Photo + Words: Sophie Turrill
Tim Booth came on stage with a crutch, recovering from a fall off a festival stage earlier in the week – but that didn’t stop James from putting on a brilliant show.
The night opened with Tom A. Smith, who delivered a solid set as people filtered in. Things properly kicked off with The K’s, who brought real energy ahead of their debut album ‘Pretty on the Internet‘ (out end of July). ‘Sarajevo‘ was a standout crowd pleaser, the band did what great supports do – got everyone paying attention. They’re not far off selling out a venue like this themselves!
When James took to the stage, the atmosphere was already buzzing. Frontman Tim Booth, clearly still feeling the effects of his recent fall, started the set seated with his crutch by his side. The stage was full, the nine piece band opened with ‘Five-O‘ — a slow, moody track that eased the crowd in.
‘Seven‘ followed, lifting the energy slightly, before ‘She’s a Star‘ arrived early and got one of the loudest responses of the night. The crowd were behind it, singing along from the first line. It was a reminder of just how many big hits James have in their back pocket.
‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)‘ and ‘Stay‘ were next – Booth’s vocals clear and striking.
From there, ‘Better With You‘, ‘Just Like Fred Astaire‘, and ‘Moving On‘ kept the crowd going. The newer songs blended in well, and Fred Astaire in particular had the crowd swaying along– it felt special live.
The tempo picked up again with ‘Attention‘, followed by ‘Shadow of a Giant‘ and ‘Heads‘, which added more punch and drive. These songs gave the band room to stretch out and show off – the crowd fuelled by the sun, bar and atmosphere were clearly having fun.
‘Leviathan‘ and ‘Say Something‘ brought back that anthemic feel – the latter especially got the crowd singing again, it’s one of those tracks that feels made for summer shows.
Then came a real high point: ‘Tomorrow‘ fed straight into ‘Sit Down‘, and the reaction was huge. ‘Sit Down‘ had the entire crowd singing as one, arms in the air, everyone fully in the moment. It felt like the heart of the show.
Things didn’t dip after that – ‘Beautiful Beaches‘ gave the crowd a chance to breathe before ‘Born of Frustration‘ brought the energy back up with its unmistakable opening and signature vocal yelps.
They closed with ‘Sometimes‘ and ‘Laid‘. Sometimes built beautifully, with the crowd taking over on the final chorus, while Laid ended things on a high – lively and loud. A perfect closer that sent everyone home smiling.
The venue added something special. As the sun set behind the castle walls, the music and atmosphere made for an electric evening. Fans of all ages – some who’ve seen James for decades, others discovering them fresh – came together to enjoy what live music is all about.
One of the best things about outdoor gigs is the atmosphere it brings – even more so when the suns out. The location meant those could be up close with the music, or dance at the back like no-one was watching – and they did just that.
It was a shame there was no crowd-surfing, the fans would have really got behind it. But even with an injury, Tim Booth was magnetic, the band were tight, and clearly enjoying themselves. It was a stunning show in a beautiful setting – a reminder of why James still matter, and still deliver, after all these years.
Taped Magazine 