Yesterday — well it seemed so cool — when I would play my Roxy Music singles and imagine I would one day be as suave as Bryan Ferry.

Now I’m old enough to realise this will never be possible.

But at a sold-out show at the New Theatre I was reminded why I was once such an avid Ferry fan.

The singer is 69, but he certainly didn’t look it as he strode onto the stage with a 10-piece band, launching into an entertaining set lasting well over 90 minutes, and which took in the highlights of a 40-year career in the music business.

Ferry, dressed in a dark suit and black shirt but no tie, started the evening with a couple of songs from his new album Avonmore.

But he soon moved on to more familiar territory.

Some of the best renditions featured songs which were not his own. Dylan’s bitter tale of love lost Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright was given a delicate piano accompaniment.

And while Ferry’s key position was centre stage at the mic he sometimes switched to a seat at the keyboards and it was here he delivered a wistful More Than This.

Take A Chance With Me, one of the catchiest tunes from the bestseller Roxy Music album Avalon, got the audience singing along. There was appreciative applause for Ferry’s cover of the Jerome Kern classic Smoke gets in Your Eyes, a song he recorded way back in ‘74.

The lighting was discreet, but every song was a spectacle with Ferry invoking the varied talents of different band members — the three enthusiastic backing singers, the striking saxophonist, lead guitarist or violin player.

Before I knew it the frontman was urging me onto my feet to sway to the Roxy Music tunes that made his name: Love is the Drug, Virginia Plain and Do the Strand.

Jealous Guy, Ferry’s tribute to Lennon, which hit number one in the 80s, should have been the evening’s hold-up-the-lighters moment but fans were too busy singing along.

Slave to Love from Boys and Girls was another highlight but sadly there was no Dance Away.

With such a long and celebrated back catalogue you can’t have everything.

Let’s Stick Together, the smooth old stager implored his fans before the night was up — and, judging by the adulation, they will be turning out to support him for a long time to come.

Andy Ffrench