Music > Live Reviews

Clean Bandit

Thetford Forest Live

03/07/17

Thetford Forest's High Lodge rounded off its programme of live music last night with a triumphant concert from electronic pop-classic crossover band Clean Bandit. Sometimes it takes an evening like this for a boring old music hack to rediscover his love for pop music, and I was swept helplessly under their spell as the band ran through a selection of their biggest hits as well as new material, all in a beautiful location bathed by the setting sun of a fine July evening.

OK. First a couple of confessions. Firstly, I have seen Clean Bandit before – the first time was when they performed on the Lake Stage at 2013's Latitude Festival, the most recent was at Radio 1's Big Weekend two summers ago. But the departure of violinist Neil Amin-Smith threatened to blow a hole below their waterline that might prove hard to plug. Without him, and without a permanent lead vocalist to front the band, it seemed hard to imagine how cellist Grace Chatto and the two Patterson brothers could muster enough charisma and star quality to continue to make the live show work as well.

Well fear not. From the very first minutes of last night's show it was clear that the new line-up, featuring not one but two lead vocalists, and flanked by two violinists, provided the visual focal on which to anchor the performance, harness the spectacle, and more than stabilise the ship. They start with Stronger, their big hit, but also an inspired choice with which to reinforce their new-found confidence and determination.

Grace Chatto is now not slow to step out from behind the cello, and regularly takes her place at front of stage creating a seven-piece all-moving all-singing tour-de-force, leaving just Luke, Jake and the backup keyboard player behind on the elevated platform. The stage lighting is impressive, capable of bathing the entire arena in a host of primary colours yet augmented by an array of pulsating spots capable of powering an outdoor rave.

This was an evening to let down your hair, forget about Trump, May and the problems ahead, and just give yourself up to the music. I couldn't spot one person who was not dancing by the end, and when singer Yasmin Green told the crowd to 'bounce' the entire ground shook to the point where fir cones were probably dropping off the trees.

The set ended after Real Love, but we all knew that there was one song that we still had not heard. In fact, for the encore, we got two more – the wonderful Tears, followed with a joyous rendition of the inevitable, and euphoria-inducing, Rather Be.

Don't write off Clean Bandit just yet. With this stage show the trio of  Luke, Jack and Grace, together with the stunning vocal combination of Yasmin Green and Kirsten Joy and the extended string section, prove that even without big-name guest singers on the touring circuit they now possess the complete package when it comes to spicing up a live performance. They certainly cut the mustard here in Norfolk tonight.

Support for Clean Bandit came from Norfolk's own Mullally who, accompanied by his three piece band, turned in an amazing set. Those of us who have followed his career, and who have heard him sing up close and personal at the likes of Norwich Arts Centre, know what a fantastic talent he is. Now, the thousands present at High Lodge can also shout and rave about his incredibly versatile and soulful voice. A future vocal collaboration could be on the cards with Clean Bandit hit perhaps?

Photos Lee Blanchflower