Trentham Live returned again this year, supporting Stoke on Trent’s 100 year ‘city status’ by hosting a four-night musical extravaganza headlined by indie-rock champions Ocean colour Scene.
Appearing on Friday evening, they were perfectly supported by local band Average Joe and brum-based ‘The Clause’ and ‘The Enemy’. The band entered the stage to roars and cheers from the 6 thousand strong audience. Performing against the backdrop of a 725 acre horticultural heaven, this felt like it would be a gig to remember. Clear blue skies and an uncharacteristically balmy evening had Fowler entering the stage and commenting “Well! Isn’t this nice!”.
Having just spent time touring with 90’s indie revellers Kula Shaker, tonight OCS fly solo, but that doesn’t seem to have made any difference as they are the biggest selling act of the weekend.
Opening with ‘The Circle’ and witnessing the crowds immediate high-spirited response to this melancholy classic, OCS fully deserved to be playing in such a grand setting where the sunshine fittingly poured like wine onto the faces of a happy crowd.
The sensitive wistful vocals of Fowler give way to Craddock’s trademark catchy shreds. The light and shade of the band’s discography entertained faithful crowds from start to finish with them singing along for the slower numbers. Personal favourite ‘So Low’ was a surprise and was delivered with ponderous sensitivity. The set list was virtually the same to other recent tour dates, featuring the expected favourites. ‘One for the road and July’ go down well.
For a band that I always considered to be an acquired taste, I was quite surprised to see the outpouring of enthusiasm from the crowd, particularly on this scale. One lady wearing her vintage OCS T from the 90’s begging for me to take her picture whilst she sat with her grandchildren on a picnic rug.
Accents are varied and conversations with some people proved they had travelled far and wide to see one of their indie-faves in this iconic setting. ‘Profit in Peace’ flavoured with sprinklings of a protest song had punters passionately chanting “we don’t wanna fight no more” with pints held aloft, carelessly spilling onto well-manicured lawns.
‘Robin Hood’ exposes some of the remaining gravel in Fowler’s voice which has endearingly softened with age but still blessed with the gift of effortless clarity. Audiences sing along, enthusiastically ahead in time. Acknowledged with an appreciative smile and a 5 second pause, whilst peering over the rim of his glasses and enjoying the respectful whistles of the crowd.
Unexpectedly shifting to a G Major and singing the word “Maybe”….. treating everyone to a truncated ‘Live Forever ‘. Fowler appeared emotional looking down at his guitar whilst crowds sing on. Every carefully chosen track sat perfectly with the audience, immersing everyone into a nostalgic sea of communal joy.
Not surprisingly, the pace is picked up with the Zeplin-esque intro of the Riverboat song’, everyone leaving the comfort of their deckchairs to dance. The odd few pints are tossed into the air whilst people randomly appear on the shoulders of friends, forcing the security team to earn their crust. The 1997 Lock Stock soundtrack hit ‘Hundred Mile High City’ reignites the crowd with the joy of a bygone era before closing out with the eagerly awaited ‘Day we caught the train’.
Nearly reaching it’s 30th birthday, a single E Minor swipe had the audience kicking in with the first line before Fowler stood a chance.
Ocean Colour Scene headlined possibly one of the most atmospheric gigs I’ve ever been to in my hometown. They’ve firmly cemented themselves as one of the greatest guitar-orientated rock bands of the 90’s gifted with a soulful simplicity only the Gallagher brothers can dream of.
Leaving the grounds of this stunning venue with fans still singing the line ‘when you find things are getting wild, don’t you want days like these’ was very much ‘a beautiful thing’.
WORDS AND PHOTO CREDIT – SHAVORNE WILBRAHAM
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