Gigs with Ivan

Ocean Colour Scene with Kula Shaker – live in Pompey

Ocean Colour Scene live at Portsmouth Guildhall (3.4.2025) with special guests Kula Shaker.

My previous OCS experiences are summarised here in my blog of a December 2023 gig in Bournemouth. This is my eleventh OCS gig – just three or so for Kula Shaker but there was The Jeevas that I saw with Crispian Mills fronting that as well. And there’s more notes here on the Portsmouth Guildhall here.

We had balcony seats for this one but watched half of the Kula Shaker set stood downstairs with friends Steve and Dawn.

I bought some new ear plugs – looked like others I’d had and much cheaper. Maybe it’s about the shape of your ears but they were crap and after a bit of fiddling I retreated upstairs. I have since bought a different brand – EarPeace which I have had before and I think are excellent (about £30). My ears take a hammering so I need to be kind to them.

Crispian Mills is 52 now and he appears to have the body of 30 year old. I’ll have some of what he’s on please. Kula Shaker’s psychedelic rock is complemented this evening by some amazing lighting being used as the backdrop.

Mills guitar playing is frantic – he’s down on his knees playing (and no one has to help him up). Impressive. I realise I don’t know their stuff very well. Of course I recognise Govinda with its Indian sounds and chants. I record that one – link to my YouTube channel.

I’m not going to dwell too much on this one. I really enjoyed the gig but nothing new to add really.

Ocean Colour Scene take on a much more relaxed approach than Mills and Kula Shaker. Frontman Simon Fowler is 59 and stays put centre stage – he looks more like I would have to behave on stage, which is comforting in some ways – and the band stick to their positions, with just a limited amount of Steve Cradock wandering.

Ocean Colour Scene – Portsmouth Guildhall

First song is The Circle with images of scooter boys across the backdrop, presumably in Birmingham and maybe around the circular 11C bus route that the song is about, yeah? It cuts through Moseley – where some of the band are from, and just after I left that area earlier in the 80s.

The setlist is a beauty, with seven tracks from Moseley Shoals and five from One From The Modern. Profit in Peace gave a massive lift to the mid-set. So now. So always. Everyone was singing along like it was a hippy 60s gathering – war imagery across the backdrop, seemingly always the backdrop. What do we do? Rock on. Rock until we drop or someone drops us. It’s a beautiful song and up there with the best one song live moments of recent years.

I grab a video of another One From The Modern – So Low. (Here on my YouTube channel.)

The subtlety of Fowler’s vocals on Emily Chambers is… just Beatlesque. Better Day – is there a better OCS song? Get Blown Away. The songs keep coming. This is why I have so much OCS material. I love it all – Bsides, live recordings. Just play the songs and I’m happy.

You think they’ve run out and the end must be nigh.. but wait, Travellers’ Tune. One more then all focus on Fowler for Robin Hood, a popular encore pick. To finish it’s The Day We Caught the Train, the day Jimmy caught the train:

“You and I should ride the coast
And wind up in our favourite coats just miles away
Roll a number, write another song like
Jimmy heard the day he caught the train”

I love it. That’s all they have to do – play the songs. That’s what they do – just play the songs. See you again soon Moseley boys.

The Darkness live in Bristol – with Ash

The Darkness at Bristol Beacon (24.3.2025) with special guests Ash.

Despite owning just one Darkness record – the 2003 album Permission to Land, 99p from an Oxfam shop in Poole – this is now my fifth time of seeing them live. Rocking entertainment every time. Tonight’s gig is just 15 months on from my last Darkness gig here at the Beacon blogged here.

Once again, aside from the opportunity that gig buddy Plymouth Dave presented, the support act gave it the extra appeal to lure me to Bristol. Last time new boys Bad Nerves and this time a return to the boards of Ash, old favourites of mine back across the turn of the century, to sound old.

We are in for the end of the soundcheck, a Q&A session, stage set up tour with the added touring band member and a pic beforehand. There about 20 people in for that and one lucky chap gets to play guitar with the band for a song of his choice – he was brilliant.

The Darkness with a grey-haired gig goer

Special guests, Ash, from Northern Ireland, are still the original three from their 1992 formation: main man Tim Wheeler on vocals and usually with his distinctive Flying V guitar; Mark Hamilton on bass and Rick McMurray on drums and backing vocals.

From our front of side balcony perch I recorded a few songs on my pocket zoom camera, including the new single, a cover of Jump In The Line – link is to my You Tube channel.

