Madness – Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs
You can’t help but feel young again at a Madness gig.
Two reasons – firstly, since I grew up in a time when kids liked chart music and chart music was generally pretty good, Madness were one of the very coolest band for 11 year old boys to like. Couldn’t really put my finger on why that is, but they were fun to listen to and better to watch. I still have a lingering memory of everyone in the boys’ changing room after PE around 1980/81 singing Baggy Trousers at the tops of their voices. That has to be better than a lot of people’s changing room memories.
Secondly – although I’m in my forties and older and fatter, there are always lots of people at a Madness gig who look older than me (even if they are 10 years younger) and certainly even fatter. I’m not a vain kind of person at all – except for tonight, when I felt good about that!
There was another big plus tonight too. I’ve never been to Chelmsford City Racecourse before – which was formerly known as Great Leighs and is quite some way outside Chelmsford. I was told they were expecting 7,000 people there based on ticket sales, when the previous biggest crowd there was 1,500. To their credit they did a great job of organising the bigger crowd.
The car park was some way from the venue though – maybe 20 minutes walk. I decided to drive as close to the racecourse as I could – and got ushered into VIP parking with no checks made, which was really nice of them! I even had the best space in the car park, right next to the exit, so I didn’t even have to queue to get out!
Oh and another big plus – the tickets were free, given to us by my brother-in-law, a steward there!
The gig itself? Exactly what you expect. Fantastic live performance surrounded by hundreds of old people wearing fezzes and dad-dancing.
And it was really good to hear Take It Or Leave It, one of their great album tracks from 1980’s “Absolutely”.
Wednesday 3 June 2015, 608 views
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Gigs index
- Bikini Beach Band, Stoke Newington
- Pacifica, House of Women – Academy 2, Islington
- Fonda 500, Bugeye, Hurtling, Colossus – Amersham Arms, New Cross
- Snow Coats, Toodles and the Hectic Pity – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Snow Coats – Tunbridge Wells Forum
- Darling Buds, Keeley – The Thunderbolt, Bristol
- Fightmilk, Feeble Strength – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Thousand Yard Stare – The Lexington, Islington
- Thousand Yard Stare – Prince Albert, Brighton
- Be Your Own Pet – Rough Trade East, Whitechapel
- Brian Butterfield – Bush Hall, Shepherd’s Bush
- Pulp – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Blur, Self Esteem – Wembley Stadium, Wembley
- Blur, Wu Lu – City Hall, Newcastle
- Salad, Repetitive John – Arts Club, West Hampstead, London
- Salad – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
- The Others – The Garage, Highbury
- Fightmilk – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Ynys, Gillie – The Victoria, Dalston
- Republica, Freya Beer – Powerhaus, Camden
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Sigue Sigue Sputnik – 229, Great Portland Street, London
- Salad, Dan Cross – The Water Rats, Kings Cross
- Adwaith, Paige Kennedy – The Grace, Highbury
- Thousand Yard Stare, Elucidate – 229, Great Portland Street, London
- Wannadies, Duschpalatset – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Apollo – The Mercury Mall, Romford
- Art Brut, Home Counties – Heaven, Charing Cross
- Franz Ferdinand, Los Bitchos – Alexandra Palace, London
- Sultans of Ping FC, Big Boy Foolish – The Institute, Digbeth
- Darling Buds, Theatre Royal – Academy 2, Islington
- Maximo Park, Pip Blom – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Steve Hackett – Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- The Divine Comedy – Barbican Hall, Barbican
- Fightmilk, Bitch Hunt, Sassyhiya – The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston
- Altered Images, The Metatrons – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Franz Ferdinand – Concorde 2, Brighton
- Tapeworms – Hot Box, Chelmsford
- Fightmilk, The Travis Waltons – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Hybrid Kid – Shortts Bar, Brighton
- Speakeasy Vol 1 – Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe
- S*M*A*S*H, The Astronauts – Club 85, Hitchin
- Thousand Yard Stare, The Shop Window – Academy 2, Islington
- Bugeye – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – Powerhaus, Camden
- Sea Power – Esquires, Bedford
- Salad, Piney Gir – The Lexington, Islington
- Fightmilk, The Spaces – Oast Community Centre, Rainham
- Fightmilk, Gold Baby, Gutts – The Victoria, Dalston
- Genesis – Liverpool Arena
