Marillion Weekend - Previous Weekends

Monday morning outside Butlins ...the Butlins to Taunton 8:30am train was stuffed with 39 hungover but grinning conventioners and one local girl who looked to be about 14-15. About 15 minutes into the ride a guy with a Scottish accent stood up and said something to the effect of "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen... This girl has missed her bus to Wolverhampton and will now have to wait 16 hours for another. Let's show her what Marillion fans are all about and see if we can scrape up the 30 pounds it'll take to get her on a train to Wolverhampton instead."

You can guess the rest.

She was in tears.

A beautiful end to a fantasic weekend.

Having just arrived home from the second World-wide Web Convention, we wanted to provide some personal feedback to you and the team at the Racket Club. I hope that you are able to share it amongst all involved!

Having attended Brean Sands last year (and we fed back what a great event that was!) we both feel that the second event was even better than the first, in just about every respect. The camp was far superior, the gig venue was excellent with great views of the bands for all and the bouncing floor was an experience! The support bands were of a high standard and performed as if their lives depending on it (highlight for us was a stunning Aziz set). The museum was fantastically interesting, where Andy Rotherham provided some interesting insights to the exhibits. The whole Web and support teams were friendly and chatty.

Once again the band were very patient at the signing sessions (despite the logistical nightmares and a gruelling schedule for them) and they gave everyone the feeling we are each special and greeted us as if we were the first in the line...which leads me onto my next point! 'H' was very complimentary to the fans during the gigs. Unfortunately, nobody had a chance to publicly express back to the band, organisers and support crew, how special you all are to us. So, we wanted to take this opportunity to say that we feel privileged to be a part of the Marillion Family and you are a fantastic bunch of people and very special to us, the fans! It is a partnership of equals.

The Marillion Mix? Great idea and I am sure that it has potential based on hindsight and learning's. It was great fun when the music was played! Our only improvement offering - better PA system at the quiz!

I hope you all realise at the Racket Club that what you have done, firstly at Brean and now at Minehead, is provide memories that will linger forever in the minds of your family members. Memories that we both cherish with Huge Smiles.

We hope that we have a third opportunity to for a family reunion again at some time in the future. Thanks!

I'd like to join the chorus of voices joining in the thanks to those who were the bedrock behind the band at the Convention - Lucy, Christine, George, James, Dave .... the list goes on. They all totally rock. There will no doubt be some complaining about various things but from my point of view as an ordinary punter the whole event was infinitely better than Pontins, both in terms of organisation and content. Pontins had "Brave", but this had style.

(1) "Afraid Of Sunlight".
(2) The "Afraid Of Sunlight" DVD. Maybe I should now go and buy a DVD player.
(3) The new songs. Much promise there, although some rockier tracks will be required to balance the sound out. I love "Angelina Takes Requests".
(4) Saturday night. One of the top three Marillion gigs of all time: 'nuff said.
(5) John Otway. It takes a lot to double me up with laughter, but I really thought I was going to expire. I will never forget the maniacal grin on his face next to H's soulful and sorrowful look as they performed "Fake Plastic Trees" together.
(6) Kid Galahad. The best support act I have ever seen.
(7) Cordisto. Great songs, great chaps (had a chat with them afterwards, very down to earth geezers).
(8) Martin Grech. Well, he was clearly an acquired taste, and his music isn't easy, but I think that the man is a genius. I've never seen anyone get into something approaching a state of religious ecstacy in that way when singing.
(9) Michelle Aragon's version of "A Collection" on "Swap The Band". Was anyone else reminded of "The Fabulous Baker Boys"?
(10) Everyone else on "Swap The Band": well done guys and gals!
(11) Gordon Lancaster, the XFM DJ. He may look a bit poncey, but anyone who can spin My Vitriol, The House of Love, The Sex Pistols, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rush in one evening is OK with me. :-)
(12) My double neck inflatable guitar (which was a triple neck until I made the mistake of asking someone to look after it, which he interpreted as an instruction to tear it apart!). I apologise to everyone who was embarrassed by my antics or who had their view of Stranger By The Minute disrupted by dozens of inflatable Strats since buying the guitars was my idea.
(13) The water slides. Just briefly, I was eight years old again.
(14) Parties at the Norwegian chalets. The memories are hazy but warm. Cheers to Andreas and Stein for being cool hosts.

Now my head has cleared from the weekend I can write a bit of a review.

For those that don't know me I was one third of merchandise team A - over the weekend I think I probably served a good proportion of the attendees!! - many on more than one occasion!

Firstly I'd like to say thank you to all the people who bought things and were polite - even when the queue was over half an hour on Saturday morning. It was a hectic time for all of us and the credit card terminal was very slow.

From my own perspective - I have never sold anything in a professional way before - having been one of the few students to not have worked in a shop or a bar during my degree. It was very interesting dealing with so many people and pretty amazing to see the amount some people spent - the completists buying all the new t-shirts, fleeces, DVD’s and CD’s. It was an incredible and exhausting few days.

