Sat 17 May – Prince
Setlist

Let's Go Crazy
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
U Got the Look
Musicology
Kiss
The Love We Make
Funknroll
The Ride
Guitar
Stratus (Billy Cobham cover)
Plectrum Electrum
When Doves Cry
Sign “☮” the Times
777-9311 (The Time cover)
Hot Thing
Housequake
I Would Die 4 U
A Love Bizarre (Sheila E. cover)
Alphabet St.
Forever in My Life
Purple Rain

Encore:
Controversy
1999
Little Red Corvette
Nothing Compares 2 U

Piano set
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
Diamonds and Pearls
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Do Me, Baby
The Beautiful…

Wed 22 Oct – The Brand New Heavies

I first saw the Brand New Heavies as an audience member at Pebble Mill, which was a lunchtime chatshow. I was wandering around BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham and was asked if I wanted to watch the show. I think it was Judi Spiers rather than the Titchmarsh who presented.

I did remember more clearly the Brand New Heavies who were promoting Midnight At The Oasis, their current single. It was my first real experience of a live band, I was quite impressed. I carried on following their music but it's only…

Tue 9 Sep – Stevie Wonder

Following on from http://www.last.fm/user/reallywunderbar/journal/2008/09/21/26hd04_stevie_nia_8th_september, this was my second of consecutive Stevie Wonder gigs.

Maybe it was the fact that I had by now recovered from my night shifts, maybe the seats, maybe the crowd but tonight really blew me away. For a start there wasn't the Visions problem from Birmingham. Which allowed for more of his songs. There was a real connection between Stevie and the crowd - although possibly the whole audience participation was a tad overdone (though to very funny effect as someone shouted "TURN IT UP!" in the midst of I…

Mon 8 Sep – Stevie Wonder

It’s been a wee while since Stevie Wonder last hit these shores to do a full tour. I’ve always been keen to see him. Very keen. I remember seeing some of his performances on the West German music programme Beatclub and being mesmerised by them. Having said that I wasn’t overly keen on his Natural Wonder album – as notoriously difficult as live albums can be. I signed up for two gigs and through gifts from friends are seeing two more in October. Lucky me 

So which Stevie would turn up?

The lights…

Wed 9 Jul – Crowded House

Terrible, terrible pun.

Crowded House played Liverpool as part of the Summer Pops season. Warm-up provided by Don McGlashan (part of the NZ cohort) and local band Voo. Don did a one-man band set complete with one of the most under-used instruments in popular music today - the Euphonium. Voo hhad a kind of Editor-ish vibe to them and were a cracking, tight band and quite endearing on-stage.

Crowded House were themselves as engaging as ever, even as a follow on from Glastonbury having debates with the security staff. It was a hit heavy…

Sat 7 Jun – Yazoo

A great gig. Started off with a bomb (Nobody's Diary) which is one of my favouties. I was too young to remember them originally but glad that there is an opportunity to see them again. A bit of a theme with me and gigs at the moment!

As you'd expect there was a visual element to the show as well with Vince and Alison on separate platforms with a video back drop which changed with each song. Really added to the atmosphere.

There was a real warmth in the Apollo and it was touching to…

Fri 8 Feb – Alison Moyet

I wonder if Alison Moyet ever contemplated playing Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall when she started in the Punk scene of the late seventies?

It's a pleasure to see her on stage. Her voice just has the most fantastic timbre. Moreover she interprets songs beautifully - see Windmills of my Mind for evidence.

Even when things don't quite go to plan, she exudes such charm and spark that you quite secretly what things to continue that way.

Some good reworkings of her older material added to the theatre appropriate to the venue. It was just a…

Tue 27 Nov – Sia

Waiting for the gig to start you were intrigued by the apparel on-stage. Is this a taster of the new album? Colour The Small One was, in general, a down beat affair understansably given what had happened in her life at the time. However, those who have seen her with Zero 7 and followed her between albums and kept an eye on her site know what a devilish person she can be.

And so on burst Sia & Band in Day-Glo costumes with the hidden track on her album Buttons. A romping, stomper of…

Sat 1 Dec – Crowded House

A gig I'd never thought I'd see, given the parting of ways and sad death of Paul Hester.

Touring the new album Time On Earth, that material fitted in very well with their old material.

The Crowdies have a way of narrowing the space in large arenas to nothing, inviting the audience in with a way that is utterly seductive and far from corny.

And Fall At Your Feet is now my all-time gig memory for a single song. And that's some going!

Tue 20 Nov – An Evening With Jill Scott

I finally managed to see this wonderful artist. Since first catching her on an episode of Later… about eight years ago now, and listening to her live album, I've wanted to experience it myself.

Focussing on her new material, it could have been trying. One thing you get with Jill Scott is honesty. And a real feeling of warmth. It didn't matter that I hadn't heard much of what she sang before, it just made it all the more new and enthralling.

Her backing band really brought out the varied voice…