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Utah Saints, Collapsed Lung – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Salad, Maschina, Burnout, Stick In The Wheel – High Tide Festival, Twickenham
- Hybrid Kid, White Dog, Lemur Lemur – Prince Albert, Brighton
- Futureheads, Mt Misery – Esquires, Bedford
- Sea Power – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- The Primitives, Jetstream Pony – The Lexington, Islington
- Becontree 100: Nova Twins – Parsloes Park, Dagenham
- Abdoujaparov, Big Boy Tomato – The Holroyd Arms, Guildford
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Republica, All Tomorrow’s Stories, Saint Nevis – The Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Dream Wife – Audio, Peckham
- Xmas Freak Show – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Jeana – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Darling Buds, Helen Love – The Lexington, Islington
- Salad, Cozy Slippers, Gold Baby, Macadamia Sluts – The Finsbury, Finsbury Park
- Hurtling, Pink Haze, Petrol Boys – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Divine Comedy – Empire, Shepherd’s Bush
- Frank and Walters, Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mimik Floyd – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Supergrass – Oslo, Hackney
- Ed Borrie, Scare Taxi, Metatrons – The Doctor’s Tonic, Welwyn Garden City
- Stillmarillion – Quay Theatre, Sudbury
- British Sea Power, Enjoyable Listens – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Standon Calling 2019 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2019 – Henham Park, Southwold
- The Good, The Bad and The Queen – Somerset House, Charing Cross
- The B-52’s, Trapdoor Social – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Piroshka, International Teachers of Pop – Central Library, Lancaster
- King Crimson – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
- Top Of The Alcopops! – Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Pop Will Eat Itself, Miles Hunt – The Institute, Digbeth
- Piroshka, Lemondaze – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
- The Stranglers – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Art Brut – The Haunt, Brighton
- Sleeper – Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- British Sea Power – The Con Club, Lewes
- Sleeper – BBC Studios, Maida Vale
- Cardigans, Moto Boy – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Salad, Colour Me Wednesday – Academy 2, Islington
- Abdoujaparov, Doozer McDooze – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- Soft Cell – The O2, Greenwich
- Shiiine On – Academy, Birmingham
- RiZE Festival – Hylands Park, Chelmsford
- Standon Calling 2018 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2018 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Thousand Yard Stare, Salad Undressed – The Lexington, Islington
- Thousand Yard Stare, Pacers – The Lexington, Islington
- Camden Rocks 2018 – Camden, London
- Salad, S*M*A*S*H, Jesuscarfish – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Darling Buds, Nightingales – The Lexington, Islington
- Marillion – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Idles – Chinnery’s, Southend-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Franz Ferdinand, Albert Hammond Jr – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- British Sea Power – Koko, Camden
- Bilk – Hideaways, Chelmsford
- Divine Comedy – The LCR, Norwich
- Shed Seven – Scala, King’s Cross
- Marc Almond – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Indie Daze 4 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad, Know Escape – The Lexington, Islington
- Star Shaped Festival – Ritz, Manchester
- Standon Calling 2017 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Sleeper, My Life Story – The Haunt, Brighton
- Latitude Festival 2017 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Radiohead, Junun – Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
- Thousand Yard Stare, Bivouac – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Salad Undressed, Vince Petchey – Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
- Senseless Things, Midway Stil – New Adelphi Club, Hull
- Young Band Night – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Salad Undressed, Vicky Sometani – The Water Rats, King’s Cross
- Darling Buds – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Mike Flowers Pops, Lorraine Bowen – The 100 Club, Soho
- Asylums, Petty Phase, Horse Heads, Scarletts – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Honeyblood, Ultimate Painting – Oslo, Hackney
- Undertones, Sultans of Ping – Forum, Kentish Town
- Divine Comedy, Lisa O’Neill – Open, Norwich
- Indie Daze 3 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Imogen Heap – Saint Francis Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower
- Howling Black Soul, Skuff, Smoke City Revolution – Cricketers, Westcliff-on-Sea
