With blue skies and very little cloud, one couldn’t have wished for a better start to day three of the Summer Sessions on June 15th at Plymouth Hoe. With a stellar lineup of acts that included Hardwicke Circus, The Lightning Seeds, The Zutons, and Madness, the evening was set for a showcase of musical talent and an unforgettable experience for all who attended.

Kicking off the night were Carlisle based Hardwicke Circus, a band known for their eclectic sound and dynamic stage presence. The Sun shone down on the revellers who had amassed on the Hoe as the band entertained the audience with tracks including ‘Walking on Broken Glass’, which instantly captured the audience's attention. Their performance of ‘Nowhere Left to Run’ was a standout moment, with its infectious energy prompting even the most reserved attendees to dance. The band introduced a song about boxing and said that they had written the track about Tyson Fury (before he had lost his recent fight with Oleksandr Usyk), this featured a great sing-a-long moment and the Plymouth crowd were keen to join in. They often joked about their home city of Carlisle, asking if there was anyone in the audience who had been there (or avoided it on the way to somewhere else), this led into a track called ‘Night Train From Carlisle’ which the guitarist claimed to have written on the overnight train, locked in a toilet cubicle with Suggs from Madness. Come the end of their set, Hardwicke Circus had successfully warmed up the crowd, setting the stage for the acts to follow.

Next up were The Lightning Seeds, bringing their signature blend of jangly pop and Britpop nostalgia. Their setlist consisted of their staple crowd pleasing classics including ‘Pure’, ‘The Life of Riley’ and ‘Lucky You’ which saw the audience launch into a mass sing-a-long which pleased frontman Ian Broudie no end. The highlight of their set was undoubtedly "Three Lions’, a football anthem that saw the entire audience chanting in unison, creating a moment of unity and sheer joy. Despite the track being released in 1996 to mark England’s involvement of the EURO Championships, it remains to this day, possibly THE best footie anthem out there and no doubt the band will get more mileage from it with future World Cup and other tournaments. The weather held throughout their set which was a godsend as the sunshine certainly helped the music to brighten the late afternoon on Plymouth Hoe.

The sunshine remained as The Zutons took to the stage, with their unique blend of indie rock and soulful, hypnotic rhythms cutting through the late afternoon air. Their performance of ‘Valerie’ was certainly a firm crowd favourite, with everyone singing along to the iconic tune. ‘Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?’ had the audience dancing about, and ‘Always Right Behind You’ showcased their musical versatility and tight performance skills. Abi’s sax skills really made it for me, she is such a professional up there on the stage and a riot off it, I have met and chatted to her at numerous festivals over the years and she really is the life and soul of the band. Collectively, the band’s energy was infectious, and their ability to keep the crowd engaged and enthusiastic as the day wore on was a testament to their amazing showmanship which they have crafted over the past 23 years.

The night culminated with a performance by the legendary Madness. As they took the stage, the clouds started to form and I had good money on there being a downpour throughout their performance, only time would tell…. Opening with ‘One Step Beyond’, they had the audience jumping and skanking along to the beat. The sing-along moments during ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘House of Fun’ were particularly memorable, with the crowd's voices echoing across Plymouth Hoe. The performance of ‘It Must Be Love’ was a poignant highlight, with many couples embracing and swaying together, creating a heartwarming scene. They also played a number of tracks from their 2023 album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie, which reached the top of the album charts upon its release (not that Suggs wanted to keep referring to this - I think he only mentioned it a dozen or so times). Madness closed the night with their iconic hits ‘Madness’ and ‘Night Boat to Cairo’ which saw bright lights illuminate the Hoe from the stage and a sea of bobbing pork pie hats and Fez’s as far as the eye could see. As their set came to a close, the heavens opened, many people were already on their way out of the arena by this time so it certainly didn’t dampen any spirits.

With the good weather, the Summer Sessions at Plymouth Hoe on June 15th was a resounding success. Looking back, I just realised that each act had a sax player (okay, Madness had an entire brass section, but that’s allowed). Each act brought something unique to the stage, from the dynamic energy of Hardwicke Circus to the nostalgic hits of The Lightning Seeds, the soulful, hypnotic rhythms of The Zutons, and the timeless classics of Madness. The audience’s enthusiastic reaction to every song, showcased the unifying power of live music. This was a night to remember for the incredible performances and the sense of community among those who attended. Well done Plymouth, you did us proud!

Words by Steve Muscutt