Saturday 13 December 2025.

Friday 12 December 2025. STEREO MCs live at Shepherds Bush Empire . The band are playing a UK tour. They had five Top 40 singles in the UK in the 1990s /2000s , including 'Connected' in 1992. I have seen them a couple of times before. ------------- Levels 2 and 3 are both closed , and plenty of space in the stalls and Level 1 , so must be only 600 here max Music legend ALAN McGEE is in the Level 1 vip seats. He used to manage Stereo MC's in their hit singles heyday . Maybe he still manages them. DJ FORMAT warmed the crowd up nicely, as he was played vinyl singles and mixed and scratched. Plenty of foot tapping dance and hop hop tunes , and even a Cure remix. STEREO MCs arrived on stage at 9.15pm for their 1 hour 40 mins set. Four of them on stage , no bass or guitars Male vocals . Female dancer and backing vocals . Percussion. Beats man mixing the backing tapes. The band are from South London, so very happy have a local gig. Their funky hip hop / electro dance tunes got everyone dancing from the start . The overall sound was perfect. Great to hear gems like ' Connected' and ' Step It Up ' again. A good enjoyable show. ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- Thursday 11 December 2025. INSPIRAL CARPETS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. The band are playing a UK tour. Noel Gallagher was a roadie for the Manchester band Inspiral Carpets before achieving fame with Oasis. He worked for the band as a roadie and assistant from 1988 until he joined Oasis, having previously auditioned to be the band's singer but was turned down. Noel was at the Shack / Mozart Estate gig at this venue a few days before this show , so could easily be here. INSPIRAL CARPETS had eleven Top 40 hits in the UK in the 1990s. I have seen them a couple of times before. ------------- Levels 2 and 3 are closed tonight, but stalls and Level 1 look full. No sign of Noel Gallagher up in the Level 1 vip seats. DJ DAVE SWEETMORE was the support act , and he did a good job of warming the crowd up with classic tracks from the likes of Oasis, Joy Division ,The Smiths, New Order , Stone Roses etc. INSPIRAL CARPETS arrived on stage at 9.05pm for their 75 mins set . They had a big screen showing old photos of them back in the day ,along with gig posters etc. 75 mins on stage seemed a bit short , but the singer said his voice was playing up a bit . Their keyboard based indie rock Madchester tunes ticked along nicely. Clint Boon and his organ sounded great , that oddly made them sound like The Stranglers in places. Highlights included ' This Is How It Feels ' , ' I Want You', ' Dragging Me Down' and encore ' Saturn 5'. A good enjoyable show. Full INSPIRAL CARPETS setlist played tonight... Real Thing Generations She Comes in the Fall Weakness Two Worlds Collide Let You Down Directing Traffik Find Out Why Drag The Bag Sackville Uniform This Is How It Feels I Want You Joe Dragging Me Down Encore: Saturn 5

Posted 12th December 2025