Category

Celebrity

Category

So Knebworth again. He came. He saw and he fucking conquered. Some (might say!) that you shouldn’t go back to Knebworth, but to hell with expectations and rules. Liam’s always swaggered to the beat of his own drum anyway. When it comes to Knebworth, as the man says himself ‘This is history – part 2!’

Let’s cast our minds back to the Platinum Jubilee weekend in June. I was at Knebworth reviewing the one and only Liam Gallagher. When he announced that he would be performing at the iconic Hertfordshire venue, 26 years after Oasis did THAT gig, there were a few rumblings from naysayers, but predominantly, there was a real sense of anticipation and the excitement was palpable.

LG sold out two nights and his huge back-to-back shows saw him perform in front of 170,000 adoring fans. Whether you were there or not, ‘Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22’ will make you feel like you were there.

This brand new documentary film directed by Toby L , who has also worked on film projects for Bastille, Olivia Rodrigo and Damon Albarn offers an intimate insight into Liam and his team’s preparations for Knebworth.

It follows Liam as he heads back to the hallowed ground of Knebworth. This intriguing film showcases tracks from the gig interspersed with backstage footage which includes interviews, soundchecks and more.

There’s also commentary from his band members and fans. It’s an absolutely fantastic watch for both Liam stalwarts and a new generation of LG fans. Some of them weren’t even born at the height of the band’s success.

It cleverly offers several different perspectives of a selection of fans who are going to the gig and the gargantuan impact that Liam has on their lives, many of which have travelled far and wide to watch the iconic gig.

There’s little Audrina, an absolute demon on the ukulele who has thankfully recovered from cancer, the hugely passionate Aya who is missing her biggest exam at college in Belgium to go to Knebworth, Simon who’s taking his entire family of three generations to the gig and has an Liam-themed pub in his garden – the list goes on.

One fan cancelled his honeymoon in Jamaica to go, another used her life savings to go watch Liam and another who has sacked off his job to go. After all, this was going to be the biggest gig of the year, why let weddings/money/your boss get in the way?! They clearly are all channelling the spirit of LG with a ‘zero fucks’ attitude.

Everyone has a story (Morning Glory!) and it’s heartening to see how the magnitude of how Liam, Oasis and his solo music have touched so many people. There’s some throwback footage from the 90’s, including footage from Oasis making their TV debut on ‘The Word’ from 1994.

At the beginning of the film, we see Liam flying over Knebworth in a helicopter and you really get a feeling of how up for it he is. This has been a long time coming. He says that he just wants to get on the stage ‘like a caged animal’ commenting that he ‘just wants to fucking let rip you know what I mean?’.

After the live music industry had been devastated by Covid-19, the return of gigs and festivals has never been more important and Knebworth was the pinnacle of this.

Even Liam admits that he didn’t think they would get back to ‘doing arenas let alone Knebworth’. Both nights had a fantastic line up of support acts on the bill including Kasabian. All of which were hand-picked by Gallagher to join him for the two nights he played at Knebworth.

Kasabian’s Serge makes a cameo commenting how music is ‘bringing people together’ and there’s also insight on Liam and his musical legacy from the likes of Melvin Benn (the promoter and MD of Festival Republic), Sam Eldridge (Liam’s Co-Manager who with Debbie Gwyther who have collectively helped shape Liam’s career and have been instrumental to the success of the Knebworth gigs) and band members – keyboard player Christian Madden and guitarist Mike Moore.

There’s some funny anecdotes, Liam genuinely can’t remember certain aspects and places of Knebworth after performing there with Oasis in the ‘90’s. ‘I’ve never seen it in my fucking life!’ he remarks whilst marvelling at the expansive Knebworth landscape ‘Fucking hell, it’s big Debs!’.

C’mon You Know!

Some of the fans interviewed in the documentary were there and unequivocally have a slightly less than hazy recollection of that summer’s day and explained why they wanted to go back for as Liam calls it Knebworth ‘Part 2’. Without a doubt, this gig was really important to them to be part of the story and of Knebworth’s heritage.

Some things are always the same, the Oasis tee shirts, the bucket hats (although Liam admits he doesn’t think the fashion (of the ‘90’s) ‘was all that’. But Liam looked resplendent in a pristine white parka on Friday and looked equally cool the following day.

Whilst this documentary doesn’t show any of the footage of any Oasis tracks, the music that is included stands on its own merits, with tracks like ‘More Power’, a beautiful track from 2022’s ‘C’mon You Know’ (his third solo album) the epic ‘Wall of Glass’ from 2017’s ‘As You Were’, ‘Shockwave’ from 2019’s ‘Why Me? Why Not.’, ‘Everything’s Electric’ (which was co-written by Dave Grohl) ‘Better Days’, ‘The River’, ‘More Power’ and more.

Liam was joined by the legendary Stone Roses’ guitarist John Squire as the colossal gig drew to a close. It wasn’t John’s first rodeo at Knebworth having also appeared at the venue with Oasis back in 1996. This is sadly not included in the documentary, but it was truly a special moment for the elated crowd.

Liam Gallagher is a captivating performer with a charismatic stage presence, he sings as if his life depends on it and the gig at Knebworth was truly a magical and ‘biblical’ experience.

He’s a powerhouse in a parka, and this documentary not only showcases his craftsmanship and prowess as a performer, but it emphasises how instrumental live music is and what it means to us all.

