The Greystones, Sheffield
Friday, 11th April 2025
I know that there are several reviews of the John Hackett Band readily available to see on the TPA website so why, you might well ask, is there a need for another one? After all and by now you might think that there is little left to say about them. But sometimes elements come together to make a single concert more than just another performance and more than simply one of many in a tour where the set list is embedded and the band plays what had been played before and will be played again. The JHB concert, at The Greystones, was one of those concerts that went beyond the ordinary (if they could ever be accused of that) and deserves to be remembered, mentioned and hopefully, after reading this, you will agree.
Despite plenty of tours and concert appearances the second John Hackett Band album Red Institution had been a long process with fans asking for more and receiving vague promises of new material but all they needed was patience. Lots and lots of patience. Then it finally happened the album was recorded, the sleeve design signed off and the multitudinous tasks associated with getting it ready for an eager audience was completed. Presumably boxes of CDs were ordered and signed ready for the launch but, as with all new things there has to be an actual date for that. A moment that is in the calendar, given a metaphorical fanfare, duly celebrated and, for an album, that invariably involves a concert. In this case, although technically it was the second concert of the tour, the official launch date was at The Greystones in Sheffield. There home town and convenient hub for many Prog fans who live in the North of England and struggle to get to all the concerts ‘Darn Sarf!’.
The occasion, or year at least, was doubly special as it also marked the 50th anniversary of the release of Steve Hackett’s Voyage of the Acolyte album which John contributed so much to its exceptional sound and feel. The venue was sold out and, thanks to all the bodies, it could easily have been described a cozy. Had it not been for the air conditioning system making it feel like a suitable habitat for polar bears, it would have been like the a Yorkshire sauna, which is like the Swedish version, only people stay dressed and drink beer.
DIKAJEE
First on stage was Dikajee, a singer whose profile seems to have been growing over the last few months and is seemingly destined to be even more popular in the Prog circuit. Accompanied by the talented Sarah Lambert-Gates (AKA Daughter of the Water), she delivered a wonderful set full of mesmerizing, evocative and glorious songs that, along with her getting the house staff to turn down the air con, managed to warm up an appreciative audience. Nick Fletcher made an early appearance during the evening adding acoustic guitar and performing a song with the Olga and Sarah.
I for one would have wanted a far longer set if the main act hadn’t been ready to play and subject to the venue’s curfew restrictions.
Forest
Millions Of Flashes
Lily Of The Valley
Friar’s Lantern
Pagan Poetry
Gloomy Flowers Blooming
Glorious, Beautiful, Magical
Olga Dikajee Karpova – Keyboards, Vocals
Sarah Lambert-Gates – Vocals
Nick Fletcher – Acoustic Guitar
JOHN HACKETT BAND
Then it was time for the band we had all come for, the JHB, and what a performance they delivered! I have seen them many times before and they have never let me down but that night they seemed to have cranked it up to 11 and were not taking any prisoners in their battle to impress and win hearts and minds in the process. Starting off with one of the new songs on the album 1589 (OK, it should be in Roman Numerals but it makes it easier if translated). The energy level was as if a teenage rock band had just discovered amplifiers and wanted to show the neighbours how good they are. Only in this case they were seasoned veterans and knew how to play with skill and aplomb.
The mix of older and new tunes were there, but, to celebrate the birthday of the Steve Hackett album, there were also handful of songs from that album, which were definitely well received by the crowd. Then Dikajee was invited on stage and she provided vocals on a couple of the songs which added a different dimension and texture to them. After all a female voice can often change the whole feel of a tune and she certainly did that.
They provided a stunning rendition of Steve Hackett’s Shadow of the Hierophant, that was an equal to the original and finished the show with the obligatory encore of the manically wonderful Red Hair. Then it was over for the night, the band visibly exhausted but elated, with the audience’s desire for top class entertainment fully sated.
More concerts will follow, with the band playing their hearts out and audiences left happy, but there will never be another Red Institution album launch concert. I for one will be happy to boast that “I was there”.
SETLIST
1589 (MDLXXXIX)
Theme And Rondo
The Committee
Queenie And Elmo’s Perfect Day
Burnt Down Trees
Ace Of Wands
Hands Of The Priestess
A Tower Struck Down
– Interval –
Quiz (Duncan Parson’s spot)
Dreamtown/Stella
Winds Of Change
Who Let The Rain In
Claire’s Tango
I Talk To The Wind
Red Institution
Shadow Of The Hierophant
~ Encore
Red Hair
LINKS
John Hackett Band – John Hackett Website | Facebook | YouTube | X
