Venue:
Castle and Falcon, Birmingham
Date: 04/04/2026
The Castle and Falcon is surely the best place in Birmingham to see a band that draws a straight line from the crustie/hippie/Castlemorton days of early rave scene, as it most closely resembles our clubbing days at the Co-Op Hall down the Cowley Rooad (now the 02 Oxford and presumably cleaned up from the late eighties when we saw such bands as Gaye Bykers, Senser, 1000 Yard Stare and early basic rave nights with luminaries such as DJ Remould).
The band consists of your chemistry teacher who knows how to cook up MDMA but is just too nice a guy (Steve Hillage) to do so, and Rive Gauche Parisienne chic grandma Miquette Giraudy, just back from a cameo alongside Juliette Binoche in Michael Haneke’s latest.
I’m not a S7 uberfan, and know 777 and their stuff with Rovio and that’s about it. But it matters not. One track blends into each other in a continuous mix built around one to the floor techno drums, sequenced bass lines, and long looping textures either from keyboards or Hillage’s guitar or both. Some tracks are a bit quicker, some a bit floatier, but there’s a general 120/140 bpm that keeps us all bobbing along very happily.
While we groove along there are some trippy visuals to look at – but of course! And like the music we could be back in 1995 again. From the club visual greatest hits: fractals – check! Koyaanisquatsi – check! Old B and W silent sped up, slowed down or run backwards – check! Slo-mo dove of peace – check!
And so ninety minutes pass very pleasantly. I can tell Ms Moles is feeling the vibe as she eschews our usual half-pint after the set has started for a full one. At the end everyone seems genuinely delighted for Hillage and Giraudy who have to do an encore before shaking hands with most of the crowd.
The audience:
Oh almost 100% our age – ie around the senior railcard. Baldies and goatees much in evidence. But again, the odd twenty-something.
It made me think..
I bought a copy of Rainbow Dome Musick a few years ago and have not listened, so should get that out forthwith.
Also Seventh Wave are a really ace promoter and have bought Banco De Gaia, System 7, Scanner, Warrington New Town etc. to this tiny venue just down the road. Not sure how the numbers stack up but hope they keep going.
I bought their first album the very same day I bought Screamadelica – and loved it just as much, though it had far less fanfare and hype. A gateway drug, I think it led me on a path to Gong that my listening habits wouldn’t otherwise have taken me to. Careful out there, kids!
I’ve never seen them live, but your appealing description suggests a pleasant and amicable experience I’d associate with the decent bloke understated vibes that Steve Hillage gives off. Thanks!
Interesting – my approach was from the other direction: Gong and solo Hillage, leading to System 7!