Of course, it’s not just about Liam’s story, it’s about all of us. How we are all enjoying a moment in time, a song, an album and a gig. We’re all here for the same reason – the music. As Liam says ‘That’s what it’s all about, bringing people together’.

Omission of Oasis tracks aside, what’s clear is Liam’s passion for his music, the gig and his fans. He wants to do the best gig he can whether it’s for 100 fans or 100,000 fans. He is a man of the people and admits he is giving the fans ‘what they want’.

When it comes to Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22, as LG says himself ‘Do you want to know what’s going on – check this shit out!’

Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22 will be in cinemas worldwide from Thursday 17th November for a limited time only.

“You say it’s your birthday. We’re gonna have a good time!”, ok, so this jubilant track came from ‘The White Album’ which was released by The Beatles just one year after the release of the album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and tonight it was the latter album and it’s instantly recognisable design that was on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

‘The White Album’ (technically known as ‘The Beatles’ album) served as somewhat of a minimalist palate cleanser after the glorious technicoloured dream that was ‘Sgt. Pepper’ which was the brainchild and creative genius of Sir Peter Blake who not only helped cement this album as one of the most iconic album covers of all time, but it helped contribute to it being a milestone album of the band’s career.

This was the case not just visually, but sonically too. Both were a significant shift for the ‘Fab Four’ and demonstrated how far they had come since their earlier albums such as ‘With the Beatles’.

In celebration of this and the many other incredible pieces of art that Sir Peter Blake has created and to commemorate his 90th birthday which he celebrated earlier this year, musician and songwriter Paul Weller hosted an evening at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre to celebrate Sir Peter and his incredible body of work.

The extravaganza was hosted by BBC Radio 4’s John Wilson who effortlessly compèred the star-crammed concert in London where acts like Noel Gallagher, Chrissie Hynde, Paul Weller and Madness all put on a stellar performance.

As well as some mind-blowing sets, the audience (which included Sir Peter and his family) were treated to anecdotes and tributes both pre-recorded and on stage from famous faces from the world of music and art.

This included Damien Hirst, David Hockney and Tracey Emin who talked fondly of the great man. Musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney, Jarvis Cocker and Eric Clapton also paid tribute to the iconic artist.

All the musicians who performed had their opportunity to sit down with John Wilson and speak about what it was like to either work with Peter or the profound effect that his work had on them either individually or from a collaborative aspect.

“Why do you paint? and I say, to make magic.“ – Sir Peter Blake

There was the expected – talking through the creative process for ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and other albums that had been treated to the ‘Peter Blake’ experience as well as the unexpected which included the confession by singer Chrissie Hynde’s now not-so-secret crush on actor Dennis Waterman (we think he would have absolutely loved this revelation!) where she paid her own tribute to the dearly departed actor by singing a rocky version of his ‘feem tune’ ‘I Could Be So Good for You’ from the TV show ‘Minder’.

The man that devised the event and hand-picked each band/musician for the gig, Mr Paul Weller who was looking as dapper as ever in a tailored jacket and a sharp haircut was introduced to the stage and talked about what it meant to create this event for Peter.

Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

His first introduction to his work was of course via The Beatles which during the chat with John he noted that like most admirers of this album cover that he kept ‘discovering different things. Weller then called upon Sir Peter to design the record sleeve for his 1995 album ‘Stanley Road’.

This instantly recognisable cover—a highly personal collage paying homage to Paul’s childhood and influences is one of his most seminal pieces of work. During his conversation with compere John Wilson, Paul Weller reminisced that he was so ‘nervous and shy’ when meeting the esteemed artist.

Paul’s admiration for his commitment to art was just one of the reasons why he created this star-studded lineup curated by himself in celebration of a true great of British pop culture and how the proceeds were going to benefit two amazing charities which included the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Graeae Theatre Company, of which Sir Peter is a founder patron.

Baxter Dury - Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Baxter Dury – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Baxter Dury clad in a pristine pale pink suit kicked off the musical proceedings with a blistering set and showed he meant business by parading around the stage with unsurpassed swagger performing tracks like ‘Pleasure’, Slumlord’ and ‘Miami’ which included some serious dance moves.

He later had the opportunity to sit with John Wilson to talk about the relationship between himself and Sir Peter who had taught Baxter’s father Ian at Art school which resulted in long-standing friendship between the artist and musician.

The pair collaborated several times, and inspired one another’s work, for example when Peter designed the promotional poster for the Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ single ‘Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3’ amongst others.

The Who talks with John Wilson - Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
The Who talks with John Wilson – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend from the legendary rock band ‘The Who’ sat down with John Wilson to talk about Peter and his work. The artist designed the sleeve for album artwork for their ‘Who’ album and also designed and contributed a painting to the sleeve of The Who’s 1981 album ‘Face Dances’ too.

Chrissie Hynde - Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Chrissie Hynde – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Musician and all-round kick-ass frontwoman Chrissie Hynde took to the stage superbly supported by her fantastic band which included musicians Tom Van Heel on keyboards and backing vocals and Ben Gordelier from Paul Weller’s band and psychedelic-rock band ‘The Moons’.

Her stunning set included a cover of ‘I Go To Sleep’ by The Kinks, her interpretation of the brilliant ‘Foxy Lady’ by Jimi Hendrix which showcased both her and Jeff Wootten’s spectacular guitar playing on this seminal Hendrix track.

Chrissie Hynde and band perform at the Royal Festival Hall. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Chrissie Hynde and band perform at the Royal Festival Hall. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Of course, there were some tracks by The Pretenders in the mix such as ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ and ‘2000 Miles’ which gave all the festive feels.

