This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley - Holmfirth Picturedrome
7th October 2007
Onto my second gig of the weekend, The Holmfirth Picturedrome. I'd never heard of Holmfirth, although after a bit of searching for information about the place, I found out that it was where the TV show 'Last of the Summer Wine' had been filmed. After leaving the hotel at 11 am, we decided to go to The Trafford Centre in Manchester for a bit of retail therapy and lunch as there didn't seem to be much to do in Holmfirth on a Sunday afternoon.
Arrived in Holmfirth about 6 pm and saw that a few fans had already arrived and went to the pub next door to the venue for a drink. Around 6.45 pm the queue started to form outside the venue and we joined it - 4th! The queue soon spread down the side of the venue. The doors opened at around 7.30pm and we made our way to the front.
The Picturedrome was opened in 1912 and seems to be showing its age and although it is no longer showing films, it seems to be attracting well known bands. A good crowd turned out to see Tony. The carpet on the stage seemed to have seen better days and there was a strange small v-shaped trough at the edge of the stage and the edge of this could have done with sanding down a bit, but I suspect the damage was caused by bands having to haul the equipment over the edge of the stage, as you would have never have got it up the back stairs.
We saw the support band arrive, so weren't surprised when the trio came on, a violinist, a singer with acoustic guitar and electric double bass player. They played some well known and not so well known songs and the audience clapped politely, but we didn't really need them as they didn't warm the audience up. We were waiting for the man himself and his brilliant band.
Tony came on to a huge cheer. I already knew that we would be getting fewer songs as we had a support act and I could also see the set list. I don't know if I like seeing the set list beforehand or not, one way you know how far through the set he is and what is coming, but on the other hand it spoils the surprise of what he is going to sing.
This was a brilliant set, although less songs than Birkenhead. Tony was really rocking and enjoying himself. I really enjoyed it too. I had room to dance, which being right at the front, you don't always have. Being so close, Tony spotted me on the second song in. I had to be careful that my photos weren't at a funny angle, I did get one that I didn't put on here that was looking up his nose!
He started introducing 'Somebody to Love' before he had sung 'Buck Rogers', so he sang that one first. He didn't go off for the encore, he just said that we should shout 'Hooray' and then they would do the encore. So they did 'Lets stick together' and 'I Predict a Riot'. He then looked round to the band and they finished the encore with 'That's Life'.
We could see the people carrier in the car park, so waited there until the band and Tony came out. Tony spoke to everyone waiting. He was asked what his future plans were and he said that there would be one off gigs in the UK, Europe and Holland, plus he would be starting recording a new album and when that was finished, he would tour to promote that.