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Review of IML Summer Sessions - Shugborough Hall, Stafford -
24th July 2010
This was the fouth of the IML Summer Sessions and my third taste of it and for the second time in just over two weeks, I was making my way northwards up the M5. So after an uneventful trip up the motorway, I'd learnt from the previous trip to avoid where the M5 joins the M6 and took a detour through Wolverhampton which was the town where my parents met in the 1950's and had they settled there, it would have been a short trip to Shugborough instead of a nearly 200 mile drive.
The line up this time Carol Decker, Go West, ABC, Rick Astley and Tony. Carol was up first when the show kicked off at 7.30 pm and she sang three or four songs including 'China in your hands'. Next up were Go West and they are good for a singalong, Pete sang the Kings of Leon song 'Sex on Fire', but I think Tony would do a good version of it. Next up was Martin Fry, I don't think that his set has changed during the shows. There was a very good turn around between the acts, so not much waiting around for the next part of the show, the roadies did a good job, but when it was time for Tony to start his set, the radio announcers kept saying Tony will be on soon, but he didn't arrive, I think that he must have been inside Shugborough Hall, but eventually he arrived and launched into 'Life on Mars', he was then joined by Rick Astley for a duet of Boys of Summer, After this song, Tony went off stage and it was Rick's turn for five songs.
Tony's full part of the set started with his high octane version of 'Somebody Told Me'. A new introduction is Duran Duran's 'Rio'. but it seems that 'Family Man' was dropped in favour of this song which was a pity because I liked 'Family Man' although he does a good version of 'Rio'. One bit of fun with Rick and Tony is their version of Don't Cha and they seem to really enjoy theimselves. I prefer the version of 'Girls in their Summer Clothes' without Pete Cox (sorry Pete but I don;t think your voice suits this song).
The rest of the show goes far too quickly, with Go West and Rick Astley joining in with 'Addicted to Love', leaving Tony to sing 'I Love it when you call' and 'Gold'. They all go off, and then come back on for the oncore with Tony and Rick doing 'That's Life' and Go West coming back at the end for 'I Predict a riot'.
There was a firework display at the end, which I didn't really see as I was getting the set list. It had been an enjoyable evening with friends, without the pushing and shoving behind me that I have had at other shows, so thanks for that. The audience seemed to enjoy it despite the drizzly rain before the show.