Chrissie is such a giving and warm performer and was so engaging and charming, it goes without saying that the audience loved her set which was followed up by a chat with Noel Gallagher.

Noel Gallagher and John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Noel Gallagher and John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

An interview with the charismatic Noel Gallagher is always high on my watch list, not only is he always effortlessly entertaining, he also has to be one of the funniest people in the music industry too.

Noel elaborated on how Sir Peter conceptualised and designed the Oasis album ‘Stop The Clocks’ from 2006. The album features a collection of random objet d’art pieces which were found and curated in Sir Peter’s studio.

Peter let Noel and the band pick out what resonated with them which included items far and wide-ranging from Elvis to one of the seven dwarfs. Noel commented that it was an ‘amazing experience’ to be in the Blake studio and without doubt it’s an instantly recognisable piece of art.

How do you follow Mr Noel Gallagher and his indomitable wit and magnetism? It’s almost impossible, but it could only be with a five song set from who Noel calls the ‘Guvnor’ – Mr Paul Weller himself.

Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Paul performed an exemplary and exquisite set of five songs which included the breathtaking ‘Gravity’ and the uplifting ‘Out of The Sinking’.

Paul Weller Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Paul Weller Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

It was great to hear ‘Soul Searchers’ from the 2014 album ‘True Meanings’, Paul’s fourteenth solo studio album as well as ‘Broken Stones’ from the aforementioned ‘Stanley Road’ which captivated the enraptured audience.

Of course, we had to hear from the great man himself – Sir Peter Blake who pointed out that today wasn’t actually his birthday, ‘but, er, near enough!’. Fair point, but if you are going to have a birthday shindig, why not go all out and have it at the Royal Festival Hall in front of some music royalty?!.

Surrounded by his family, Peter thanked the acts as well as the audience for attending this one-off live performance.

Then it was time for more music and it was time for Noel Gallagher again who performed a compelling set of some Oasis classics which included a stunning rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ from ‘Be Here Now’.

Noel Gallagher at the Royal Festival Hall - Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Noel Gallagher at the Royal Festival Hall – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

This was truly a special moment, as this was the first time Noel had sung this track on stage as a solo artist (having last performed this track when he was in Oasis)

‘Wonderwall’ was a triumph and Noel effortlessly delivered on passion, sincerity, conviction and feeling on both this track as well as  ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.

He dedicated ‘Live Forever’ to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie who had sadly passed away earlier that week which made for a beautiful and touching moment and it evoked a huge wave of emotion that seemed to hit everyone in the audience.

There is something so powerful about those lyrics and the connection Noel has with the audience when he sings like his heart depends on it.

Noel Gallagher - Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Noel Gallagher – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

This was a spellbinding performance that showcased not only his spectacular performance skills, but also his beautiful songwriting with the poignancy and meaning of the gorgeous lyrics and his captivating delivery ensured that there was barely a dry eye in the house and he left the audience wanting more.

Suggs from Madness charmed and amused the sold-out crowd with tales over his indecision over the artwork for the tenth Madness album ‘Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da’. Suggs explained that Peter created the artwork after the band kept changing their minds which resulted in the famed ‘crossing out’ design.

Suggs chats to John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Suggs chats to John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

There was also an appearance from an animated Bob Geldof who waxed lyrical about Peter’s designs for the Band Aid single and Live Aid.

The Who are always an absolute riot to watch live, and Pete, Roger and their band did not disappoint. They kicked off with a barnstorming rendition of the electrifying ‘Substitute’ which really got the elated crowd on their feet. Of course, there was some classic shredding from Pete who with Roger did a stunning version of ‘Behind Blue Eyes’.

The Who perform in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
The Who perform in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Other standouts included an effervescent rendition of  ‘Pinball Wizard’ and a rousing version of ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ with just the two rock ‘n’ roll stalwarts performing together as they have done so since the 1960’s.

Last but by no means least was the event closers – Madness.

Madness in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Madness in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

The Camden natives were on fire and put on a scintillating and pulsating display. Their set complete with colourful visual backdrops really got the party underway. From ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘The Prince’ to the dynamic ‘One Step Beyond’, the Madness boys cranked up the energy to deliver a high octane and jubilant performance.

Madness perform at the Sir Peter Blake gig in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Madness perform at the Sir Peter Blake gig in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham

Other standouts included ‘The Sun and The Rain’ from 1994’s ‘Keep Moving ‘and their delightful cover of Labi Siffre ‘It Must Be Love’. This was a glorious end to a fantastic night of live music from some of Britain’s finest bands and musicians.

Words by: Emma Harrison

Additional Reporting: Joe Flanagan

Photos (where stated) : Sharon Latham

The Cure’s live shows are always bewitching, intoxicating and dynamic and their gig at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy was no exception. If you have ever been fortunate to go and see The Cure live, you will know that the set is always super long, but it’s a unique and fulfilling sonic experience.

The band were ably supported by the Scottish rock band The Twilight Sad, who performed tracks like ‘Kill It in the Morning’, ‘There’s a Girl in the Corner’ and a superb cover of Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Keep Yourself Warm’.

This wasn’t The Twilight Sad’s first rodeo touring with The Cure and they put on an impressive set that entertained the crowd.

The staging was incredibly atmospheric, before The Cure came on stage, a cacophony of rain could be heard over the speakers which added a real sense of anticipation to the proceedings.

