It’s always a pleasure when the support act brings something special to the table, and 19-year-old songstress Thea Watson did just that. Best known for her work with Greg Coulson (of Will Wilde’s band), Thea stepped into the spotlight with a set brimming with soul and finesse. Her silky R&B-infused vocal on 'Love Like This' was a particular highlight, proving that this rising talent is one to watch.

Then came Star Circus, a band who don’t just play a gig - they put on a show. Fronted by the ever-animated Dave Winkler on vocals and guitar, the four-piece meant business from the off, launching into 'Over and Over' with a solo from Santiago Periotti that sizzled straight out of the gate. Winkler’s boundless energy kept the momentum high, leading into the swaggering 'Times Get Tough', a track dripping in Classic Rock vibes with a fresh, modern bite.

Thin Lizzy-style harmonies were the order of the day on 'Just Like In A Movie', which had the front rows singing their hearts out, before 'Chained To You' cranked up the intensity. Santiago’s lead work was nothing short of incendiary, but not to be outdone, Sophie Aurélia Young delivered stunning backing vocals on 'Love Is The Enemy', a track that had heads nodding along to its infectious gallop.

There was a surprise mid-set as Winkler swapped roles, proving he’s just as lethal on lead guitar as he is behind the mic on 'Bridges'. Then came 'One Hit Wonder', making its debut as a four-piece, delivering a punchy blast of Pop-Rock hooks that stuck in the mind long after the final note.

A curveball cover of The Cult’s 'Fire Woman' added fuel to the fire, before the night wrapped up with 'Save Your Life' - a storming, full-throttle closer that left the crowd buzzing for more. For fans of Queen, Cheap Trick, and hook-laden Classic Rock, Star Circus are a must-see.

Ivan De Mello

Solid Entertainments must have been justifiably pleased with the near capacity audience for Will Wilde’s album release show and I’m sure that everyone went home with broad smiles on their faces; music to make you feel good!

Will brought along the band which recorded his new album ‘Blues Is Still Alive’ - Bobby Harrison (guitar), Greg Coulson (keyboards), Russell Carr (bass) and Steve Rushton (drums) - and their familiarity with the songs (all ten of which were in the setlist) was evident from the outset.

The opener ‘Wild Man’ featured two harmonica solos by the leader, while Coulson coaxed some honky tonk acoustic piano sounds from his keyboards. After ‘Stole My Love’ the band was joined on stage for ‘Don’t Play With Fire’ by two backing vocalists in Dani Wilde and Lindsey Bonnick. Some readers will remember Will’s sister Dani as one of Ruf Records’ original “Girls With Guitars” (as long ago as 2011, together with a young Samantha Fish…), before she moved away from Blues/Rock into other styles of music, while Lindsey will be familiar to followers of Brave Rival.

Lindsey got a verse to herself during ‘Learn How To Love’, after which Will introduced the band members to us. On the album the title track boasts a guest appearance from Walter Trout, but Harrison didn’t appear at all fazed by this in his solo, which was sandwiched between Coulson’s organ sounds and a fine harp solo, before Will traded further short bursts with the guitarist. This was the stand out song of the night for me.

Lindsey departed before Will ceded most of the solo space on ‘Gypsy Woman’ to more honky tonk piano, then Dani also left the stage as Will introduced ‘Trouble Of That Girl’. During that introduction he had to adjust the bandolier which held all his harmonicas, which reminded him to tell us about the night when, as he waited to take to the stage as Walter Trout’s guest, he discovered that the bandolier had caused an audience member to report him to security staff as a suspected suicide bomber!

Will’s tour de force was ‘Broken Dream Blues’, as he tore into some extended harp solos; then, after a false start to ‘Don’t Trust Me’, he took another long solo as a preface to some fine Harrison guitar (if I had one minor quibble, it would be that the guitarist was slightly under-used on the night). The following ‘I Believe I’m In Love’ was a Fabulous Thunderbirds number with a Rockabilly flavour to it, while the Rock feel was maintained when Dani and Lindsey returned for ‘Girl’s Got Soul’.

As an encore Will treated us to a long version of Canned Heat’s classic ‘On The Road Again’, with extended solo space for each band member in turn, as they played right up to the 11pm curfew (partly due to Star Circus having exceeded its allocated stage time by a few minutes).

Definitely a band to catch when you can!

Setlist:

Wild Man; Stole My Love; Don’t Play With Fire; Learn How To Love; Blues Is Still Alive; Gypsy Woman; Trouble Of That Girl; Broken Dream Blues; Don’t Trust Me; I Believe I’m In Love; Girl’s Got Soul; On The Road Again.

Gary Smith

Photos: Ivan De Mello