“I wish proper bands would play in Nantwich. My Dad said Pink Floyd played The Civic.” was something I remember saying to my friends as a 17-year-old. Fast forward to October 13th, 2018, and my teenage dream came true!

No getting a lift to the train station, no risk of missing the train due to an always late friend, a ten-minute walk, and I was about to see a band I’d listened to casually for years. The band formerly known as British Sea Power came to my town and blew the roof off The Civic Hall.

Opening with Machineries of Joy, they blasted through their back catalogue, including Bad Bohemian, Remember Me, No Lucifer, Waving Flags, and played a few I didn’t know. 

The crowd was even joined by a couple of extra-large bears, who notoriously follow the band around, adding to the euphoria I hear is synonymous with Sea Power gigs.

The highlight of the night was The Great Skua, a majestic instrumental which was used as the soundtrack to a 1930s film called Man of Aran, which was originally a silent film.

So, my teenage dream came true. What a gig. I’m so grateful that Words and Music exists to bring original artists to my hometown.

John Tibbott – Photo courtesy of Rob Collins