The other was, by chance, another newer one: Braindead from the last album Race the Night (2023). I tend to just try to record a couple if it’s easy and unobtrusive and leave it if I mess up or bodies walk passed etc. Justin Hawkins gave a briefer speech and dressing down of phone waving video takers than he did last time but I thought I’d just stick with a few Ash ones if he didn’t like it…it’s his ball.

The official Ash video of Jump in the Line is pretty sensational – best band video I’ve seen in ages. Take a look: Jump in the Line official video on YouTube.

With eight studio albums to choose from, there are so many songs and not enough time but I sense that Ash may be testing the water for a headline return.

Free All Angels, their second album is the one I got most familiar with and Burn Baby Burn and Shining Light are great to hear live again. Debut LP 1977 was the source of four of their nine song set tonight, Girl From Mars the highlight.

They seem so much rockier than I remember – powerful drumming, ripping guitar and that loud and clear bass you get from a three piece band.

Brief but thoroughly enjoyable and a big crowd, in early, to appreciate it on this Monday night.

The Darkness

This tour accompanies the release of the new album Dreams on Toast, with associated baked beans imagery merchandise. The set includes six songs from the new LP but there is still room for five from my only Darkness recording, Permission to Land. This is an obvious personal bonus.

Justin Hawkins is just so smart, so witty and so talented. Every time I’ve seen them he seems to be in control of the audience. He’s not averse to just stopping mid-song to comment on something or someone in the audience.

He has the audience chanting about the QR code to download an extended version of the new album and mock marching to either side of the hall.

Tonight he’s in all white and, after acknowledging he has been a bit ill, launches into extended speculation as to whether the crowd wanted to see him ‘shit himself’ on stage. He didn’t.

Amid the antics the show absolutely rocks. Great guitars with thunderous energy coming from Rufus Taylor on drums (Queen’s Roger Taylor’s son, in case you didn’t know). He is one of the best and gets off the kit to lead the vocals on a few songs.

Last couple of songs of the main set are crowd pleasing belters – Friday Night and I Believe in a Thing Called Love. They return to cheers with two songs from the new album which is perhaps a surprising way to end but smiling faces as we all shuffle out afterwards.

[If anyone fancied a recording of the gig, downloads were made available for £5, here on The Darkness website.]

Red Rum Club live at The Engine Rooms Southampton

Red Rum Club at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (20.3.2025) with The Florentenes supporting.

Back at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (my venue blog here) and a second time of seeing Red Rum Club here.

Given they are a band that have emerged more recently – over the last five years – it’s surprisingly my seventh time of seeing them live. A bit of an our house favourite this lot. Good to catch up with Francis C tonight, who was one of the people who pointed me in the direction of these ‘mariachi Merseysiders’.

I find one of my favoured spots, next to the mixing desk. I’ve been in London with work for a few days and my legs are suffering so the barrier to lean on is most welcome. Gigs like this need to be standing.

Watching the knob twiddling on the mixing desk

The support band, The Florentenes (precise spelling required to avoid confusing with similar names) were new to me and new to most I guess as they really are fresh out of school. Indeed the drummer (Liam Fiddy) is still at school and the lead singer, Will Train Smith, makes reference to the fact they need to get back for school in Manchester in the morning for Liam – they originate from Bolton but maybe he thinks we won’t be so good at UK geography.

Their first EP is called 14-17, the ages of the band at the time of its release. The latest single is Fuel for the Flame. A wonderful jangly guitar and a barking lyric – Arctic Monkeys and Oasis must be in these guys’ phones.

Will Train Smith – The Florentenes front man

I thought they were excellent and look forward to seeing them grow.

And now to Red Rum Club. There’s little more I can add to my previous RRC blog as regards their history. They’ve cranked up a notch though. With four albums to draw on and songs they have been playing live so much now, they have a great set.

They don’t forget any of their albums, from Matador (2019) to The Western Approaches (2024). The sound they call Tarantinoesque has that distinctive trumpet interjection from time to time, occasionally greeted by a crowd roar.

First album faves of Angeline and Rather be Lonely are still up there with the best but I sense a newer crowd enjoying Black Cat and Houdini more, from the latest LP. Vibrate and Eighteen (what would you do if you woke up aged 18? What a thought) are a couple of my top picks played tonight from the third album, How to Steal the World (2021).

Kids Addicted is perhaps the best tonight. Two other crackers from album two, Hollow of Humdrum (2020) tonight are Eleanor and Dorado – more Mexican atmosphere.

It’s refreshing to know the songs of a 2020s band so well. All hope is not lost for a grey-haired gig goer eh.

