This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of IML Summer Sessions - Heaton Park, Manchester-
14th August 2010
This was the fifth of the IML Summer Sessions and my fourth one. Not being out in the countryside, it wasn't necessary to take my car, so I decided to fly up to Manchester instead of sitting on a train for over four hours or driving up the motorway. It is quite convenient to fly and only takes just over an hour. When the show was announced I did a bit of research into nearby hotels and found the Premier Inn, Heaton Park was just across the road from the park where the gig was being held and as the hotel chain hadn't realised there was a show close by and I got the room for their special offer price.
After an early evening flight up to Manchester on the Friday, I met up with Wendy in the main train station and we took the tram out to Bowker Vale tram stop and it was a short walk up the road to the hotel.
The weather hadn't been too good in Manchester during the week, so we packed heavy duty waterproofs, but apart from a bit of drizzle on the Saturday morning on our way to get some picnic goodies, the weather remained dry for the rest of the day and the sun shone here and there.
We made our way to park before opening time and were surprised how long the queue already was. We could hear Go West and Martin Fry soundchecking.
At last we were able to get into the venue and made our way to the front, unfortunately having to stake out our place on the front rail, we were unable to speak to people we knew, very much.
The show started and Mica Paris was up first, followed by Belinda Carlisle who seemed to have a very ardent male fan who was in the middle of the front row.
Go West were up next, followed by Martin Fry. The Manchester croud were really enthusiastic and although because of a lot of heavy rain earlier in the week it was soggy underfoot, but the day and evening stayed dry and reasonably warm.
At last it was time for Tony to come on stage and launch into the now familiar 'Life on Mars', he was then joined by Rick Astley for 'Boys of Summer', a good duet for them to sing. It was then Rick's turn for the next five songs.
After Rick's set, Tony was back for his part of the show, with Rick and/or Go West coming on for various songs. The surprise of the evening was Tony singing the Queen classic 'Somebody to Love', which hadn't been in any of the other shows in this series, but I always enjoy Tony singing it.
The show ended with Tony, all the band, Rick and Go West coming onto the stage and singing the high octane 'I Predict a Riot' and before he sang the song he told everyone to be very carefull as it is very very scary out there....
Too soon it was over and time for the firework display, although I didn't see much of it because I was still by the stage asking Jay for a set list (thanks Jay!).
We got to speak to Tony after the show and Tony asked me where my car was to get back to the hotel, I had to tell him that I had flown up to Manchester and that our hotel was at the end of the drive into the park, so we would be fine when we left.
It had been a good trip to Manchester, I was glad that I travelled back on the Sunday as Exeter airport was closed on the Monday due to the failure of the fire engines.