Venue:
Sheffield University Drama Studio and two other venues
Date: 08/10/2016
It was a simple idea. Get three top artists to each play a 40 minute set in three different venues simultaneously. We chose the University Drama Studio with its intimate capacity of about 200. The other two venues were the Upper Chapel in the city centre and the final one was Trafalgar Warehouse with a larger capacity of 700.
It meant the audience at each venue heard the artists in a different order. We got Richard Hawley as the opening act. It was acoustic with just Richard and Shez Sheridan playing exquisitely honed and pared back arrangements of top tunes. Not all quiet numbers, though, although the gentler, romantic songs got more of a look in. My favourite was a very atmospheric version of Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
Next up was John Grant, who was accompanied by keyboardist and guitarist. It was great to see him in such an intimate setting. Although the arrangements were pared back, Grant’s gorgeous and powerful voice and bonkers lyrics did it for me. Wonderful stuff.
Finally, we got Bill Ryder Jones who shambled on stage with a carrier bag full of cans of Guinness and a few sweets, including an edible snake. He seemed very under-prepared and seemingly couldn’t play many of the song requests and had lost his set notes. He bravely attempted a brand new song to kick off the set and also played a Super Furry Animals song in Welsh once his roadie had found the lyrics. Compared to the wonders of the first two sets it was an anticlimax, but his banter was hilarious.
The audience:
Seemingly many of the audience had travelled a long way, including from Liverpool. One Liverpool lass made her presence known during Bill Ryder Jones’ set requesting he sing her a song for her 40th birthday. She wanted Michelle by the Beatles, but she had to settle for Lemon Trees. The audience was very appreciative of all three artists, with John Grant possibly winning out.
It made me think..
This is a great idea and it could be done in any city with three venues roughly five minutes for each other. Partly, I wished we’d been at the Upper Chapel, where the running order was Bill Ryder Jones, Richard Hawley and then John Grant. It was great to meet up with @el_toro and Mrs El Toro.
Sounds like two thirds of a fantastic evening. Great concept.
Takes me back to the 1977 Stiff tour with Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello and Wreckless Eric. The one I saw had Wreckless Eric as the headliner!
Sadly I didn’t attend a gig on that legendary 1977 Stiff tour, but as far as I recall, the fifth artist was Larry Wallis. I wonder if he headlined any of the shows above Ian, Elvis, Nick and Wreckless?
Gosh! I don’t remember Larry at all.
Ruddy heck. How did I not hear about this? Would have loved to have been there.
Naughty Rhythms tour, anyone? Kokomo, Dr Feelgood and Chilli Willi & the Red hot Peppers all swapping positions in the running order. (Heck, yeah, course I was.)
That sounds complicated but fun. Would only work with certain types of artist who can rock up and do their thing in a fairly off the cuff manner and with enough pulling power to sell the venues out – and I guess some punters get a somewhat wonky experience – I feel for Bill following those two to be fair.
We were at the Upper Chapel where the running order was Bill Ryder-Jones, Richard Hawley & John Grant which I guess was the perfect order. Richard Hawley on home turf and John Grant were magnificent but Bill R-J was great too. As Dr Volume mentions he had two tough acts to follow at the Drama Theatre but at the Chapel his lovely reflective songs were the perfect opener.
Sounds like Bill Ryder Jones forgot his kit and had to do the set in his pants.
(Trying to revive my educational-terms-in-rock-criticism schtick from the Is It Just Me thread…. pathetic, really)