Tom Williams – guitar and backing vocals

Another great performance and after a few support and festival slots in recent years it’s really good to see them sailing through this headline sellout billing. The best I’ve seen them I’d say and a welcome distraction – my leg is buggered tonight, despite my trusty mixing desk barrier.

I’ll leave you with a few more photos.

Across the heads – Red Rum Club at The Engine Rooms

A birthday beer salute from drummer Neil Lawson behind Fran

Pete Doherty live in Wimborne, with his family, and the dog

Peter Doherty at The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne (on 12.3.2025) with Junior Brother, Charles Bueller and Max Bianco supporting.

This was a very complete evening with three support acts hand-picked by Doherty.

We took our seats early at this all seated local theatre (Venue detailed here in my venue blog) and Pete Doherty was out on stage waving his trial fanzine type booklet about (a tenner each). Meanwhile his 21 month old daughter – Billie May – played on a monitor speaker and dog Gladys posed for people stage front to take selfies with her. Pete eventually introduced the first act, Max Bianco. He must have made an impact already as the young woman next to me exclaimed “f*cking hell, it’s Max Bianco.. sorry”.

Just a few songs from this Hartlepool born singer songwriter, who also fronts a band The BlueHearts.

Next, also introduced by Pete, was Charles Bueller from Southampton. He really interested me. He has an essence of Doherty about him with meandering acoustic guitar and stand out dark poetic lyrics which Charles squeezes out looking pained with the intensity. One to see again and I would think one who could go somewhere.

Mysterious Charles grips everyone and retains the attention for his allotted 25 minutes or so and then last of the introductions to these new artists was for Irishman, Junior Brother.

A most unusual singing style about him which employs the Irish accent completely. He recounted his afternoon pint in Wimborne’s smallest pub – Oddfellows – and the bar woman asking about his visit and his music. She put some on through the sound system which he really appreciated, before the landlord returned and asked, “what’s this crap you’re listening to?”, before sticking some classic rock back on. He persevered with his evening slot, undiscouraged and a patient audience were entertained.

We’ve been here a while and the auditorium is finally filling to its sold out capacity. Quite a rowdy audience in parts, for Wimborne – outbreaks of noisy drunken chatter from latecomers and a few incidents of bottles being smuggled in – The Tivoli doesn’t allow drinks in the auditorium.

With a roar, Pete Doherty kicks off his set with Libertines song Horrorshow. I was braced for a set of Doherty new solo stuff, and hence the small venue gig, but the crowd pleasing Libertines choices unfolded with the excellent recent single Run Run Run and Don’t Look Back Into The Sun, another belter.

He is accompanied on electric guitar on some tunes and his wife, Katria de Vidas, on keyboards for a bit while they both took some very arm’s length responsibility for their roaming young daughter. At some point she was just laying on the stage playing with their huge dog Gladys, and with some ear defenders on, until she got fed up with those. What a rock’n’roll daughter eh, and dog for that matter. (Last time I saw a dog on this stage was with Julian Clary.)

I was so pleased to hear Babyshambles’ best track, Albion get played. When this came out, I used to drink in The Albion pub in Wimborne sometimes and listened to it so many times, thinking for ages I could hear Wimborne mentioned as one of towns in the lyrics (as are some of the other towns on this tour). My ears were playing tricks and I revisited this uncertainty when the tour schedule was announced.

Felt Better Alive was one of the notable new solo songs Doherty paraded, the new album getting an occasional direct plug, as well as his fanzine prototype. Also Calvados, celebrating the distilled cider drink from around his French home. Possibly a love of said drink might be at odds with the message from Felt Better Alive.

There’s a break for a Happy Birthday singalong (Pete’s 46th) and a cake, which I’m sure the dog licked when it was in the table at the back. It’s as if we’ve all popped round to Pete’s house for the gig and he is a charming, spontaneous and chaotic host. It’s just great the way he ambles about the stage starting songs on the merest whim or audience request. A genius at work and doing just what he wants.

He diverts from a set list he peers down at to satisfy an audience shout of What a Waster. In previous years – and now his former life – this was a horribly appropriate Doherty anthem. Pete references his health a few times, type two diabetes and the desire to look after his toes.

As Doherty stands alone on stage in his suit and stylish fedora, new solo track Dandy Hooligan sounds like it might be autobiographical.

As 11pm approaches, this very friendly evening has to end and there is a realisation that he will be thrown off stage if the curfew is reached. This is Wimborne.

