Awful weather, but once inside the Wedgewood Room, the cacophony of sound from these three bands made you forget all about the outside. Spyres are huge on Spotify, time to shine live too
Our second visit to Beautiful Days festival. Having really enjoyed 2024, decided to come back again. Fast becoming our alternative to Glastonbury as it's so nice, a great size for viewing and yoga available too!!
Back to the 1865 for some rock legends. This was a walk down memory lane with my first watch ever of The Icicle Works and also Big Country, sadly no Stuart Adamson around these days, but wonderful none the less.
It had a been a long while since I'd heard anything about Spector. Probably Reading Festival circa 2012? They've not even brought an album out for seven years, but they have now.
Oooo, an away gig. A little trip down to Brighton for see Keane.
Having seen Tom Chaplin playing Queen songs in April, we were now, quite excited about a full band tour.
This month saw me catching up with a band I never got to see before....Heaven 17. I guess because, as far as I know, they never played Leicester?
Touring the 35 anniversary of "The Luxury Gap" album, it seemed a good time to give them a go, now we live near Bournemouth.
You will see a lot of my gigs reported at 25th anniversary tours, 30th anniversary tours.....it's a bit much that they are turning into 40th anniversary tours!!
A little bit different tonight in many ways. Firstly this wasn't The Wonder Stuff, it was Miles and Erica, but playing their stuff and the Stuffies stuff.
Secondly, this wasn't your usual venue. Never did I think (with due respect) the Miles Hunt would play Ferndown!! But now in folk lore....I was there!
OMD unexpectedly reformed in 2006, but Paul Humphreys was also in collaboration with Claudia Brucken in a side project called Onetwo.
It was exciting to see the two of them turning up at Leicester Cathedral as part of the Castle Park Festival
The Soulwax performance was a stylish mix of drum, synth and vocals. Their music is a real pop/rock/dance mix.
Support: Lowdown (didn't watch)
Coldplay were on their way this year....They had actually played Leicester twice before this year at De Montfort University in January and then The Princess Charlotte in March.
November 20th 1995 – The Junction, Cambridge Aztec Camera didn't tour a great deal and when they did, it never seemed to be close to Leicester or when i could afford to go. So when this gig came up...in Cambridge!! we had to take a road trip. Roddy had just released the album "Frestonia" a... Continue Reading →
November 18th 1995 – Wembley Arena Supported by: Morrissey An interesting conversation occurred a few weeks before this gig. I hadn't really contemplated going to see Bowie on this tour, the UK legs were at "my fave" the NEC, Birmingham or Wembley Arena, which I hadn't been to but assumed would be a similar big... Continue Reading →
March 23rd 1995 - Birmingham NEC Arena I don't recall for sure who the support act was, but in the back of my mind, I've a feeling it was An Emotional Fish from Dublin, who had a fantastic single called "Rain" in 1993 and "Aeroplanes" in 1994....so just in case I don't get to talk... Continue Reading →
May 10th 1994 – Granby Halls, Leicester Gigs came thick and fast in May 1994 and a big big shock before this gig even took place. Deacon Blue announced on 27th April 1994 that they were going to split up at the end of this tour!! Shhhiiitte!! The band were flying high at the time,... Continue Reading →
April 8th 1994 – Kettering Arena Supported by: Gigolo Aunts I'd already seen The Wonder Stuff at Walsall Football Club and this would be the continuation of my seeing the Stuffies in strange venues. I mean, for a start, Kettering Arena! I was a little bit snobby about seeing them play at Walsall FC (it... Continue Reading →
October 22nd 1992 – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Supported by The Screaming Jets The Screaming Jets I don't really remember these very well, but they were a fun Aussie rock band, from Newcastle, Australia. Interestingly, we visited Newcastle in 2002 on a road trip of Australia. Some friends had said don't stop at Newcastle, it... Continue Reading →
October 23rd 1991 - Birmingham NEC This gig was a bit of a birthday treat to me. If a trip to the NEC could ever be considered a "treat". Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark had now gone through a bit of a change, with FIVE of the main protagonists leaving the band. They had spent... Continue Reading →
October 3rd 1991 – Leicester Poly My second time seeing the Furs, although the first time back in 1989 was in their secret guise of "Book of Days". The Furs were now well established as a pop rock band and lead singer, Tim Butler, has a very distinctive gravelly voice, which had generally made them... Continue Reading →
August 24th 1991 - Milton Keynes Bowl Supported by: OMD, Stranglers I think you still had to get your tickets from box offices in 1991? So I would have got this from De Montfort Hall box office in town centre. On paper this was a great line up for me, OMD a great favourite band... Continue Reading →
June 22nd 1991 – Walsall Football Club Supported by: This is on the list of concerts where, for whatever reason, I appear to have lost all memorabelia for it.....so this is an example of the ticket for the day, but not my original one, I know not where that has gone 🙁 I will see... Continue Reading →
February 14th 1991 – Leicester University Supported by Walk on Fire (may have seen, but no recollection) We saw No Sweat support Thunder in 1990, so we were happy to go and support the guys as they attempted to breakthrough. They were produced by Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, which you would have thought would... Continue Reading →
September 7th 1990 – De Montfort Hall Supported by No Sweat This concert started with a fantastic support band, No Sweat. Another great Irish band that had come over in the late 80s early 90s. They were being hyped heavily as Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) was producing them. The also had a fantastic single out... Continue Reading →
March 20th 1990 – Birmingham NEC NO SUPPORT ACT - Not something you see on many tickets. Only certain artists can do this, most are contracted to have some form of support, but this is David Bowie, icon and god of music.....do what the Duck you like son!!! For any number of reasons, I'd yet... Continue Reading →
February 13th 1990 – Leicester University Supported by Slide (but I missed them) I thought this might have been the "Taking on the World" Tour, but I haven't found anything yet to verify that, so it's just a tour for now. Gun weren't around for long, but came out with a brilliant album "Taking on... Continue Reading →
December 13th 1989 – Leicester University I don't remember the two support bands much, nothing at all about Rumble Fish, although I'm pretty sure Huge Big Massive were another Leicester band (as were Diesel Park West) and maybe shoe gazer type music (I apologise if I've just done them a complete dis-service, someone help me)... Continue Reading →
November 12th 1989 – Leicester Poly This was another exciting day, having been a Psychedelic Furs fan for a few years now, they had announced a surprise gig under their cover name of "Book of Days". I don't think this happens anymore, but a few times in my teens, bands did this, Naz Nomad and... Continue Reading →
July 15th 1989 – Birmingham NEC Ah, back to my favourite venue...not! Sound usually rubbish, view fairly poor, food and beer extortionate.....oh, and the NEC is a bit of a pig to get to from Leicester. Needs must though, as bands like the Pet Shop Boys just didn't bother with Leicester, so if we wanted... Continue Reading →
March 17th 1989 – Royal Centre, Nottingham I still love my pop music, I just really enjoy it more with strong vocals and guitars. Mark Shaw was a case in point with Then Jerico. They were an amazingly musical band producing two spot on albums quickly, but I only really followed them for those first... Continue Reading →
