Review: Deacon Blue, Newmarket Nights
The final night of The Jockey Club Live at Newmarket’s July Racecourse saw the Glaswegian pop rock group Deacon Blue take the stage after the races. As I was born the same year as their debut album Raintown, some could say I am too young to know them. They would be right, however I would soon find out I knew more of their songs than I realised.
Kicking off the set with City of Love, from 2020’s album of the same name, their tenth studio album. They would then bounce back in time to 1989 with Wages Day, with those very 80s sounding stadium filling snare hits ringing out.
Fergus Sings The Blues, would really highlight the tight vocal dynamic of Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, who really compliment one another. Followed by Your Swaying Arms with it’s grooving bass line. Then Twist and Shout’s short lines and upbeat tempo, really getting people moving.
Ross told tales of Scottish dance lessons as a kid preparing for the Cèilidh to remind people the band are here to get you on your feet and dancing. Before taking his jacket off, proving they were here to get moving too.
The staple of any 80s compilation, Real Gone Kid, had the whole crowd joining in with the Ooh, ooh, ooh, oohs and the call and response chorus between Ross and McIntosh. Later as the familiar chords of Dignity rang out from the keyboards amongst the rising synth strings, everyone got ready to join in with the opening words. This however would end their set, with the band looking like they didn’t want it to end just like the audience.
Of course it wasn’t the end, with a cover of Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon, as an encore to finish the night and also close out this year’s run of gigs at the racecourse, roll on next summer, with hopefully the same amazing varied line up and run of lovely weather too (fingers crossed).
Review and pictures, Stephen Keable, for Ipswich24 Magazine
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