The Libertines’ What Katy Did gets a rowdy singalong, ending a lovely wander around the works of Babyshambles, The Libertines and the new and reformed Pete Doherty, with an introduction to some new artists as well. I’ll remember this one for a long time.

Paul Heaton live at Kingston Pryzm

Paul Heaton at The Pryzm, Kingston-upon-Thames on 4.3.2025

Pryzm

Good to get a new venue under my belt so early in the year. I can’t believe I haven’t been here before. My first visit to Pryzm and I cannot remember ever seeing a gig in Kingston, my birthplace.

Pryzm puts on loads of top acts, often promoted by Banquet Records as part of album release sales promotions. Short sets. Great prices and album inclusive deals. Tonight is no different, with two shows and we are at the early one. (Heaton ticket £25 including the new album on CD)

(I’m here with a friend I know from school, Keith B and my wife Sally, thanks to a late Keith purchase – I bought the last available ticket in the main sale. I’m also grateful to Keith for a few of the band photos included later.)

Pryzm is an old cinema with many original features that give it character, including a sticky carpet. As you enter there is the merch stand and boxes of vinyl records for sale from Banquet Records.

Then it’s upstairs to find a place to lean, stand or sit. There is an upper balcony and around the main standing area there is a good leaning rail and some seats if you are early enough.

Bars with orderly queues deal with drink needs effectively. The capacity is unclear but I would suggest about 1800 for a gig, from my reading – 2250 for the whole building.

The stage is small and makes the event even more ‘up close’ – the tour is billed as the ‘Mighty Several Close Up and Personal Unplugged Tour‘.

Paul Heaton

I did see Paul Heaton with his band (Jacqui Abbott was ill) a few years ago at an arena show in Birmingham and I saw The Housemartins and The Beautiful South a few times back in the day, the last century. (Previous Paul Heaton blog here.)

After being tipped off about Rianne Downey, who now plays and records with Paul Heaton, I saw her open the main stage at Teddy Rocks in March 2023, in front of 20 or so people (clip from my YouTube channel).

A fabulous voice to accompany Paul Heaton. I can imagine her playing in a packed bar in Nashville. There’s a folky Americana feel.

Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey at Pryzm, Kingston-upon-Thames (Photo Keith B)

Heaton and Downey are joined on stage by a seated guitarist and bassist, with Rianne playing guitar on some songs also.

Paul Heaton keeps his trademark ‘jacket on’ look. Must be roasting. He makes light of the overt attempt to boost first week record sales to a number one spot, with the ticket and album arrangements that work so well for artists who come here. “It didn’t work, did it” he quips.

A set of just over an hour with 14 songs, five from the new album, The Mighty Several, and a selection of classic Housemartins and Beautiful South numbers.

Silly Me is my new album pick, which they play – Rianne Downey’s voice used to best effect. Fish’n’Chip Supper is instantly singalong – many do – so British and likeable, but maybe too easily likeable in its simplicity.

H into Hurt is another good one from the LP which gets a play, along with the title track.

The 62-year-old Heaton has his closer cropped hair tonight. The youthful look of a cheeky football fan in still there – he’s a Sheffield United fan. Back when The Housemartins were going, I assumed they were all from Hull, given the provocative London 0 Hull 4 album title. But no. They met in Hull but Heaton is Cheshire born, grew up in Sheffield and then lived in Surrey before moving up to Hull for a bit when The Housemartins formed. He’s always seemed like a good bloke to me, managing to shed the stardom.

View from the floor – everyone wants a pic (Photo Keith B)

It was excellent to hear The Housemartins’ Happy Hour live again, and in this up close venue. There’s also Five Get Overexcited earlier on.

Old Red Eyes is Back was my favourite of this happy hour. Another drinkers’ song (1991) from The Beautiful South collection. I stood thinking of my old drinking mate Sean, not that we had red eyes after our sessions eh. (It’s your round Sean if you’re listening!). Great song.

Pop classics from the Beautiful South catalogue come out near the end of this snapshot: Don’t Marry Her and Rotterdam (or Anywhere). Heaton explains his guilt at having to get us to shuffle out at the allotted time before he lets in the next sitting, drawing a comparison with some sordid brothel.

Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey say goodnight with *Rotterdam*

I really enjoyed this quick visit. I’m sure I’ll be back and another Heaton and Downey live experience would be most welcome soon, especially in a venue that is not too cavernous. Great pop songs with a bit of soul and some folk.

The Reytons: very live in Bournemouth

The Reytons at O2 Academy Bournemouth on 8.2.2025 with support from Freddie Halkon + The Kairos.