Robert Smith and the band kicked off their set with a brand new song that has been incredibly well-received by fans throughout their European tour. 

‘Alone’ a soaring, dramatic track that really draws you in is a triumph and showcases Smith’s prowess as an exemplary songwriter with lyrics like ‘The fire burned out to ash and the stars grow dim with tears’.

This, coupled with two other tracks that were interspersed between deep cuts and evergreen classics made the band’s set an absolutely electric affair. The new tracks form part of a forthcoming and highly-anticipated album by The Cure which frontman Robert Smith has hinted will be entitled ‘Songs of the Lost World’ and has indicated will be ‘the doomiest thing we’ve ever done’.

The long-awaited album (their first since 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream‘) is rumoured to be comparable to the likes of 1989’s ‘Disintegration’.

However, as is the case with The Cure, where there’s dark, there’s also light which could be found in tracks like the joyful ‘Friday I’m in Love’ which really set the crowd alight. ‘Lovesong’ was a huge triumph as was the post-punk anthem ‘A Forest’ which was haunting and heavenly in equal measure.

Robert Smith of The Cure performs at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy
Robert Smith of The Cure performs at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy

Another new song from ‘Songs Of A Lost World‘ included ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ an emotional track which was a tribute to Robert’s brother who sadly passed away.

Highly emotive, this deeply personal track really resonates with anyone who has ever lost someone they love with touching lyrics like ‘‘Something wicked this way comes, to steal away my brother’s life’.

‘Endsong’ was a stunning exhibition of the band’s super musicality and stage presence. The pioneering and introspective track was performed under a blood moon on the big screen.

Those looking for a back-to-back showcase of The Cures’ most loved, seminal rock ’n’ roll hits were not disappointed with tracks like ‘Lullaby’, ‘Close To Me’, ‘Just Like Heaven’, ‘Hot Hot Hot!’ which was a tour debut, ‘Pictures of You’, and ‘In Between Days’. This was an exemplary set that showcased their impressive body of work.

Every band member put on a first-class and dynamic performance which included a welcome return of Perry Bamonte back to the band. Bassist Simon Gallup put on a high-octane and exuberant performance showing why he’s one of the best bass players in the business.

A force of nature and one of the most compelling and intriguing frontmen in music, Smith is a charismatic and captivating performer, his vocals remain as impassioned as ever before and haven’t changed since the band’s inception in the late seventies.

One of the highlights was the closer ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ which was a euphoric and dazzling rendition of one of the band’s best-loved hits.

The Cures’ gig in Florence was an electrifying and unmissable experience, with the band proving once again how incredible they are on stage.

Mesmerising and captivating; there are probably not enough superlatives to give The Cure who put on one of their best-ever performances in Florence.

Photo credits: Mauro Melis and Emma Harrison

Almost 22 years since the release of the debut hit album ‘One Touch’, the Sugababes are back and they mean business.

Further to their electrifying performances at Glastonbury, Victorious and a myriad of other festivals earlier this year, the iconic and original trio made up of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy are on tour for the first time in ten years since they last toured as MKS (Mutya Keisha Siobhan)

With stellar support from rising star Kara Marni who put on a fantastic display which included ‘Trippin’ – a monster of a track that samples Amerie’s ‘1 Thing’. ‘Over You’ and a very heartfelt rendition of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’.

Kara gave a well-rounded and captivating performance and really helped pave the way to get the party started for a fantastic night of live music.

An elated crowd welcomed the Sugababes to the stage who kicked off proceedings with a sultry and cool rendition of ‘Push the Button’ which was followed in quick succession with ‘Red Dress’ and the brilliant ‘Hole in the Head’.

The trio have always been renowned for their impressive harmonies and their supercool attitudes, track by track, this was a masterclass in pop perfection with every member giving a high energy and an accomplished performance

Hit after hit, the girls showcased their epic back catalogue of their best-loved hits which sat effortlessly alongside some deep cuts and tracks from their MKS days which included ‘Flatline’ and ‘Love Me Hard’.

The Sugababes elated the crowd with tracks like ‘Ugly’, an emotional ‘Too Lost In You’, an impassioned rendition of ‘Stronger’ and ‘2 Hearts’.

One of the highlights of the set was a cover of Sweet Female Attitude’s ‘Flowers’, which was followed by ‘Round Round’ and the electrifying ‘Freak Like Me’. The band closed the set with fan favourite ‘About You Now’ which really set the 02 Academy in Bournemouth alight.

Melodic and magnificent in equal measure, the Sugababes effortlessly showed their pop pedigree thanks to their top-notch performance skills and their captivating and endearing stage presence.

Photo credit @BLAYKE

The End Of The Road festival has been captivating festival goers since its inauguration in 2006, thanks to its quaint location in the heart of the countryside on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, its boutique vibes and its carefully curated lineup of music.

Located at the scenic Larmer Tree Gardens, this festival offers a wide range of musical talent on offer and has been instrumental in showcasing talents like Tame Impala, Father John Misty, Sleaford Mods, Little Simz and more.

Thursday

With an eclectic lineup over four days, Thursday saw Texan psychedelic trio Khruangbin provide a cosmically delicious performance that was atmospheric and exhilarating in equal measure. The Houston band effortlessly fuses together an intoxicating mix of psychedelia, Middle Eastern soul, jazz-funk, reggae dub and more.

