Trentham Live has an excellent reputation for being a very friendly and accessible event and that was certainly our experience, with the site offering very good facilities and a wonderfully relaxed setting in which to enjoy some live music. Tonight we the audience were treated to a towering headline set from Feeder, who were joined by Jake Bugg and The Feeling, with each act offering something a little bit different and all being rewarded with a terrific reception.
Having kept something of a low profile for a number of years, The Feeling returned in 2022 with their first studio album in six years. Always an entertaining live attraction, their set drew largely from debut album Twelve Stops and Home with the catchy, infectious hooks of ‘Fill My Little World’ and ‘Never Be Lonely’ ringing loud and clear alongside heartfelt ballad ‘Rosé’ and the whimsical pop of ‘I Love It When You Call’. Dan Gillespie Sells had the crowd on side from the moment they took the stage and a dynamic cover of Buggles classic ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ made sure there was at least one song in the set that nobody could fail to sing along with. They embark on a Greatest Hits tour next year that stops off at Birmingham’s O2 Institute in May.
Nottingham singer-songwriter Jake Bugg came on stage with little fanfare and fuss, although judging by the number of t-shirts on display he certainly had plenty of fans amongst the audience. Something of an understated and mild-mannered performer, he let his music speak for itself with a set that spanned his decade long career from his breakout eponymous debut album through to 2021’s Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. The rootsy indie-folk of ‘Trouble Town’, electrifying ‘Lighting Bolt’ and heartbreaking ballad ‘Broken’ provided stand out moments across the set and, combined with his down to earth nature and constant thanking of the crowd, made for a very entertaining forty-five minutes.
Headliners Feeder may not be as big a live draw as they once were but are exactly the kind of act that is perfectly suited to an event like this. Having a treasure trove of familiar hits at their disposal, each complete with signature riffs and punchy choruses, ensured they kept the crowd engaged from the opening ‘Feeling a Moment’ through to the closing ‘Just a Day’. Despite being at this for twenty -odd years and having endured their fair share of ups and downs, Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose still bristle with energy when let loose on stage and clearly still retain the passion for performing. They drop in a couple of songs from last years Torpedo, including the raucous title track, and delighted the masses with the colossal ‘Just the Way I’m Feeling’ and the evergreen ‘High’. By the time they reached a joyous ‘Buck Rogers’ it was the perfect climax to a well-paced performance that was packed full of highlights.
Setlist:-
Feeling a Moment
Lost & Found
The Healing
Kyoto
Just The Way I’m Feeling
Tallulah
Torpedo
Come Back Around
Insomnia
High
Seven Days in the Sun
Buck Rogers
Just A Day
