Trentham Live is a concert held in Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent. The stage is in front of a lake surrounded by fields and beautiful trees and plants. You could not wish for a better setting.
This year the line-up was :
- Thursday 15 August. Deacon Blue, Lightning Seeds, Hue and Cry
- Friday 16 August Jess Glynne, Sam Tompkins, Nathan Dawe
- Saturday 17 August. Manic Street Preachers, Public Service Broadcasting, The Anchoress
- Sunday 18 August Busted, Soap, Dadi Freyr
The Sunday warm-up acts
The concert had sold out months beforehand. 6000 people were there but with them all over the field, standing, lying on blankets, it looked many more. They easily could have sold 20,000 tickets but I suppose health and safety only allows the 6000. There was plenty of room so if you didn’t want to stand in front of the stage, you could sit on the grass further back and see the two huge screens either side of the stage. Food trucks and bars were around the exterior at the back.
The first group on is called SOAP, young lads formerly known as The Tyne. They’re a young version of Busted and McFly when they started out, leaping and running around the stage. I have never heard of them, but the girls certainly have. SOAP have over one million cross-platform streams and 400,000 TikTok followers and supported Busted on tour in 2023. There were screams and shouts of “I love you!” to various members. I’d better keep an eye on these guys.
There’s a short break and Daði Freyr from Iceland comes on stage. He represented his country in Eurovision 202 and is what you might call eccentric with an odd sense of humour. Freyr has made an EP in three parts: the first, released in March 2023, was named I’m Making An Album 1/3. The second EP will be named I’m Still Making An Album 2/3 and the final I Made An Album will complete the full project when it arrives on 25 August. He grows on you, is good-looking and has a lovely accent. He points to the audience: “I like you and you and … that’s all”.
Photos ops with Busted
Busted – Charlie Simpson, James Bourne, Matt Willis are celebrating their 20th anniversary, 22 years since they burst onto the music scene, to the delight of millions.
During the break, they meet some competition winners. The area is cleared, they don’t want anyone else in there. They kindly allow photographers to take a few photos after they meet the winners. Their appearance has not changed much since I last saw them. You can’t help but smile when you see them.
Which is your favourite Busted song? ‘What I Go To School For’, ‘Crashed The Wedding’, ‘Who’s David’, ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’, ‘You Said No’, ‘Year 3000’, ‘Air Hostess’, ‘Sleeping With The Light On’. Tonight we will hear them all.
Busted get straight onto the stage. I am told I can take photos for the first three songs and then am not allowed to take any more even from the crowd, although the whole 6000-strong crowd are filming and taking photos with their mobile phones – it does not make sense!
Busted have always leapt and jumped around the stage from the get-go, but not during the first three songs. Why have they stopped doing this? Have they got a bad back? Torn a ligament? Not that I am complaining, because I can get a better photo if they are still!
The audience love them. Banners with messages are everywhere. They are great.
What a show!
Such a shame I was only allowed to take photographs for the first three songs, as I could have taken so many more great pictures during the rest of the show. All too soon the three songs end and I can’t take any more photos.
Someone with a banner wants Busted to help with their baby gender reveal. James sees it and with Charlie and Matt opens the envelope – “It’s a boy!”, they shout. Everyone has their phones in the air filming it.
All too soon, over an hour later, it all ends, Trentham Live is closed until next year.
Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for next year’s line-up – I heard a whisper some big names will be there! Tickets will go fast.
Thank you Trentham Live for letting me cover this – a great event and amazing venue, with wonderful friendly staff.
