Tag Archives: 2024
Lytham Festival – 7th July 2024
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dust Motes / The Shining / Medieval / Laid / Tomorrow / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / The Lake / Hello / Shadow Of A Giant / Someone's Got It In For Me / Say Something / Born Of Frustration / Sometimes / Folks / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)Support
Johnny Marr / Inspiral Carpets / The Magic Numbers / The KairosMore Information & Reviews
with Orca 22 and The Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir. Johnny Marr joined them on stage for Laid
Video
Laid (with Johnny Marr)
Review: David Brown @ Even The Stars
“An outdoor orchestral show with such a challenging setlist is a risk, but one that you’d expect James to take and actively embrace confident in their ability to take most of the audience with them. There was a real sense of joy up on stage, Tim in particular totally in the moment, wandering the stage, encouraging one minute, standing in awe the next. It was a perfect way to sign off the 2023-24 round of orchestra shows.”
Read the full review at Even The Stars
Review: Rachel Smith @ Manchester Evening News
“Adding a full orchestra and a gospel choir was bound to ramp up the theatrics. Set against the backdrop of Lytham Green, with its iconic windmill, and the sun setting in the background, the performance went on a journey from the band’s back catalogue, peppered with singalong classics and singles from their newly released album Yummy.”
Read the full review at Manchester Evening News
Review: Laura Dean @ God Is In The TV Zine
“After experiencing the beauty of the band’s orchestral shows last year, we were initially unsure if and how they would translate to an outdoor setting. However, James proved their unwavering prowess once again with a headline set at Lytham Festival that was utterly sublime. Their versatility shone brightly as they delivered another performance of unparalleled beauty.”
Read the full review at God Is In The TV Zine
Review: Natalie Royle @ Louder Than War
“After attending last years orchestral tour and experiencing the stillness and emotion created in the intimate venues, I was concerned about how this would translate in an outdoor festival atmosphere and also how good the sound quality would be. I needn’t have worried. The sound quality is perfect, the visuals more stunning than I could have ever imagined, and the whole performance feels just as intimate and special as any show I’ve seen previously. It’s majestic and all consuming, the energy and spontaneity that James bring to their performances unlike anything I’ve witnessed with any other act and I feel very grateful to be here tonight to witness it.”
Read the full review at Louder Than War
Review: Ric Brook @ RGM
“Its now time for the encore that isn’t as it would take a lot of time for everyone to leave and return and typically James they’ll already be overrunning. Sit Down “starts” it off, suppose there’d be a riot if it didn’t appear at some point and the crowd duly sing along. Beautiful Beaches makes an apt appearance given the venue tonight and the night is finished with the glorious and true James anthem Getting Away With it (All Messed Up).”
Read the full review at RGM
Bedford Summer Sessions – 6th July 2024
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dust Motes / The Shining / Sit Down / Medieval / Tomorrow / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Shadow Of A Giant / Hello / Someone's Got It In For Me / We're Going To Miss You / Born Of Frustration / Ten Below / The Lake / Say Something / Sometimes / Laid / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)Support
Johnny Marr / Inspiral Carpets / The Magic Numbers / Tom A SmithMore Information & Reviews
with Orca 22 and The Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir. Johnny Marr joined them on stage for Laid
Glastonbury Festival Other Stage – 30th June 2024
Setlist
Sound / Come Home / Life's A Fucking Miracle / Sit Down / Out To Get You / Shadow Of A Giant / Way Over Your Head / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Beautiful Beaches / SometimesSupport
More Information & Reviews
Video
Review: Ian Harrison @ Mojo
“After an hour Booth apologises for running out of time, and it feels like James could easily have gone on. Yet even truncated, their performance was an invaluable reminder that this extraordinary festival is counting down to its end, and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it. Today, James were superb.”
Read the full review at Mojo
Tim’s Bedtime Story – BBC CBeebies – 28th June 2024
BBC Breakfast Interview with Tim Booth / Jim Glennie – Glastonbury 2024
BBC Radio 2 Zoe Ball Session – 28th June 2024
Lisbon Rock In Rio Festival – 22nd June 2024
London O2 Arena – 15th June 2024
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Waltzing Along / Stay / Hey / Life's A Fucking Miracle / She's A Star / Say Something / Out To Get You / Shadow Of A Giant / Better With You / Sound / Butterfly / Mobile God / Sit Down / Tomorrow / Sometimes / Way Over Your Head / Beautiful Beaches / Come Home / LaidSupport
RazorlightMore Information & Reviews
Review: David Brown @ Even The Stars
“It is inevitably two old favourites that bring the night to an end. Come Home brings back memories of student discos to large parts of the fifteen thousand crowd. Laid sends them even wilder as the final farewell to a tour where James both stuck to their guns with their new record as well as rolling out their biggest hits.”
Read the full review at Even The Stars
Review: Francis Nash @ The Upcoming
“Yet, the truly spine-tingling moments come when the band, backed by members of the utterly glorious Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir, showcase their musical prowess to its full splendour. As such, tonight’s musical glory is at its most inspiring on Sound, main set closer Sometimes [Lester Pigott] and encore opener Way Over Your Head, one of the standout tracks from Yummy proving that talent has forged their richly deserved 40 years of success more than just 90s appeal.”