Back at the Boscombe O2 (more about this lovely gig spot here in my Venue Blog). I make straight for the top tier ‘Gods’ seats and they’re open – excellent. Good to bump into an old work colleague, Russell, who’s working on security and allows me a wristband to get in there – they use them to monitor the balcony audience limit.

I didn’t realise The Kairos were supporting – my hobbling pace may have quickened, over from an over busy Chaplin’s Bar, if I had known. A really good indie guitar band that I got to like when they supported The Rifles in London.

A short sharp set and the long wait for more material to be released – still waiting for that first album, after a string of singles.

Next up was Freddie Halkon. Wow. I was blown away. What a great set. Such clarity in the lyrics and confidence. He’s only about 20. I’d never heard of him and what a great way to get the crowd going, before his mates, The Reytons, come on.

Freddie Halkon and his band – O2 Academy Bournemouth

Often the strong singer/guitarists play alone in such support slots but with a band this gave such power, while still allowing his voice and guitar playing to be spotlighted. Indie guitar riffs but some more folky sounding numbers as well. I’ll seek out Freddie again. Well done to this lad from Doncaster.

The place is buzzing. The crowd singalong to the DJ’s tunes. This is a Reytons sell out tour. The boys from Rotherham do all this, chart topping albums and all, without a record company backing.

This my fourth Reytons (‘right ones’ in a South Yorkshire accent) performance – the interest kicked off with Victorious Festival 2022, followed by Teddy Rocks the following year, then a proper tour gig at Portsmouth Guildhall in October 2023. Always fun. Always friendly (young and older ‘Greytons’) and always gratitude expressed by frontman Jonny Yerrell for the rise of these ‘kids from the estate’.

Meanwhile I have bought all their studio albums on vinyl, pre-ordered, signed and delivered, to underline my support. What a great story. Three studio LPs so far and a fab live LP from their monster 20,000 gig at Clifton Park in Sheffield – which is a wonderful Spotify start if you don’t know the band.

Jonny Yerrell – The Reytons – Bournemouth

With three albums and a selection of other EPs and singles they can build a varied setlist of the new, old, fast, faster and familiar. The most recent Ballad of the Bystander LP is the most played tonight, with five from it. Market Street has always been my pick from this one. The tale of young sweethearts growing old together.

Low Life, something of an anthem from the Kids off the Estate LP, gets the mosh circle going, just before the relative calm of Market Street.

The big faves are the early ones from the EPs still with greatest cheers of all for Slice of Lime – a fruity emblem for the band. Brilliant. There’s On the Back Burner another early cracker.

There’s an essence of John Cooper Clarke in their everyday lyrical style. Some lines are delivered like a punchline when all the guitars stop – for the audience to join in. It’s a happy scene. A good ole Saturday night bundle in the core of this loud crowd.

Two of the three encores are from the first LP, The Kids off the Estate. The title track – triumphant – it’s what they are and to finish Broke Boys Cartel. A top night – three great bands and a headliner on the very top of their wave…..”and they call them Reytons!”

Dr Feelgood + Nine Below Zero live in Wimborne

My casual approach to the always punctual start time of 7.30pm means we are still crossing the road from Wetherspoons (one of the best ones) when the music starts. I’m here with wife Sally and couple of friends from school who I have rediscovered to be in Dorset in recent years, including Graham who has let me have a few of his pics (I didn’t bring a camera tonight and phones are discouraged enthusiastically.)

My observations on the Tivoli Theatre can be found here in my Tivoli venue blog.

My main reason for booking this one was the harmonica playing of Mark Feltham in Nine Below Zero. I saw part of their set at a Minehead Butlin’s Alternative Music Festival in 2020 and then the originals – lead singer/ guitarist Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham on harmonica – played as a duo in March 2021 when I saw them support From the Jam, at The Brook in Southampton.

Much as I wish I’d seen them at The Marquee or somewhere similar, I never did see them back in the 70s/80s. The same is true of Dr Feelgood. I saw Doctor Feelgood on tour with The Stranglers in 2019 but have just had to admire their history, especially via the film of their rise to fame: Oil City Slickers. The current Dr Feelgood line-up has no original members but they carry the baton for the great band.

Dennis Greaves – lead singer and songwriter (left)

Nine Below Zero were on first, when we got in. I guess they must take it in turns to go on last. A smattering of bluesy covers in their set – while it all sounds quite familiar I can’t name the tracks. Don’t Point the Finger at the Guitar Man was one of my favourites with the best being 11 + 11 at the end of their set.

