Tuesday 12 October 2021.

Tuesday 12 October 2021. COLDPLAY live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Ed Sheeran played an intimate show at this venue in Sept , and now another stadium filling act , Coldplay are playing here, as they celebrate the release of their ninth studio album ‘Music of the Spheres’. The gig takes place at the 2,000 capacity London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Tuesday 12th October 2021, three days before ‘Music of the Spheres’ is released to the world. Coldplay fans who order ‘Music of the Spheres’ before 11.59pm on Monday 4th October - including those who have already done so - will receive a unique code giving exclusive access for the chance to purchase Shepherd's Bush Empire tickets for just £20, with all monies going to Client Earth. They will also receive a code giving them pre-sale access to Coldplay’s next UK tour when it’s announced. ------------------ Lots of film cameras dotted around the venue as Parlophone are filming it. This meant less space in the stalls, so 1600 here instead of the usual 2000 venue capacity. A mammoth 400 of those are on the guest list, who take up all of Level 1 and Level 2. I saw Ian Broudie and Jo Whiley here, and journos from all the main newspapers etc. 200 of these guests had wristbands for the afterparty in the Level 1 bar. COLDPLAY arrived on stage at 8.45pm and played for 80 mins. A superb setlist that was full of all their big hits. Ed Sheeran joined them for two of his own big hits, and a Coldplay song. A massive stage production including loads of lights, lasers, confetti cannons and a big screen showing pre-recorded images...the film of the show will look amazing. Everyone had the Coldplay wristband that lights up in sync with the sound on stage. They have used this on previous tours. Coldplay are a bit of a marmite band due to their massive popularity but tonight they proved what a fantastic live act they are. Full COLDPLAY setlist played tonight...(introduced on stage by actor Simon Pegg). Higher Power Clocks Fix You (with Ed Sheeran) Viva la Vida Adventure of a Lifetime The Scientist Paradise Human Heart (with Fleur East) (+ We Are KING) People of the Pride Yellow (acoustic) Shivers (Ed Sheeran cover) (with Ed Sheeran) Shape of You (Ed Sheeran cover) (with Ed Sheeran) My Universe A Sky Full of Stars (confetti cannons used here) Coloratura ---------------------------------------- Monday 11 October 2021. THE STAVES + SAMANTHA CRAIN live at Shepherds Bush Empire. The Staves are sisters with some nice indie-folk Fleetwood Mac type harmonies ,are on a UK tour. On 5 February 2021, their third studio album "Good Woman" was released via Atlantic Records UK and Nonesuch Records. The album charted at number 13 in the UK albums chart. I saw them perform a good socially distanced show in July in Hackney, East London. ---------- Upstairs in Level 3 is half empty but the rest of the venue is full. SAMANTHA CRAIN and her band arrived on stage at 7.50pm for their 40 mins set. Samantha Crain is an actress as well as a singer-songwriter....she had a nice voice. THE STAVES arrived on stage at 9pm and played for 90 mins. This polite crowd give a big welcome back to the Staveley-Taylor sisters (Jess and Milly onstage, Emily at home with her new daughter Margot) , celebrating their confident third album ‘Good Woman’ and gifting fans with jewels from a back-catalogue. Nice vocals and harmonies from the two sisters. We have a full band, with mainly acoustic guitar and piano based songs. Lots of white lighting is used throughout the evening. The best songs seemed to feature a louder crescendo at the end of the track. An enjoyable show.

Posted 12th October 2021