Music > Live Reviews

Paul Weller

Thetford Forest Live

22/06/19

The very iconic music legend that is Paul Weller, ‘the mod father’ is back in Thetford Forest.

He has become something of a regular and a real firm favourite at the venue since first appearing here back in 2004.

The gig this evening is part of Forestry England’s ‘Forest Live’ concert series and the second in this year’s series of gigs being played across four consecutive evenings. It is a stunning setting this evening as the night sky descends and the lighting around the trees bring the venue to life.

Now sixty one years of age he is still looking in great shape and is on fine form tonight as he works through a twenty eight set song list during a quite stunning two hour show.

To date his very distinguished career has seen him responsible for delivering some of the very best British rock music since it all started back in 1977 from his time as the front man with new wavers / mods The Jam, through to the the jazz / soul sounds of The Style Council and of course in more recent years his solo career which started way back in 1991.

The set list as you would expect and hope for is wide and varied from the man’s very distinguished career, Jam devotees are even treated to Man In The Corner Shop from their fifth album, 1980’s Sound Effects and Precious, the original B side to Town Called Malice.

My Ever Changing Moods and Shout To The Top sound just amazing as do Wild Wood, Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), You Do Something To Me and Hung Up.

In typical Weller mode, he is not that engaging with the large crowd this evening, but appears to be enjoying himself none the less, he even manages to squeeze in a cheeky cigarette during an extended version of Into Tomorrow as Steve Pilgrim launches into an epic drum solo, this was the ideal time for the man to light up and have a cheeky drag or three as smoke bellows out from behind the back of the stage.

The band are in great form with long term associate Steve Craddock (OCS) pulling the strings and providing backing vocals.

They sneak in two encores of seven songs in total that cover off Broken Stones, Start, a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s Move On Up (a song that he has covered since his early days) and then finally Town Called Malice.

He may not have had much success beyond these shores, but Paul Weller is one of this country’s most of favourite sons he is a national treasure.

Now that’s what you call entertainment.