Setlist: New Life, Firefly, Guardian, Life, Plunk, Frippa, Bulbul Tarang, Wongle No. 9, Mount Ephraim, A New Day Encores: Your Move, Sacred Run
My first Solstice gig of 2026 and it was back to Kidderminster again for me. This time around at the wonderfully refurbished Town Hall.
Support was Solstice’s own Leoni Jane Kennedy playing songs from her Synthetic album plus one or two others. Leoni is an engaging and warm performer and it was an excellent set. Hard to pick highlights because it was all top class but Different Kind Of Woman is one I have played a lot on Youtube (along with a few others) and it was great to see her play it live.
This was only my second gig by the band but there were significant variations from the first time. New Life and Guardian made the cut and both were excellent. New Life was a vibrant set opener while Guardian was an immersive shifting epic with a killer Andy Glass solo. Sandwiched between these two was the ebullient Firefly which has become a firm live favourite.
Another of the set variations since my last time was the addition of Bulbul Tarang which was a set highlight for me, chilling out to its very cosmic vibes. For the uninitiated a Bulbul Tarang is an Indian stringed instrument that combines typewriter-like keys with melody and drone strings.
Band-wise it was the same line-up I saw at Jellyman’s Mill, except Ebony Buckle wasn’t here and instead it was Dyane Crutcher on vocals alongside Leoni Jane Kennedy at the rear left of the stage. Both got their chances to shine during the set. Equally their harmony and backing vocals, along with Jenny Newman, give the band a formidable vocal group working with lead vocalist Jess Holland.
Life is one of my favourite songs off latest album Clann. A sweet melody Jenny’s fiddle weaving around the vocals. The bridge just shimmers even more live than on record.
Dyane’s turn on lead vocals was for Plunk, which has matured nicely on stage and really suits her voice. She is a great performer too and really sells the song. I am looking forward to hearing more from her solo project Cult (ure).
Frippa is one of the big divergencies in the set. It’s jerky twisting riff is at the heart of this compelling song which gains a lot in live performance. Solstice are really good at taking their songs to new levels live and here as everywhere else in the set there are so many great things to listen out for. A biting solo from Andy followed by the fiddle playing the riff. Then there’s Steve’s Hammond playing and his Wakeman-like synth. It’s just mesmerising stuff!
Leoni’s time to shine is one of the set’s highlights. Wongle No. 9 is an awesome groove on record but it has reached new heights on stage with the mid-song guitar duel between Andy Glass and Leoni and this was no exception.
The band introductions were as fun as ever. Leoni’s was the best surprise with a brief blast of Led Zeppelin’s Rock And Roll for her. The set ended with the ever-mighty Mount Ephraim and A New Day .
There was a great reaction for the first song on the encore – a cover of Yes’s Your Move from The Yes Album. It was a faithful rendition, including the Give Peace A Chance lines. One particular aspect that worked extremely well was having the female harmonies, it gave the song another dimension and I am sure Jon Anderson and co. would love it. It was fun to note that while the rest of the band were playing the opening to the song, Jenny and Robin were miming the clown doing the end-credits winding on Camberwick Green.
The segue from Your Move was into Sacred Run which is I think their best set closer. It’s a life affirming end to the set and, you know, this is what the band themselves are – life affirming. I don’t know who else you can see and get this much great music, entertainment and joy.