There were rousing renditions of tracks like ‘August 10’ and ‘Maria También’ as well as some electric interpretations of Dick Dale’s ‘Miserlou’, Spandau Ballet’s ‘True’ and a funk-laden version of Tina Turner’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’.

Another standout was post-genre American artist Sudan Archives who put on a dynamic and well-rounded performance playing her fiddle with a dizzying panache.

At the close of ‘NPBQ’ she hollers that she just ‘wants to have her ti*tties out’, the excitement for the first night of ‘End of The Road’ is clearly palpable and is rubbing off on everyone, especially Brittney Parks.

Friday

Friday saw performances from Seattle indie-folk rockers Fleet Foxes, and London-four piece Automotion who put on a high energy and compelling performance complete with impressive driving guitar work.

Mali’s Tinariwen which included some pretty nifty guitar work from leader Ibrahim Ag Alhabib who cut a resplendent and majestic figure and got the crowd going with his undulating rhythms.

Post-punk rockers Porridge Radio put on a passionate yet vulnerable display at the Garden stage, but it was the magnificent Soccer Mommy who was the standout act of the night with her candid storytelling and shoegaze-driven guitars that drew in quite the crowd over at the Big Top stage.

‘Bones’ was an absolute triumph, but the overall set was a dreamy waltz through Allison’s impressive body of work.

The genre-gnarling members of Black Midi served a typically avante-garde, frenzied and vociferous set over at the Garden stage. Their rock opera album Hellfire was performed almost in its entirety asking the crowd to vape collectively to create a smoke machine effect – and why not?!

Fleet Foxes were a worthy headliner for Friday, they sounded fantastic and their harmonies were rich and deep in equal measure.

This was an intricate and impressive performance and was absolutely worth waiting for after Covid halted their plans to play at last year’s festival.

The set was stellar in every way, with the inclusion of ‘Can I Believe You’, ‘Phoenix’, ‘Drops in the River’ amongst others.

Saturday

Saturday saw solid performances from the likes of Kevin Morby, The Magnetic Fields, The Weather Station, Los Bitchos and more. Alabaster Deplume added a serene and celebratory vibe to Saturday’s proceedings.

Without a doubt, the endearing Perfume Genius was a magnificent addition to End of the Road. Despite worrying about falling over (don’t talk about it – thoughts become things and all that jazz!) he strutted like the peacocks that have been walking around the Larmer Tree Gardens for years!

An abundant and accomplished performance, Hadreas is akin to a flamboyant Vegas showman, especially with the electrifying ‘Queen’.

Of course, it was the magnificent Pixies that drew the largest crowd of the festival thus far. Kicking off proceedings with an exhilarating rendition of ‘Gouge Away’ closely followed by ‘Debaser’, ‘Hey’, ‘Planet of Sound’ and the ultra-savage ‘U-Mass’.

Whilst the newer material was well-received, it was those classic Pixies hits that got the crowd going. The influential indie-rock pioneers showcased their incredible back catalogue with vigour, panache and class.

Sunday

From Kurt Vile & The Violators and Lucy Dacas to the brilliant Yard Act and Willie J Healey, Sunday was yet another monumental day of music at End of The Road.

Bright Eyes provided an impassioned and emotional performance with heartfelt tracks like ‘Lover, I don’t have to Love’, ‘Bowl of Oranges’ and ‘Persona non grata’. Melodic and melancholic in equal measure, Conor still managed to captivate the audience despite a few digressive interludes.

Aldous Harding closed Sunday at the Garden Stage in a magical and ethereal way. An emotional and hypnotic performer, you truly feel a sense of serenity when listening to her sing and her whole set is a remarkable and thrilling affair.

Harding along with several other spell-binding and riveting acts showcased once again why the End of the Road has endless appeal and is one of the most visionary, culturally-rich, enlightening and exploratory festivals in the UK.

Victorious has gone from being an under-the-radar late summer festival to one of the major players in the UK festival scene.

Music Festival has always boasted some of the most eclectic lineups in live music and has previously seen acts like Rudimental, Royal Blood, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, Years & Years and Blossoms.

The festival site is just a stone’s throw from the seafront at Southsea and is renowned for attracting festival-goers of all ages.

This musical extravaganza is one of the highlights of the UK festival calendar and this year saw the likes of the Stereophonics, Becky Hill, Paolo Nutini, Bastille and Sam Fender performing to a sold-out crowd.

One of the best things about Victorious is that there’s something for everyone, whether you are into indie, pop, folk or dance, there’s certain to be a huge selection of acts that you will be adding to your ‘must-watch’ list.

Friday

Scottish rockers Primal Scream kicked off the entire Victorious Festival 2022 with a storming set which included some of their most-loved tracks like ‘Movin On Up’, ‘Country Girl’ and the infectious ‘Rocks’. Bobby Gillespie and the band were on fine form and proved their live credentials once again with a fantastic set in the sunshine.

The Common stage also saw great performances from Anna Calvi, Soak and Self Esteem, but one of Friday’s highlights was from indie rockers James (who we reviewed in Porto earlier this year) who provided a stellar set which included ‘Come Home’, ‘Sit Down’, ‘Beautiful Beaches’ and of course the festival classic ‘Sit Down’ which was one of the entire weekend’s highlights.

Naturally, Tim Booth was at his flexible best, dancing as if his life depended on it as well as crowd surfing twice. Luckily, the crowd didn’t let him down, and neither did he.

Tim and the rest of the band were on top form, although the omission of tracks like ‘Say Something’ and ‘Laid’ were slightly disappointing, but when you have a back catalogue as extensive as James, something has always got to give!