- CJ2, For The Love Of Bob – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Luna Highway, Kasual Karma, John Chapman and Alex Pezeshkian, Ad Edwards – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2016 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets, Kingsley Beat – The 100 Club, Soho
- Two Faced Serenade, Lightscopes, Jack Fordham and Muscle Bomber, Zublue – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Belly – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad Undressed – Antenna Studios, Crystal Palace
- Brentwood Festival 2016 – The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- Latitude Festival 2016 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Fitness In Mind All Dayer – Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- British Sea Power – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- Garbage – The Troxy, Hackney
- Thousand Yard Stare – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mo Fingers – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Gigantic Indie All Dayer – Academy, Manchester
- Helen Scott, Baby Blues – White Horse, Brentwood
- Lush – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Estrons, Our Girl – The Waiting Room, Stoke Newington
- Luke Haines – The Lexington, Islington
- Bracknall, High/Low – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Lovely Eggs, Phill Jupitus, Muertos – Bassment, Chelmsford
- States Of Emotion, Electric Child House, Davey James, Brown Brothers – O’Neills, Brentwood
- Lush – Oslo, Hackney
- Darling Buds, Popguns – The 100 Club, Soho
- Phoenix Fridays: Indigo, Everglows – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Dingus Khan, Horse Party, Superglu, Brackish Edge, Claws – The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich
- Sisteray, Beatniks – Bardswell Social Club, Brentwood
- Little Green Cars, Other Creatures – Bar and Grill, Hoxton
- Stop The War All Dayer – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- They Might Be Giants – Junction, Cambridge
- High/Low, Deniers, Different People – The Edge, Basildon
- Poder de Tres, Keeley Smith, Joe Fryd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Mystery Jets – South Records, Southend-on-Sea
- Shed Seven, Inspiral Carpets – The Forum, Hatfield
- Vile Electrodes, Under The Stars, Killatrix, Lixiviath – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Asylums, Petty Phase – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Baby Blues, Warm Winters, Velvet Tree, Re:Verb – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Fireworks, Electric Pop Group, Garlands, Keep Left Signs – New River Studios, Harringay
- Lydia Lucy, Jessica Ali, Adam Wedd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Dani Clay, Libby Holden, Jive Agents, Charlie Law – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2015 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Latitude Festival 2015 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Brownstock Festival – Browns Farm, Stow Maries
- Southend Village Green 2015 – Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea
- Who, Paul Weller, Sleaford Mods, Kaiser Chiefs – Hyde Park, London
- Blur, Metronomy – Hyde Park, London
- British Sea Power – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Thousand Yard Stare, Subrosa5 – Borderline, Charing Cross
- Madness – Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs
- Los Endos – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
- Juke, Takes, Ascetics, CJ2 – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Pop Will Eat Itself – Cargo, Shoreditch
- Ride – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Kaleidophone, Luke Sanders, Enemy Of The Lion, Connor Wells – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Finding Miranda, Ends, Helen Connolly, Eva Tobin – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Francesca Priest, Keeley Scott, Cameron Southcott – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Kaiser Chiefs, Public Service Broadcasting – O2 Arena, Greenwich
- Ryan Green, Luciee Closier, Leanne Louise – Eclipse, Brentwood
- Sulk, Tail Feather – Oslo, Hackney
- Velvet Tree, High/Low, Sonic Wah, Charlie Wallis – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Bis, Ghosts Of Dead Airplanes – The Lexington, Islington
- Stardog Champions, Fashoda Crisis, High/Low, Dirty Fairies, Deniers – Saks Underground, Southend-on-Sea
- Break For Cover – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- For The Love Of Bob, Everglows, Made In Paradise – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Carter USM, Sultans of Ping FC, Frank and Walters – Academy, Brixton
- Band From County Hell, Sophie DeBattista, Thomas James, Leigh Luscious – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
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