The historic grounds of Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, provided a majestic backdrop for Nocturne 2024, an event featuring the stellar lineup of Crowded House, Sheryl Crow, and Turin Brakes.

This festival proved to be a delightful experience for all attendees, offering a variety of seating options with pub-style benches and an extensive array of food choices, ranging from Greek cuisine to the staple of any gig, classic burgers and chips. The beer flowed freely, and for those with more luxurious tastes, Fortnum & Mason hampers were available, with prices reaching up to £200—a tempting splurge, I settled for just two, LOL!

Kicking off the evening’s entertainment was the London-based quartet, Turin Brakes. Their songs were unfamiliar to me, but they served as a fitting introduction to the night's entertainment. Their performance was well-received, setting a positive tone and warming up the crowd for the acts to follow.

Next up was the incomparable Sheryl Crow, who many, including myself, believed should have headlined the event. She strutted onto the stage to the energetic strains of The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up,” she was firing on all cylinders. Sheryl launched into "Real Gone" a song she wrote for the Disney film Cars (Lightning McQueen etc) and quickly endeared herself to the crowd with her witty banter, including a humorous quip about the venue: "I looked over the castle—‘It’s a palace’”. 

Sheryl's setlist was a perfect blend of her greatest hits, including "A Change Would Do You Good" and "All I Wanna Do." Her 11-song performance was nothing short of spectacular, leaving the audience craving more. She closed with "Everyday Is a Winding Road," a fitting end to a powerful set. She also shared an amusing anecdote about Lionel Richie advising her against playing new songs, to which she responded by performing "Evolution," the title track of her new album. Her performance was a masterclass in live music, and superlatives hardly do it justice.

Closing the night were Crowded House, delivering exactly what the fans came to hear—timeless classics. They kicked off with "World Where You Live," followed by favourites including "Fall at Your Feet," "Pineapple Head," and the crowd-pleaser "Weather with You", which received a massive reception and a huge sing-a-long. Their 22-song setlist, satisfying the sea of fans donning Crowded House T-shirts.

I would add that the sound quality for their performance seemed to be slightly ‘off’, perhaps as a result of following Sheryl Crow’s impeccable set. All in all, Crowded House managed to deliver a nostalgic and enjoyable performance, cementing their status as legends of the music world.

We’ll be back next year for another round, see you there!

Review and Pics by Leigh Bruin.