Sunday 20 July 2025.

Sunday 20 July 2025. THE BEACH BOYS live at Englefield Estate, Theale, Berkshire . This will be their only UK show of 2025. Part of their ' The Sounds of the Summer' European Tour. Music legends The Beach Boys formed in 1961. Original member Mike Love is still here at age 84. Bruce Johnson joined in 1965 and is still here at age 83. I have seen them a dozen times before, including with Brian Wilson, and in Phoenix USA in 2003 when i was seeing a few Sex Pistols shows Special guests DAVID ESSEX and LULU. I have seen them both live several times. David Essex is soon to be 78, and Lulu is 76. --------------- A bigger crowd than the other two shows, maybe 12,000 here. Half the crowd have brought their own fold up chairs . The big screens and sound were again excellent LULU on stage at 5.10pm for her 60 mins set. Lulu is still.looking as youthful as ever. Lulu has a full band , including a female backing singer. Highlights included... Shout The Man Who Sold The World Boom Bang a Bang Relight My Fire I'm Still Standing ( Elton John cover) Shout ( reprise) DAVID ESSEX on stage at 7pm for his 60 mins set. David has grey hair , and is balding but the females here still like his cheeky chappie twinkle. Lots of hits played including... Lamplight Me and My Girl Nightclubbing Oh What a Circus A Winters Tale Stardust Rock On Silver Dream Machine Gonna Make You A Star ( UK number 1 hit in 1974) Hold Me Close ( UK number one hit in 1975) You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover) BEACH BOYS on stage at 9pm for their I hour 40 mins set. Nine or ten of them on stage , with the fab band singing the high notes and great harmonies Their drummer was pretty amazing as he was a visual treat with hints of Keith Moon/Clem Burke/Slim Jim , and he sing three songs too. His stool was so high that he was semi standing. Lots of classic hits played and a couple of covers. Lots of vintage Beach Boys video clips and a tribute to Brian Wilson on the big screen. Highlights included .. Do It Again Rockaway Beach ( The Ramones cover) Surfin' USA I Get Around God Only Knows California Girls Sloop John B Wouldn't It Be Nice Help Me Rhonda Good Vibrations Kokomo Barbara Ann Fun Fun Fun ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Saturday 19 July - Wembley Arena This is the last night of their short European and UK tour. Rock'n'roll legends LYNYRD SKYNYRD are set to make their triumphant return to the UK and Europe in July this year. The upcoming arena tour marks their first UK visit since 2019, bringing the unmistakable sounds of one of rock's most iconic acts back to British shores. Joined by special guests Blackberry Smoke, the tour promises to be an unmissable moment for UK rock fans. 'Celebrating 50 Years of Lynyrd Skynyrd' marks half a century since the release of their groundbreaking debut album Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd. Five decades in, Lynyrd Skynyrd continue to captivate audiences worldwide with their electrifying performances and timeless music. Last remaining original member GARY ROSSINGTON died 2023. RICK MEDLOCKE will be 75 for this gig. His first stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd was from 1971 to 1972, but was not on their early albums so the band are pretty much a tribute act, with good connections. I have seen them live over a dozen times , including five shows with original members before that fatal plane crash in Oct 1977. Lynyrd Skynyrd Hammersmith Odeon ,London 27.10.1975 Lynyrd Skynyrd (BBC Theatre O.G.W.T Special ) venue now called Shepherds Bush Empire,London 11.11.1975 Old Grey Whistle Test TV Special Lynyrd Skynyrd,Steve Gibbons Band Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.02.1976 Rolling Stones,10 CC,Lynyrd Skynyrd,Todd Rundgren. Knebworth Music Festival 21.08.1976 massive outdoor show Lynyrd Skynyrd,Clover Rainbow Theatre, London 29.01.1977 Support band BLACKBERRY SMOKE are well known in their own right, as they have released several albums. I have seen them a couple of times before. ----------- A few blocks at the back were not sold, but pretty full. A mainly older crowd as expected tonight BLACKBERRY SMOKE on stage at 7.30pm for their 60 mins. They show their logo on the big screen, but no live footage. Most of the crowd are in early to see the support as their melodic American country rock sound is an ideal support. Highlights included ' One Horse Town' and ' Not Much Left of Me'.....a good set. LYNYRD SKYNYRD on stage at 9.10pm for their 90 mins. I am six rows from the stage right , with a superb view. They make great use of the big screen , as they show live footage mixed with vintage clips of the old band from the 1970s. Nine on stage , including three guitars and two female bvs . The vocals and overall sound was superb. The original lead singer and a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd was Ronnie Van Zant. He was also the primary lyricist for the band. After his death in a plane crash in 1977, his younger brother, Johnny Van Zant, took over as the lead singer in 1987, a role he continues to hold, and does a great job of keeping the band authentic and continuing the legacy. All their best tracks played including the mega "' Sweet Home Alabama' and ' Free Bird'. They sounded big and very professional. Hard to really think of them as a top notch tribute band, as it was an excellent show.. Full LYNYRD SKYNYRD settlist played tonight ... Workin' for MCA What's Your Name That Smell I Know a Little Saturday Night Special Down South Jukin' Gimme Back My Bullets Cry for the Bad Man The Needle and the Spoon Tuesday's Gone ( dedicated to Gary Rossington ) Simple Man Gimme Three Steps Call Me the Breeze (J.J. Cale cover) (with Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke) ( four guitars rockin' out) Sweet Home Alabama Encore: Free Bird ( including 16 names on the big screen from the Lynyrd Skynyrd family who have passed away). A bit of a messy journey home , as 90,000 boxing fans left Wembley Stadium at the same time as the gig finished.

Posted 20th July 2025