Madness “Hey You, Don’t Watch That, Watch This” At Delamere Forest, Cheshire 15th June 2023.

 

 

WORDS AND IMAGES WARREN MILLAR

 

 

Madness, the legendary British ska band, played Delamere Forest, Cheshire as part of the ever-popular “Forest Live” events.

As the sun began to set, the forest transformed into a magical setting, creating the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening of live music. All Music’s Warren Millar was there to see “The Nutty Boys” in action.

It’s a scorcher, even in the late afternoon,  early evening. Parking the car we notice a large line of fans waiting to get into the outdoor concert space which is no surprise as tonight it’s a sellout. 

Delamere, which means “forest of the lakes”, is all that remains of the great Forests of Mara and Mondrem which covered over 60 square miles (160 km2) of this part of Cheshire It’s a lot smaller nowadays. Delamere Forest is a popular recreational area that is used by approximately 750,000 visitors each year, including walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers and horse riders. It is also an outdoor concert venue. The section of open land next to the forest makes for a great natural outdoor music venue which is raised from the stage area making an amphitheatre-type setting.

First up we have four piece Bristol band “The Hawkmen” with a mix of rockabilly and rhythm and blues tunes. Their set is tight and full of great rock and roll tunes, and it sounds, it’s always a bonus to have a double bass setting the baselines down,  vocals are spot on. Altogether a great start to the evening.

 

 

Next up on the Delamere stage is the wonderful “Hollie Cook” from West London. She describes her music as “Tropical Pop” and that’s exactly what we get. It’s a little taste of Jamaica in an English forest which is just about perfect for the hot humid day.

Being the daughter of The Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and her Mother Jeni, who was a backing singer for Culture Club and Boy George her musical heritage shines very bright indeed.

She has a perfect reggae-influenced voice which is balanced perfectly with her band. They ooze talent and exceptional musical skills and we are left wanting more as they come to the end of their set which is always a great sign.

 

 

It’s now 9 pm and on to the Delamere stage come “The Nutty Boys” Yes it’s time for a bit of “Madness”   From the moment the band burst onto the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers, displaying their unwavering enthusiasm for the beloved band.

Madness wasted no time in launching into their signature blend of ska, pop, and rock, instantly transporting the audience back to the heyday of their music in the late 1970s and 1980s. As usual, the crowd all join into the intro (Spoken by Suggs) to “One Step Beyond” It’s all shouted in unison “Hey you, don’t watch that, watch this, This is the heavy heavy monster sound, The nuttiest sound around ………” They do know how to kick a show off in style.

Frontman Suggs commanded the stage with his charismatic presence, engaging the crowd with his witty banter and storytelling between songs. His distinct vocals were as powerful as ever, carrying the audience through the band’s extensive catalogue of hits. From the energetic “House Of Fun” to the infectiously catchy “Our House,” Madness had the entire crowd singing and dancing along to every word.

The band’s tight musicality was on full display, with each member showcasing their exceptional talent. None more so than lovable Sax player Lee Thompson moving around the stage and engaging with the fans at every opportunity. The brass section blared its horns with precision and enthusiasm, adding an extra layer of vibrant energy to the performance. The rhythm section provided a solid foundation, keeping the grooves tight and the crowd moving. Suggs is the most likeable frontman I can think of, the type of bloke you would love to go out for a pint with and that’s the beauty of a Madness gig for us “The Nutty Boys” really are just like your mates who you enjoy socialising with and having a good night out with. One true thing is that Madness are still as popular and relevant as they ever were and when seeing them live you just know you are in for a great night, which is exactly what we were given tonight. Long Live “The Nutty Boys” and may they forever keep going “One Step Beyond”

 

 

 Set List

1/ One Step Beyond

2/ Embarrassment

3/ The Prince

4/ NW5

5/ My Girl

6/ The Sun and the Rain

(with a snippet of Singin’ in the Rain)

7/ Baby Burglar

8/ Wings of a Dove

9/ Return of the Los Palmas 7

10/ Lovestruck

11/ If I Go Mad

12/ Shut Up

13/ Bed and Breakfast Man

14/ Mr. Apples

15/ House of Fun

16/ Baggy Trousers

17/ Our House

18/ It Must Be Love

Encore:

19/ Madness

20/ Night Boat to Cairo

 

 

 

 

 

FOLLOW MADNESS

 

FOLLOW HOLLIE COOK

FOLLOW THE HAWKMEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

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