137. Live 8: Hyde Park, London [2.7.05]

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137_Live8 [020705]

Artists: Paul McCartney / U2 / Coldplay / Richard Ashcroft / Elton John / Pete Doherty / R.E.M. / Ms Dynamite / Keane / Bob Geldolf / UB40 / Snoop Dogg / Razorlight / Madonna / The Killers / Scissor Sisters / Velvet Revolver / Sting / Robbie Williams / The Who / Pink Floyd / Paul McCartney / George Michael

Venue: Hyde Park, London

Date: 2.7.05

Live 8 was a set of benefit/awareness concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 countries and South Africa. The concerts were timed to precede the G8 conference. Live 8 organisers presented the ‘Live 8 List’ to world leaders, with the call for politicians to take action to ‘Make Poverty History’. Names from the list/petition were displayed on large screens at each concert during the worldwide broadcast.

A truly epic day featuring so many music legends, and including an emotional reunion of the founder members of Pink Floyd for the first time in over 24 years.

Free tickets were issued via a lottery, as the day was about famine awareness rather than making money. The concert ran nearly 3 hours over schedule but the crowd didn’t seem to care.

Many years later, the line-up is still hard to comprehend. Thankfully the event was captured on DVD, as there was simply too much to take-in on the day.

131. Kasabian: The Blank Canvas, Leeds [16.10.04]

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131_Kasabian [161004]

Artist: Kasabian

Support: Trap2

Venue: The Blank Canvas, Leeds

Date: 16.10.04

The Blank Canvas was a pop-up venue in the ‘Dark Arches’ at Granary Wharf, Leeds. The moody setting was well suited for Kasabian to promote their eponymous debut album. The band were relatively unknown at the time, but word was spreading fast and the arches were packed with those in the know.

117. Oasis: Wembley Stadium, London [21.7.00]

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117a_Oasis [210700]

Artist: Oasis

Support: Doves / Happy Mondays

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

Date: 21.7.00

This was the one and only gig that I attended at the old Wembley Stadium, not long before it was demolished. The day included a surprise appearance from Happy Mondays and a stunning sunset set from Doves.

As Oasis took to the stage, Liam swaggered out and greeted the crowd with his usual level of charm: “Shithole! About time they knocked the shit down!”. To be fair, he had a point. The stadium was on its last legs, and other than the iconic twin towers, there was nothing of the historical venue to admire.

The concert was recorded and issued as the ‘Familiar to Millions’ album and DVD.

117b_Oasis [Familiar to Millions]

 

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112. Naomi / Dragster: The Duchess, Leeds [1.7.98]

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Artist: Naomi

Support: Dragster

Venue: The Duchess of York, Leeds

Date: 1.7.98

This was the last gig I attended at the legendary Leeds venue. Following the demise of The Duchess there was a void of equally intimate live venues on the Leeds music scene for a number of years. As we neared the Millennium, the building was converted into a Hugo Boss store. A sad sign of the times, as bands were replaced by brands.

101. Paul Weller: Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield [26.7.97]

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101_Paul Weller [260797]

Artist: Paul Weller

Support: Skunk Anansie / David Byrne / Beth Orton / The Supernaturals / Urban Species / Travis / Lewis Taylor / Delta / Joseph Arthur

Venue: Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield

Date: 26.7.97

More of a one day festival than a gig, with a star studded support list. In the true spirit of the great British festival season, it poured with rain until the arrival of The Modfather.