Bombay Bicycle Club were on their unusual top form with a jam-packed collection of songs which included ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake’, ‘Shuffle’ and their reflective cover of Selena Gomez’s ‘Lose You To Love Me’.

Friday’s headliner was the incredible Stereophonics who are no strangers to the Victorious stage. Their set was pretty much the same as what the guys played when they supported Pearl Jam at BST Hyde Park earlier this summer and was a masterclass in performance from frontman Kelly Jones and the band.

Fans were treated to rousing renditions of hit after hit which included favourites like ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, ‘The Bartender & The Thief’, ‘Pick a Part That’s New’ and ‘Just Looking’ as well as tracks from their last album ‘Ochya!’ which came out earlier this year.

Friday night’s festival was closed out with a spectacular firework display which provided a colourful and thrilling end to a high-octane night of music.

Saturday

The second day of the Victorious Festival is always a pretty stellar one and Victorious 2022 was no exception.

It saw some incredible performances from the Sugababes (which coincided with the Royal Navy carrier HMS Prince of Wales passing by – is this royal approval or a mere coincidence?!), We are Scientists and Irish rockers Inhaler who delivered an energetic and dynamic set with tracks like ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ and ‘When It Breaks’.

Another Victorious veteran came in the shape of Ocean Colour Scene which included some epic guitar playing from Steve Cradock who was resplendent in a cricket jumper, looking effortlessly cool as always.

The set from Ocean Colour Scene was first class and was packed full of their most-loved hits which included ‘The Riverboat Song’ ‘One for the Road’, ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ and ‘Hundred Mile High City’.

Saturday also saw performances from The Wombats, White Lies, Declan McKenna all of whom served electrifying sets to the enraptured crowd.

Bastille’s set was first class and with tracks like ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Flaws’ and of course ‘Pompeii’, it’s easy to see why.

Paolo Nutini was another Saturday headliner, it was difficult to choose between Bastille and Paulo who delivered an incredibly strong set that effortlessly demonstrated his capabilities as a lyricist and vocalist.

Fans were not disappointed with his setlist, but the omission of ‘New Shoes’ in its entirety did ruffle a few feathers from those wanting to hear it live. However, Nutini’s set was a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing affair and was a strong way to close Saturday for Victorious.

Sunday

The Libertines kicked off day 3 of Victorious with a bang, this is a band that doesn’t disappoint. Fans were treated to a set list chock full of favourites which included ‘Up The Bracket’, ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ ‘What Became of the Likely Lads’ and ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ which really got the crowd going.

One of my favourite things about this band is the chemistry between Pete Doherty and Carl Barât – both of which put on stellar vocal performances throughout their short but sweet set.

Sunday also saw some superb performances from Sam Ryder who closed with a spectacular rendition of  ‘Spaceman’, Editors, Amy MacDonald and Metronomy who dazzled the crowd with tracks like ‘Right On Time’ and ‘Love Letters’.

Whilst there’s no doubt that the Castle Stage was heaving with fantastic performances, two of the standout performances from not just the final day of music, but from the entire festival came from the Castle Stage and the Acoustic stage from Embrace and James Walsh respectively.

Both acts were absolutely incredible; showcasing their impressive back catalogues as well as effortlessly including newer tracks, with world-class sets that truly charmed the crowd.

Embrace who have just released their 8th studio album ‘How To Be A Person Like Other People’ were on fire and fans were treated to sublime performances of ‘Gravity’, ‘Ashes’ ‘Come Back To What You Know’ amongst other beautiful tracks.

James Walsh (Starsailor) has a voice that you could listen to for hours. His understated, intelligent and heartfelt performance had the crowd in the palm of his hands.

His sincerity and tenderness when delivering a song are second-to-none and he has a very special quality that is both captivating and endearing in equal measure.

Songs like ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Silence is Easy’ are absolutely exquisite and it was a real pleasure to hear them performed with just a guitar in such an intimate setting.

Sunday was one of the busiest days of the festival and with a lineup of Becky Hill, Anne-Marie and Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the Castle Stage, it’s easy to see why.

All three acts provided an energetic and exhilarating set which got the crowds on their feed. Nothing But Thieves provided a rockier end to the pop proceedings with a barn-storming set which included ‘Impossible’ and ‘Real Love Song’.

Suede was one of the final acts to perform on the main Common stage with frontman Brett Anderson delivering hit after hit like ‘Metal Mickey’,‘Animal Nitrate’ and ‘Trash’ before closing with ‘The Beautiful Ones’.

His commitment to delivering a high-octane performance cannot be denied, but he did bizarrely have something close to a meltdown mid-set when he started telling members of the crowd to ‘f**k off’.

Sam Fender’s star continues to rise, not only did he receive huge plaudits for his performance at Glastonbury, but this year alone, he’s supported both The Rolling Stones and The Killers proving that he’s quite possibly one of the biggest musicians in the UK right now.

In a fantastic set of almost 90 minutes, Sam treated the gargantuan crowd to tracks like ‘Seventeen Going Under’, ‘Will We Talk’, ‘Getting Started’  ‘Saturday’, and of course ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ which closed Victorious 2022 accompanied by an electrifying display of colourful pyrotechnics which culminated another amazing weekend of live music down on the south coast.

Photos courtesy of Victorious festival

Today is an exciting day for David Bowie fans. It’s been revealed that musical and style icon David Bowie is to be honoured with a stone on the Camden-based trail that honours artists and trailblazers from around the globe.

