Mike Skinner delivers a masterclass at The Streets' biggest headline show

22 years after its release, A Grand Don't Come For Free is finally performed in full, and somehow exceeds expectations.

It often feels like The Streets isn't an act you remember discovering. Every young British person seems to have been born knowing the lyrics to Fit But You Know It and Dry Your Eyes by heart, reaching a level of cultural significance that most artists can only dream of. And it's exactly that shared nostalgia that made this performance so special.

It almost felt like the stars aligned for this concert. Outdoors at Alexandra Palace Park during a perfect 26-degree British heatwave, England beating France to claim third place in the World Cup just before Skinner took to the stage, and, for the first time on this tour, A Grand Don't Come For Free performed in its entirety. I don't consider myself a particularly patriotic person, but there was something about seeing something so unapologetically British that instilled a small sense of pride.

Mike Skinner emerged in full Stone Island garb and got straight into the performance in an almost theatrical fashion, completely inhabiting the story of the album. Kevin Mark Trail and Roo Savill, who provided backing vocals throughout, were equally impressive, elevating the storytelling at every turn. Roo, in particular, was exceptional as Simone during Get Out Of My House and Could Well Be In, adding another layer to an album that already feels incredibly cinematic.

Then the album ended, and the atmosphere completely shifted.

The moment the opening notes of Turn The Page rang out, Alley Pally Park erupted into one enormous party. From there it was hit after hit, and Skinner, now stepping out of character and back into himself, fully embraced the crowd, weaving through the audience and even crowd surfing mid-song.

His ability to combine earnest lyricism, humour and vulnerability over garage beats remains unmatched. Few songwriters can turn something as mundane as losing a grand down the back of the television or getting far too drunk on a night out into stories that feel almost poetic.

Towards the end of the night, Skinner told the crowd these Alexandra Palace shows were the biggest headline gigs of his career. It was hard to believe given the cultural weight The Streets' catalogue carries, but if anything, the performance only proved he deserved to be on a stage this size long ago.