New song, Now I Wanna Be a Wannabe, had a pop a younger generations. On the Road Again merged into The Stones’ Satisfaction rounded off their set.

Some good chat from original frontman, Dennis Greaves. He must have played so many gigs over the years. He’s got a few on fellow original, Mark Feltham, as he referred to him practising in his bedroom for nineteen years before hitting the road with the band.

Doctor Feelgood are on after the bar scrummage at the break. Frontman Robert Kane has been in the role since 1999 and he is much more lively than when I saw their support slot for The Stranglers – it’s a shame it’s seated given the effort he’s putting in. The mature audience stays seated until the end, but cheer and clap enthusiastically. I’m not complaining – I needed my seat!

Dr Feelgood 2025 – Tivoli (pic from Graham A)

Other band members joined Dr Feelgood in 1983 with a few breaks along the way. It’s a funny business playing in a band with no original members. Feelgood are more of a reboot than an evolution, giving the old songs life again.

Phil H. Mitchell (bass) – Dr Feelgood (pic from Graham A)

The guitar playing, Gordon Russell, is excellent – a few behind the head moments – and some of the scratchy feel of Wilko Johnson’s original Feelgood sound. Another genius I was lucky to see when he supported The Stranglers, with his own band.

Roxette is my favourite and that scratchy, abrupt guitar strum is very much in evidence. She Does it Right and Back in the Night are other classics that get an airing. The original Feelgood would have belted these out to thousands at Hammersmith Odeon in their heyday. There are some great clips in the Oil City Slickers docufilm.

Frontman Robert Kane plays harmonica as well as singing on many songs, continuing the harmonica theme of the evening.

Of course, Milk and Alcohol is the big hit that comes out as a mid-set livener. When it was released in 1979 and was played on Top of the Pops I hadn’t realised the magnitude of what Doctor Feelgood were doing. I still prefer the tracks I mentioned earlier mind, while recognising its success.

Going Back Home is a bit of an anthem for Feelgood and Down to the Doctor, another belter that follows – see. you know more than you thought eh.

Great to see both if these classic old bands on stage during the encores, playing together on Route 66 and before that Looking Back. Mark Feltham continues in his role as master of the harmonica – that’s what got me here.

Encores – Nine Below Zero and Doctor Feelgood

Afterwards, while browsing the merch stand I found myself stood next to Dennis Greaves so I picked up a classic Nine Below Zero LP, recorded live at The Marquee, and he offered to sign it. A lovely souvenir of my first gig of 2025.

Gig Venue: The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

The Tivoli Theatre Wimborne, West Borough, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1LT. (Updated 30.1.2025)

A dark, wet, personally unfit and gig free January for me, so an opportunity to add some venue notes for the site of gig 1 of 2025, on 1 February.

The East Dorset town of Wimborne rarely troubles the gig tour planners, aside from this lovely old theatre which specialises in mature tastes, well vintage. Many great tribute acts of classic rock artists appear. I used to live in Wimborne and so I’ve kept my eye on it. I suspect that give it another ten years and I’ll be here once a fortnight writing a ‘no haired gig going blog’ as opposed to grey haired experience.

I’ve seen Hugh Cornwell here a few times, Glenn Tilbrook and in more recent years From the Jam; Bootleg Blondie (with Clem Burke from Blondie proper); China Crisis and yes, 70s popsters Showaddywaddy. Then there was the evening with John Lydon experience – Johnny Rotten in Wimborne – wonders never cease.

My previous years of mild disappointment at visiting an all-seated venue for live music has morphed into one of ageing relief. A bit of standing for the lively bits without a whole evening testing the limbs can be welcome these days.

Not a place to be waving a camera around and a mobile phone can be quite intrusive in these gentile surroundings. Not good for illustrating a blog but hey ho, I go with the flow.

Wimborne is a top place for a pub tour with plenty to wander to in the compact town centre. The Taphouse (one for after) with its ale choices is my pick, just 50 yards along from the Tivoli, opposite The Man in the Wall (one of the best Wetherspoons around). Wimborne’s downside, or maybe saviour, is transport links – no train station and buses a bit limited, although it can work from Poole on the local buses (No. 3 or 4 More Bus from Poole Bus Station, my choice tonight).

This all-seater art deco style theatre has 483 seats and serves as a cinema and venue. It opened in 1936 and has benefited from a new frontage and canopy in recent years. You can get a decent view from anywhere, even the back row of the seven row balcony.

Showaddywaddy – rear balcony Tivoli view December 2023

The place closed its doors in 1980 after being under the threat of demolition for a year or so due to new road scheme that never happened. It reopened in 1993 after considerable efforts from local volunteers.