The announcement comes in the lead-up to the global release of Brett Morgen’s new Bowie documentary ‘Moonage Daydream’ – an experiential, cinematic odyssey about the universally acclaimed musician which will be in cinemas from the 23rd of September.

Bowie’s stone on the Music Walk of Fame will be laid opposite Camden Town Tube Station and will be in the company of other music legends including
The Who, Madness and Amy Winehouse.

The stone will be unveiled in a star-studded ceremony outside on 15th September, with friends, collaborators and fans of the ‘Life on Mars’ singer paying tribute to the London-born artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Bowie’s phenomenal musical credentials need little introduction, with timeless hits including ‘Starman’, ‘Rebel Rebel’, ‘Space Oddity’ and ‘Let’s Dance’.

During his 54-year career, his record sales were estimated at over 100 million records worldwide undoubtedly making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with 11 UK number-one albums.

Bowie was known for innovative sounds and visions constantly reinventing himself over the years. David was particularly lauded for his groundbreaking work in the 1970s and had strong connections to London.

Born in Brixton, Bowie performed at Camden’s Roundhouse, just down the road from where the stone will be laid, three times in 1970 with his then newly formed band ‘The Hype’.

Founder of the Music Walk of Fame, Lee Bennett said: “David Bowie is a global influence, one of the ultimate influencers and sooner or later, we had to have him on The Music Walk Of Fame.

Our intention is for this to be the highest honour a music figure can receive in the UK and beyond, the unveiling of David’s stone ensures that legacy. We have huge plans for the future, but for now, let’s celebrate one of the greats of music.”

The stone unveiling will coincide with the release of ‘Moonage Daydream’ which has been described as an experimental cinematic odyssey, that explores Bowie’s creative, musical and spiritual journey.

Fans can expect to see never-seen-before footage, performances and music, the film is guided by Bowie’s narration and is the first film to be officially sanctioned by Bowie’s estate.

With a stellar lineup of Johnny Marr, the Stereophonics and headline act Pearl Jam, there was never any doubt that Saturday’s BST Hyde Park gig wouldn’t truly pack a punch and get everyone rocking.

As part of BST collection of summer gigs, the heat was rising and so was the festival spirit on a swelteringly hot day in the capital.

The first act we saw was the brilliant Johnny Marr who kicked off his set with the sublime Armatopia from the album of the same name. Whilst there were nods to tracks from his most recent album – Spirit Power and Soul (Fever Dreams PTS 1-4), he delivered a sensational set chock-full of songs from his days with The Smiths which included Panic, This Charming Man, as well as the incredible There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.

Marr’s guitar playing is always epic, but his prowess and delivery were absolutely next level – especially his performance on Getting Away With It, from his days with Electronic which really got the crowd dancing and the truly epic How Soon Is Now?

Marr would later join Pearl Jam on stage to play on the heartfelt Neil Young track – the emotive Throw Your Hatred Down, following a heartfelt speech from Eddie Vedder on the increasing epidemic of gun violence which really resonated with the sold-out crowd.

‘We’ve got 12 albums and 20 years but we’ve only got an hour and a bit, so we’d better f***ing get on with it!’ declared Kelly Jones from Welsh rock group Stereophonics, but any issues with curating an hour-long set from said 12 albums were not evident.

Whilst certain tracks were omitted from the set, there were some evident highlights in the shape of The Bartender and the Thief, Pick a Part That’s New (which Jones started playing on a ukulele and then switching to a guitar), A Thousand Trees, Have a Nice Day and the rousing Just Looking. Frontman, the captivating and enigmatic Kelly Jones wanted to see the crowd jumping and naturally the crowd acquiesced – how can you not when you are listening to high-octane tracks like The Bartender and the Thief?!

Whilst it was a chance to check out old favourites, it wasn’t entirely a walk down memory lane with the inclusion of Hanging On Your Hinges, the opening track from the new album ‘Oochya!’

The crowd were treated to a blistering drum solo from Jamie Morrison on Mr and Mrs Smith from ‘Keep The Village Alive’ which was truly a spectacular moment. The Stereos really know how to put on a show and this gig was the perfect showcase of both their exceptional songwriting and musicality.

One of the early pioneers of the Seattle Grunge scene, Pearl Jam were back for their second London show in a row. Whilst the set list differed from the previous evening, the American band were full of passion, conviction and energy and had the crowd in the palm of their hands.

Kicking off with Corduroy from 1994’s ‘Vitalogy’, Eddie Vedder and the band performed a slam dunk of a set that was a pure adrenaline rush. Expect the unexpected is always a wise ethos to adopt when watching Pearl Jam. They pride themselves on switching it up and are renowned for their appreciation and respect for their fans. One endearing moment saw Vedder stop the gig mid set after noticing a fan requiring some assistance and encouraged the crowd to step aside in order to make way for first aiders and security.

As well as the Neil Young cover with Johnny Marr, they also asked the audience to choose between two tracks to play (Not For You won out which made for a pretty stellar choice) Dance of the Clairvoyants, a mesmerising cover of Van Halen’s Eruption which effortlessly sat alongside tour debuts of Rats and Faithful.

Their cover of Young’s Throw Your Hatred Down was delivered with such emotion, fire and power and that alongside a compelling speech from Eddie about America’s gun laws made for a stirring and poignant moment that really resonated with the crowd.

