ... they can't come soon enough.

Following is the complete set list of the Hop Farm show on June 20, 2004:

• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Levon
  
• Daniel
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• I Want Love
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Believe
  
• All The Young Girls Love Alice
  
• Are You Ready For Love
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
  
• Your Song