Photo Credit: Jimmy McDonald
Leigh’s LOTTERY WINNERS return to the steel city for again another incredible performance full of laughs, songs, and a unity that is extremely special as they head into 2024 with yet another packed year full of live events.
Local boys CHATFIELD arrived to find the room packed and ready to welcome them on the first night. What they are all about is reflected in their sophisticated indie rock style with a faint pop undertone. That’s exactly what the band’s most recent hit, ‘The Record Collector‘ does. The audience transformed into a skyline during the band’s last song, creating a sight to behold as their torches lit up the venue.
Then came THE DEEP BLUE, a Manchester-based indie folk band. A very pleasant change of pace for thirty minutes, but still a terrific change of scenery. Each member contributes unique components that complement one another well and function as a team. The band’s most recent single, ‘Oldest Daughter‘ has a pop tinge that you could mistaken for something you’d hear from The 1975, but it is very much their own track. The Sheffield audience gave them a wonderful reception, and since their return is scheduled for February, they have no choice but continue to grow.
It was time for the moment everyone was waiting for, and on stepped the LOTTERY WINNERS. It was all smiles from not only the band but from everybody in attendance. The quartet wasted no time in kicking off their highly anticipated headliner performance with ‘Worry‘ which always guarantees a sing-a-long. Quickly moving on to ‘21‘, frontman Tom Rylance instructed the crowd to change the title to ‘#1’ instead (yes, they are still banging on about that chart topping achievement, and rightly so).
Tom was upto his usual antics, egging on the crowd, joking around with the other three members and soaking up as much attention as he possibly could, until it came to ‘Let Me Down‘. The whole room were chanting for guitarist Robert Lally to take centre stage for this song, and as always, absolutely owned it.
Before Tom could reclaim his domminance, bassist Katie Lloyd stepped up for the beautiful ‘85 Trips‘ which still holds up as a stand out track from the band. Now the set was coming to a close, fan favourite ‘Letter to Myself‘ wrap up the first part of the set, and the band quickly returned to conclude the night with the energetic ‘Burning House‘ and festival anthem ‘Start Again‘.
After a rescheduled date and venue change, it only made the show worth the wait even more. The Lottery Winners arent stopping there though, they will be back on the road in March playing some intimate venues up and down the UK. Tickets are on sale now.
Taped Magazine 