The bar is small, like a village cricket club. I think just have a drink before you get here if you want one. Pop over the road. It must be quicker. You can order half-time drinks. Who does that though at a gig? Go when the doors open if you want to use the bar or try the café as you go in on the left. It’s all part of the same building.

A good spot for a relaxed evening, often with experienced talent on show.

My Top Ten Gigs of 2024

A little calmer this year with 65 gigs – well 61 gigs (one for each of my years) and four days at festivals, three at Victorious in Southsea and one at Poole Harbour Festival with jet lag. After a gig free January and a slow February, November and December were a non-stop feast of music.

The London Roundhouse – four great visits here this year for Hard-Fi; Echo and the Bunnymen; Jesus and Mary Chain; Gary Numan

In all, 128 different live acts with two Stranglers gigs, three Red Rum Club sets and a headline and a support set for both The Damned and The Skids.

42 different venues visited in 18 towns and cities in four countries – Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.

Swansea Arena for my first Status Quo gig

My gigs this year have been mostly in London (18), Bournemouth and Poole (18) and Southampton (10) and I am pleased to say that the place I have been to most is Poole Lighthouse, walking distance for me, with its three venues of varying sizes, the smallest being the Sherling Studio holding about 90 people, a little more relaxed than the 90,000 experience of Wembley Stadium.

There are some newer bands that are worth a big shout. These are all bands that I want to see again as soon as possible. A couple I saw in poor circumstances but still they left their mark: Clockworks had equipment problems and were left with a 20 minute set at a Victorious Festival small stage in the trees and Wunderhorse, support band for Declan McKenna, appeared unwell for his short set. The Kairos, The Royston Club and The Clause, all brought me enthusiasm for more and hope that they can grow like Red Rum Club and The Lathums have: a few other recent years’ new favourites of mine.

The Clockworks – short frantic set at Victorious Festival

A special mention for The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Damned and Echo and the Bunnymen, two lots of familiar faces still at the top of their game and Biffy Clyro for a Victorious Festival headliner set that blew away the weather.

Biffy Clyro headline Sunday night at Victorious Festival

But my top ten, in reverse order and after careful consideration, are these for 2024:

10 AC/DC
(Wembley Stadium)

I was handed the opportunity and I had to be there, just once. An unmissable experience of a band I don’t know that well but they have always been there and best seats.

Blog link

9 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
(O2 Academy Bournemouth)

Blog link

This smaller warm-up gig was a special opportunity and lived up to the high expectations after the clammer for limited tickets.

8 The Skids
(Engine Rooms Southampton)

Blog link

Richard Jobson punches his way into my top ten with his new four piece line up and a great set. Sometimes less is more and the smaller venue experience wins.

7 Hard-Fi
(London Roundhouse)

Blog link

The Staines Massive come to town and round off their autumn tour for a celebration of their first album in 2005 and a new EP.

6 Killers
(O2 Arena London)

Blog link

Las Vegas comes to London with the showmanship of Brandon Flowers and a string of sellout gigs at the O2 Arena. It is so much better to see them at an indoor venue.

5 The Stranglers
(Royal Albert Hall)

Blog link

My favourite band over many years and great night out in an iconic venue. A superb set to celebrate 50 years of the band, in various forms.

4 The Stranglers
(Bristol Beacon)

Shared blog with Royal Albert Hall gig.

The postponement of this gig meant I was able to make use of a mate’s front row seat for this one – yes seat, but don’t worry, we were up on our feet.

3 Stiff Little Fingers +Damned+Skids
(Custom House, Belfast)

Blog link

Stiff Little Fingers in their home city. Unimaginable in the 80s and beyond but we got there. A fantastic experience with some very special guests.

2 Green Day
(Wembley Stadium)

Blog link

I have had a natural resistance to gigs a Wembley Stadium over the years – often so far away that you may as well not be there and a real challenge of the sound in such a place. Several bands and events over the last few years have overcome my negativity – doesn’t mean I wouldn’t rather see bands somewhere else but they can be so good they overcome it. Green Day managed it with ease.

1 Amyl and the Sniffers
(O2 Academy Bristol)

Blog link

The sheer excitement of this powerball of a band, over here from Australia, playing live and loud, was irresistible. The standout performance of the year, the decade and probably this century so far. It’s a very long time since I got a buzz like this.

Amyl and the Sniffers at Bristol O2 Academy – tops

That’s my 2024 picks. Rock until you drop!

