Setlist: Oz Hardwick intro, Morning Light, New Life, Guardian, Life, Wongle No. 9, Shout, Turuk, Bulbul Tarang, Mount Ephraim Encore: A New Day, Sacred Run
I had anticipated this gig as another welcome chance to catch Solstice this year. But it then took on a lot more importance with the announcement that lead vocalist Jess Holland was leaving at the end of the year. So the gig actually felt like a few things – a chance to say goodbyes and thanks to Jess, the ending of one era and also the glimmers perhaps of the next.
Absent tonight was vocalist Dyane Crutcher but in her place we had returning Solstice alumni in Gwen Taylor. I hadn’t see Gwen with the band, apart from on DVD, so this was a nice surprise.
Adding to the sense of things not being as routine as I had expected we also had Roger Innis standing in on bass for Robin Bailey. However, Solstice are extremely good at assimilating changes and using them well and York proved to be a classic example of that. Roger even got a few appreciative chants of his name which he looked suitably humble/ embarrassed about!
First up was Leoni Jane Kennedy, promoting her excellent Synthetic album. I have seen her perform these songs solo but tonight we got the extra treat of the electric trio of Leoni plus Alex on bass and Pav on drums. I thought they were excellent together and the songs got an extra dimension from the band sound. What is clear to me is that there’s going to be more superb material from Leoni and we have a real gem in her.
The Solstice set started with a surprise. Oz Hardwick came onstage and read out what he later jokingly called a ‘megamix’ of the three poems that have graced the packaging of the last three studio albums. It reminded me a lot of another of Oz’s favourite bands, Hawkwind, who have regularly used spoken-word pieces. Oz sounded great and those Hawkwind vibes got even stronger when Steve McDaniel came on near the end and added some lovely synth/ keyboard touches.
From that we were into the set proper and it was mostly one with no surprises on the setlist, partly I guess because Roger was in on bass. His playing was immediately impressive and he got an unexpected spotlight when there was a pause after New Life while Leoni’s equipment was fixed. While this was going on Pete (Hemsley – drums) and Roger entertained us with a funky drum and bass workout which was outstanding.
Guardian was the best I have heard it yet. Andy in general seemed to have an extra fire at this gig and this was quite extraordinary from him. My love for Wongle is becoming known and it too had a breath-taking extra kick to it. The funk was at a high level and that Andy/ Leoni duel – well my jaw was on the floor. Shout was another wildly exciting highlight with the vocal power of Jess, Jenny, Leoni and Gwen combining together.
Jess was as great as ever. If it wasn’t known she was leaving I wouldn’t have guessed. She gave it her all as usual and I was particularly glad to get Bulbul Tarang in the set because I absolutely love her vocals on it. I think it’s the best thing she ever did with the band.
The beauty of the instrumentation in this band is the way it ebbs and flows and changes. Steve McDaniel (keys) and Jenny Newman (fiddle) contribute so much to that and the link-up and blend with Andy Glass’s guitar is an intriguing part of the live set.
There was massive interest for the new song, Turuk, with Leoni handling lead vocals. Some nice Nile Rodgers-esque choppy rhythm playing from Andy and a soulful Leoni vocal. Some great lead violin and twin guitars too. It sounded promising indeed and hopefully we will be hearing it again at the other dates this year.
The band intros (after Bulbul Tarang tonight) are always a lively part of a Solstice show and this was no exception. Pete and Roger supplied the funky rhythm basis and this time we got the rest of the band joining in too for what was a sizzling interlude!
A New Day seemed prophetic in light of developments while Sacred Run was, as always, just the perfect ending.
Next time will be at Wavendon Stables on 31 October 2026.
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