Sunderland

The legendary singer performed to a packed out Stadium of Light on Wednesday

The rain might have done its best to spoil the gig and Waitin’ on a Sunny Day may have been the most apt song choice ever to start his set, but Bruce Springsteen had his Sunderland audience in the palm of his hand on Wednesday night, as he delivered an evening of classics to a rain drenched stadium.His first trip to Wearside in 12 years, with his last visit being 2012’s Wrecking Ball tour, Bruce’s concert at the Stadium of Light as always going to be a huge draw and, even the vile weather didn’t deter an estimated crowd of around 40,000 from making their way to the ground in awful conditions from early afternoon.With the downpours and sheer number of people heading to the gig causing its fair share of travel chaos on both the roads and the Metros, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that the start time for the show was delayed by half an hour, from the intended 7pm to 7.30pm.But, the bleak weather and the longer than expected wait for The Boss to arrive on stage did little to dampen ticket holders’ spirits as the crowd, many decked out in ponchos, greeted Bruce and The E Street Band with a rapturous reception when they finally arrived on stage to launch into Waitin’ on a Sunny Day.As well as being an ironically ideal song for the occasion, it was the first time Bruce and the band had performed the song together in seven years.

Bruce Springsteen arrived on stage later than expected at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Wednesday