Read the full review at The Upcoming
Manchester Co-Op Live – 14th June 2024
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Ring The Bells / Rogue / Life's A Fucking Miracle / Stay / She's A Star / Sound / Butterfly / Better With You / Out To Get You / Shadow Of A Giant / Jam J / Sit Down / Way Over Your Head / Mobile God / Tomorrow / Sometimes / Come Home / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / LaidSupport
RazorlightMore Information & Reviews
Review: David Brown @ Even The Stars
“Laid finishes the night with one final adrenaline fuelled head rush sending even those for whom eight new songs was an affront to their stuck in the past musical outlook. James are and always have been a band that live in the here and now, about creating unique experiences each night rather than the same tired repetitive rehearsed performance.”
Read the full review at Even The Stars
Review: Natalie Royle @ Louder Than War
“Laid is the final song of the evening, and is the perfect choice for what has felt like a party for audience and band alike. Despite the huge venue, the whole show has had a really intimate feel, and the new songs sound right at home amongst, (and if not, dare I say it, even better than) the old faithfuls. I have watched this band A LOT over the years and I think this is the best I have ever heard them. If you get the opportunity to go and watch them over the summer, do it – you won’t be disappointed.”
Read the full review at Louder Than War
Review: Tom Bamford @ I Love Manchester
“The gig showcased why James continues to be a seminal force in the music world.
Their blend of new material and classic hits created an electric atmosphere that resonated with both longtime fans and new listeners.
Tim Booth’s magnetic stage presence, coupled with the band’s impeccable musicianship, made for an unforgettable experience.”
Read the full review at I Love Manchester
Review: Rachel Smith @ Manchester Evening News
“There’s a certain irony in the opening request from a band famed for inspiring a generation to Sit Down on sticky dancefloors up and down the land, but from the first bars of Johnny Yen it was clear James’ performance at the Co-op Arena was going to be something special.”
Read the full review at Manchester Evening News
Review: Shaun Curran @ iNews
“The sight of James in full flight really is something to behold. The Manchester veterans were six songs in to a magnificent show when trumpeter Andy Diagram, whose joyous coils of noise are key to lifting and enriching James, emerged within the crowd on the second tier near the back of the arena, swirling his instrument as the lengthy, trance-like “Sound” ascended to a dizzying peak. Back on the stage, inimitable leader Tim Booth was transfixed, as lost in the music as everyone else. That sort of thing – exuberant, unifying, musically adventurous mass connection– is difficult to get right. James have made a speciality of it.”
Read the full review at iNews
Birmingham Utilita Arena – 12th June 2024
Setlist
She's A Star / Waltzing Along / Our World / Hey / Life's A Fucking Miracle / Say Something / Born Of Frustration / Five-O / Butterfly / Better With You / Just Like Fred Astaire / Curse Curse / Shadow Of A Giant / Sit Down / Mobile God / Tomorrow / Sometimes / Way Over Your Head / Beautiful Beaches / LaidSupport
RazorlightMore Information & Reviews
Review: David Brown @ Even The Stars
“Beautiful Beaches is euphoric, a song that few bands in their fifties and sixties could create. Powerful, uplifting and joyous, despite the undertones of the lyrical content and concluding with eleven of the thirteen on stage turning, mostly kneeling and watching Dave and Debbie’s drum outro with the same wonder as the rest of us. They finish on Laid, way after curfew, a devil-may-care romp that feels on the edge of imminent breakdown that encapsulates the band and the live experience in a three minute pop song.”
Read the full review at Even The Stars
Review: Steve Adams @ What’s On Live
“And as for the setlist, we got most of the heavy hitters we wanted to hear. There was no Come Home or Ring The Bells, but the likes of Waltzing Along, Born of Frustration, Five-O, Say Something and Sometimes (Lester Piggott) more than compensated. Those last two got the biggest singalongs of the night but the most enthusiastic receptions were saved for Sit Down (ironically the first song to really get everyone on their feet) and the mercurial Laid, which makes for a terrific finale to any evening.”
Read the full review at What’s On Live
Review: Laura Dean @ God Is In The TV Zine
“Unusually for a band who play arena tours, James have a tendency to mix things up with their set lists to keep things fresh, and they aren’t even afraid of stopping a song if there’s a mistake – this all makes for a unique experience for each audience and presumably keeps things interesting for the band, so it’s a great approach that’s still working for them after all this time. There’s no-one quite like them and they show no signs of slowing down.”
Read the full review at God Is In The TV Zine
Cardiff Utilita Arena – 11th June 2024
Setlist
Sound / Waltzing Along / Better With You / Dream Thrum / Stay / Rogue / Life's A Fucking Miracle / Tomorrow / Sit Down / Shadow Of A Giant / Butterfly / Five-O / Mobile God / Beautiful Beaches / Ring The Bells / Sometimes / Way Over Your Head / Come Home / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / LaidSupport
RazorlightMore Information & Reviews
Review: David Brown @ Even The Stars
“This was a supremely confident and assured performance from James, ever changing the setlist, playing around with songs, looking for new connections both within and without the band, taking us all on their journey. It may have been a Tuesday night in Cardiff, not the sexiest location on a school night, but it was one of their best shows and audiences for a very long time.”
Read the full review at Even The Stars