This blog, gigswithivan.uk, continues to grow with over 10,000 views this year, three times more than last year.

Photos and videos, good and bad are all my own – phone and Panasonic pocket zoom – I say if there are any occasional ones that are not.

My Grey-haired Gig Goer YouTube Channel holds my videos and clips @grey-hairedgiggoer that I link to. 29 videos have over 1,000 views, a rather random five have over 10,000 and the channel has over 500 free subscribers.

The Skids with Spear of Destiny – live in Southampton

The Skids live at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (17.12.2024) with special guests Spear of Destiny.

Some gigs I just can’t leave alone. It’s the day after The Damned in Bristol but I had to get to this one. Two of my favourite bands over a long period. With the Skids there was a big break from the early 80s until the reformation in 2017, since then I’ve seen them 13 times, including twice in Belfast and twice in Scotland.

Both bands have done a lot of touring in recent years and it’s brilliant to have them on one bill, here in Southampton at The Engine Rooms, a regular spot on my gig itinerary. (Venue blog.)

My previous blogs go back into my Spear of Destiny history and Skids gigs, including the epic Dunfermline pilgrimage.

Kirk Brandon – SoD – Southampton Engine Rooms

Kirk seems a bit under the weather tonight with a throaty problem – it’s been a long tour – but a strong 12-song set shows no surrender to any ailments. Such a rich catalogue to pull on, with familiar rousing tunes like Rainmaker and Young Men. As Kirk calls out “ohhh you you-ng men”, I scan the scene and not much youth in here tonight. Some very happy old boys in here though.

You’ll Never Take Me Alive is good to hear – a classic standout track from the Outlands LP. I don’t know if Kirk was saving himself but the last two songs, World Service and Mickey, were real belters. Look forward to catching Spear of Destiny on their own tour next year, and Kirk with Theatre of Hate at the promising Milton Keyes Forever Now event, at least.

The Skids line up as a four-piece tonight. There have been a few changes this year with the previously attached Big Country boys doing their own tour. After a bit of upheaval in the Big Country camp we have Gil Allan on bass with Jobson tonight, along with Nick Hernandez on drums and Goodbye Mr Mackenzie’s Connor White the sole guitarist, and very impressive too.

It’s a Days in Europa 40th anniversary album tour. Great album but so are any of the first three Skids LPs. There is room for all but two of the album in the set with Peaceful Times and Dulce et Decorum Est missing out. They’ve had plenty of airings in recent years. I like the fact it’s not just playing an album in full and that’s it.

I can’t believe the energy Jobson has: he doesn’t stop dancing and punching the air once he’s on stage. It’s a real work out for the 64 year old and his bodily resilience puts me to shame. My legs are suffering after a bit of what is best described as shuffling about. My air punching arm is working though. Amid this exertion I pretty much ditched attempts to get any decent pics. Lighting unsympathetic to my cause. I have plenty of Skids photos and I settled for extracting a few images from some short video clips.

Some excellent tracks on Days in Europa and for several decades only the singles got played anywhere – Working for the Yankee Dollar and what Jobson introduces as his favourite, Masquerade, for instance. I leave later with lesser known Olympian and Thanatos rattling round my head.

There’s time to pay respect to the departed original Skid, Stuart Adamson: “We can feel him in the room tonight” insists Jobbo.

It’s no surprise that when Jobson runs through his introduction to The Saints Are Coming, the Southampton crowd get hyperactive as it’s their football team’s pre-kick off anthem. What an uplifting atmosphere as the festive nonsense is upon us. I’m getting a real kick out of this.

Another from the first LP, Scared to Dance, follows: the magnificent Into the Valley. A bit of fun with TV Stars and “Who da we want, Al-bert Tat-lock!“

Circus Games ends the main set. I love hearing this live and without the kids voices on it – they ruin it. It takes me back to my first Skids gig at Hammersmith Palais, Jobson dancing madly in his cricket jumper and Stuart Adamson’s penetrating guitar sound.

Complete Control – Clash cover – enjoyed from just behind the mixing desk

The band return with slower rumbling of Hurry on Boys, also from The Absolute Game album – time to tour that one next? Then the track that sparked it all off: Charles, from their first EP, released in 1978.

It was around then The Skids got a support slot on tour with The Clash. A fitting finish then with a cover of Complete Control, my pick of the Skids’ covers album Songs from a Haunted Ballroom – it’s a belter that track.

We’re done. Nice one boys. This creeps into my top ten gigs of the year.

Two more to go in 2024 – then we rest the ears and legs for a bit.