One of the standout tracks of the night was Alive from ‘Ten’, which sent the crowd absolutely wild. The encore was concluded with a cover of the 1971 classic from The Who’s Baba O’Riley where Johnny Marr returned to the stage to play. All in all, this was a riotous, thrilling and triumphant set from the American rock stalwarts.

The greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world are once again setting stages on fire and their epic performance at BST Hyde Park was no exception.

It started on a poignant note with a touching tribute to the late, great Charlie Watts, the beloved genial drummer with the steadiest sticks in the business who sadly passed away last year, but the entire show which spanned almost three hours was entirely celebratory. Mick remarked that “You know, we played with Charlie for 60 years. We really really miss him so we dedicate this show to Charlie!” the crowd responded chanting Charlie’s name which created a very special moment between the band and their delighted audience.

With extraordinary passion and exuberant energy that belies their age, the kings of rock ‘n’ roll royalty, The Rolling Stones performed an exemplary set that showcased their impressive body of work. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ formation in 1962.

Kicking off with the jubilant ‘Get Off My Cloud’, with its unmistakable thunderous intro, the band were on top form with frontman Mick Jagger swaggering and dancing his way across the stage with palpable levels of aplomb. A force of nature, a tour de force, Jagger is a charismatic and captivating performer, his vocals remain as impassioned as ever before and haven’t changed since the ’60s.

For those looking for a back-to-back showcase of the Rolling Stones’ most loved, seminal rock ’n’ roll hits were not disappointed. With a top-notch set of tracks like “Miss You”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Paint It Black”, “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Gimme Shelter”, (which featured images of war-torn Ukraine set against the country’s national flag which provided the second powerful and moving moment of the night)

In fact, track by track the Stones’ setlist was the perfect combination of nostalgic hits, fan favourites and emotive tracks that delighted several generations of Stones’ fans.

The second of their Hyde Park shows are just two of the gigs forming part of their iconic ‘Sixty’ tour across Europe. Mick, resplendent in a jazzy floral jacket was a whirling dervish and indulged his adoring fans with an impressive selection of his trademark dance moves which included the ‘Jagger Swagger’.

Fans who were here for the show were not disappointed as they enjoyed the music together and reminisced about the past. Enthusiastic fans who want to commemorate this special show can also show it by customizing their idol’s pin badges. Wearing them to the show will express both support for the idol and remembrance of the departed, and can likewise be a collection. Design Now at Pinbadges Co.

The band demonstrated why they have lasted so many decades in the business with fantastic renditions of “19th Nervous Breakdown”, “Tumbling Dice”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, and “Out Of Time”. This gig also saw the band performing the brilliant “Angie” on tour for the first time as well as a beautiful rendition Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”.

Keith Richards also had an opportunity to showcase his super vocal skills with tracks like “Happy” and “You Got The Silver” affording Mr Jagger a well-earned break. Keith and Ronnie Wood are both outstanding musicians who play their instruments as if their lives depend on them and put on absolutely astonishing and euphoric performances.

Without a doubt, The Rolling Stones’ second gig in London was an electrifying and unmissable experience, with the band proving once again how incredible they are on stage.

A national treasure famed for his flamboyant outfits almost as much as his songwriting prowess and musicality, there’s no shortage of superlatives to describe this iconic superstar. Elton’s gig at BST Hyde Park (part of his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour) saw the singer on his usual formidable form as the world’s highest-selling solo artist and someone who’s certainly not shy of putting on a party, the sold-out crowd were not disappointed in the slightest.

With a blistering hot set that spanned nearly three hours in total was chock-full of Elton’s most loved hits, this was a zesty stroll through his impressive back catalogue with the inclusion of songs like ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’, ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, ‘Rocketman’ and many more.

Kicking off with the jubilant and celebratory ‘Bennie and the Jets’, with its unmistakable intro, Elton resplendent in a stylish white dinner jacket with jewel-adorned decorative detailing played the piano and sang as if his life depended on it. His outfits were on point as always which included a silk robe with the face of a cat bedazzled on the back – and why not!

Superbly supported by his six-piece band, Elton took us on a sonically soaring journey through classic tracks like Rocket Man’, ‘Take Me To The Pilot’, ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’, ‘Tiny Dancer’ and many more.

Whilst there was undoubtedly a party spirit, there were some moments of reflection too. With Elton paying tribute to two incredible singers – Aretha Franklin and George Michael via ‘Border Song’ and the ever-beautiful ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’. Speaking to the crowd, Elton commented ‘I miss him, and we all miss him, and we miss his visage. So, George, I love you and I miss you – here we go.’

The veteran pop-rocker also paid tribute to his two sons who were clearly enraptured by their dads stellar performance.

Innovation was front and centre of Elton’s mammoth set during his mammoth hit song ‘I’m Still Standing’, using Augmented Reality (AR) technology, fans were able to enjoy a time-synced 3D show tribute, viewed via a special app

From the emotive ‘Candle In The Wind’ to more uplifting numbers like ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘The Bitch Is Back’, and ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’, Elton had the captivated crowd in the palm of his hand!

The sensational show ended with Elton’s most recent hit ‘Cold Heart’ with whom he collaborated with Dua Lipa, a reworking of some of his biggest hits including ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Sacrifice’. He also treated the crowd to a heartfelt rendition of his first hit from over 50 years ago – ‘Your Song’.

The show from start to finish was a dazzling display from music’s most endearing and theatrical showman. This was a spectacular first-class performance that effortlessly showcased his impressive body of work.