In what is probably the strongest line up in years, the Lytham Festival opened on Wednesday night to the sounds of amongst others – Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Acid Jazz artist Jamiroquai.
With concerts from Lionel Richie, Def Leppard and Motley Crue still to come, the Lancashire resort is proving that the Festival is one of the hottest and best in the north.
The concerts so far
Jake Shears wisely chose to mix his set with tracks off his last two solo albums with those of the Scissor Sisters. Dressed as if he was going to go for a jog on Lytham Green, Shears who was backed by a strong and tight band gave one of the most impressive support slots that I have witnessed so far this year.
Jake Spears. Picture by Graham Clark
Too Much Music, a track off his latest album Last Man Dancing sounded like it could have come off one of the Scissor Sisters albums as Shears paraded across the Lytham stage as if he owned it – and to a certain degree he did.
Of course, it was his old band’s hits that got the most applause – Take Your Mama and I Don’t Feel Like Dancing had the audience on his side making you wonder if there will ever be another Scissor Sisters album? – we can only hope.
As he closed with the track Filthy/Gorgeous, Shears had done a wonderful job of warming up the audience. Filthy? – never. Gorgeous – definitely!
Jamiroquai grew out of the Acid Jazz scene in the mid-nineties with singer Jason Kay at the heart of the band. “It is good to be back in the county where I was born” offered Kay when he stepped onto the stage. A technically correct statement – Kay was actually born in Stretford, Greater Manchester.
His mother Janet Kay – the famous comedian and impressionist – often visited Blackpool to perform shows supporting the likes of acts such as The Grumbleweeds – something that Jamiroquai made reference to on stage.
Though his album releases and concerts are becoming a rarity, the Lancashire crowd greeted Kay like a long-lost friend. Little L was the first of his big hits to be played, Space Cowboy took the audience back to the start of his career with Emergency on Planet Earth, showing even when released in the nineties, Kay had a social conscience.
Wearing his trademark feathered head gear the singer seemed to be enjoying being back in the north as he danced and jumped around the stage. He joked that “I am only seven years off getting my bus pass” though his energy denied his maturity.
Cosmic Girl and Canned Heat brought some disco infused vibes to the party though things began to cool down on closing number Virtual Insanity.
The sun shone, the music was first class and the atmosphere electric – if the proceeding days are even only half as good as this, the promotors have provided a festival for Lytham to be proud of.
The festival continues:
- Saturday 1 July – Kim Wilde/Gabrielle/Lionel Richie
- Sunday 2 July – Def Leppard/Motley Crue
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