It is a Thursday night and I wonder if many people will be here. Strawberry radio station had booked Martin many months ago so when I saw that he was in Northwich as well the week before I thought it was very strange of his promoter. Why would people, and also more importantly, how could people afford to see him twice in the same area within a week.
I set off early, and it was a good job I did, as a 25 minute journey took 75 minutes, traffic was bumper to bumper. I found a place to park near the plaza and waited until the doors opened. Stockport Plaza is a beautiful building. It has served the community for 90 years. It is like stepping back in time as soon as you approach this magnificent building. The doors opened at 7pm and suddenly people were appearing from everywhere. There is a bar at the plaza, and many go to get a drink first before going to their comfy seats.
Leroy Lurve starts the show, Hassle and Nathan Moore follow
At 7.15pm Leroy Lurve starts spinning discs and dances around the stage in his flamboyant outfits. I love him. He makes me smile. Gosh he has some good moves. Leroy and his decks descend down into the ground when the first act comes on stage – it looks quite funny!
Hassle are the first group on stage and perform for an hour. They are a funk and disco cover band formed in 1988. Everybody is on their feet and dancing from the start enjoying all the cover songs.
A short break and Nathan Moore is next on stage. The women are crowding at the front of the stage. Nathan always puts on a great show. Audience participation is what he is known for, after his great voice and looks! The women know he will go down into the audience – and when he does they are waiting for him. Some even go in for a kiss! It’s all in a day’s work for Nathan. He tells us Martin had a car tyre puncture on the way up. Nathan’s time on stage ends too quickly.
Martin Kemp seems to be having a great time
Time for the main act. Martin Kemp enters the stage, smiling. The women love him. We are spoiled with handsome men on stage tonight. The women and several men are here to party. Dancing, singing, drinking. Martin commands the stage. He keeps playing so many hit records, it never slows down – but I am starting to! I am used to him doing half this time on stage and I feel exhausted and hot. There are many menopausal women in the audience – try to imagine the heat radiating from them all, dancing in close proximity together. I am at the back and the heat is coming straight at me. Every time I think he is about to play the last record, another comes on! He must be exhausted but the professional he is carries on, smiling, singing, walking across the stage.
Martin comes off stage into the audience, walks along the front row, squeezing past all the women. Everyone is hot and he has just made the temperature soar! He gives them hugs and kisses – he is certainly giving them what they want tonight!
He looks like he is really enjoying himself. There is always a twinkle in his eye. He throws out t-shirts to the audience after wiping his sweat on them first!
Not many men in their sixties look like Nathan and Martin – we have been spoiled tonight. Women leave the venue, sated with pleasure – back to the family at home and reality. I wonder who they will be dreaming of tonight!
I loved the whole show.
All pictures by Deborah Moore.
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