We got the DVD on time - and I have to say hats off to the Boom Boom Boys, Dave Meegan and to Erik for achieving the impossible. The DVD is superb - The Boom Boom guys are the nicest couple of blokes you could ever meet.

Over all a great weekend and amazing to be on the inside to see at least some of what goes into a weekend like this. I still can't believe it all happened, but I have the DVD to prove it so it must have!

There are no words to express how we feel about the last weekend. Were there last year too, this year was even better, if possible. You did absolutely great! Thank you all for being what and who you are, and making the music that you do. The new numbers were terrific! (get the move on with that new album!!) Just loved Faith, especially in this time, with the war most likely going to happen and all that. Moved us both to tears right away. As did TSE, with the very special blue pain section. So many memories/highlights have to get a place in our head and heart, we're going to write them all down in a couple of days so maybe that will help us to get down to earth...

Following the huge success of last years full album performance of 'Brave', Marillion (after many requests) opted to repeat the formula this year and play the entire 'Afraid of Sunlight' album.

An expectant and multi-national crowd roared their approval as two pretty young things in bikinis paraded around the stage with 'Round 1' placards above their heads whilst the spoken intro played over the PA and then the place went 'mental' as Rothery picked out the riff to 'Gazpacho' whilst h bounded onto the stage in full boxing regalia 'punching at the sky'. To say that both the band and the crowd were 'up for it' is a spectacular understatement.

The time simply flew by as the band delivered 'killer' versions of the entire AOS album, far too many highlights to single out but Rothery was just outstanding and each and every solo was greeted with enormous cheers from the hall full of Marillion die-hards. Hogarth simply had a ball, bounding around like a headless chicken and with a cheeky humour throughout the entire gig. My personal highlight was 'Beyond You' where the place fell absolutely silent whilst h delivered an emotional rendition of the kind that reduces grown men to tears although I'm admitting to nothing.

Special mention must also go to Pete Trewavas, his bass playing 'powered' the songs and the bass line of 'Cannibal Surf Babe' as never sounded so funky. To be honest it's a bit unfair to single out the band members individually because they were all on top of their game tonight and when Marillion are on form there really are few bands who can even come close to creating the wonderful drama and passion that simply flowed over the crowd throughout this performance.

All too soon the last notes of 'King' faded away and the band left the stage with the crowd applause ringing in their ears. Soon they were back on stage and the first of FIVE new songs was played, 'Faith' was an ok kind of acoustic number that will probably get better the more you hear it but it's quite hard to judge it on one listen. 'Easter' was played probably to allow the crowd some release and allow a mass sing-along, the guitar solo was as always brilliant. After 'Easter' the cameras were turned off and the band played another four new songs that I must admit have me very excited about the new album. 'Pacific Rower' in particular is MAGNIFICENT and I hope they don't overwork or overproduce this one because it sounds brilliant as it is. 'Angelina Takes Requests' also stood out for me and the other new songs sounded very good as well although I guess until they get recorded and released we'll just have to wait and see how they turn out but they certainly sound promising.

Finally the band played 'Garden Party' and the place went crazy and I swear I saw a 'moshpit' form down at the front. Me? I was at the back dancing around like a madman screaming out the lyrics at the top of my voice. Totally brilliant show and worth every single penny just for this evening... little did I know that the next nights show would be even better!

I will try and put into words, all the thoughts, ideas and random ramblings of someone who is trying very hard to come down from what I can only describe as one of the best weekends of my life.

White Buffalo have gone off stage, it’s being prepped for Marillion to come on stage, the curtains have been drawn forward, so that we cannot see what is happening.

The atmosphere is even better than for last years Brave show, be it the venue, the anticipation of seeing Afraid of Sunlight, or just the idea that you might see yourself on the DVD when it is released hopefully on Sunday?

The crew sort out the bits and pieces and they are coming together, so I move forward from the position I had taken up at the back of the hall to be in front of the stage, about level with where H will appear, and about 10 feet away from the front.

It was getting a bit hot and quite full at the front, so I decide instead to move to one side, about level with Pete instead, I do this just as the guys ask for a test of the crowd mikes for the recording, this is where it is obvious that we are getting close to show time, and duly the atmosphere gets almost to boiling point. The lights dim and the crowd starts cheering, the curtains open and there are two very attractive young ladies, wearing bigger smiles than clothes and the opening of Gazpacho starts to a wall of noise from the crowd.

H comes on in boxing gloves and red dressing gown, to an almighty cheer and he starts the opening words to even more noise, this is what we have been waiting for since it was announced that AoS was what they were doing on the Friday night.

We all sang along with gusto, Steve’s guitar work carrying us along for the ride, Mark’s keyboards swirled in the air almost as if they had a life of their own, Pete’s bass was there, mixing brilliantly with the words H was singing, and Ian’s drums filled the small amount of space in the air left, with effortless ease.

Afraid of Sunrise, what a studio track, power, energy, great words and brilliant music, all rolled into one tiny packet. Mark starts the opening reframe which brings us all to a frenzy before H’s vocals kick in and it just gets better, reaching a crescendo without effort, but a brilliant piece of writing is bettered only by a sublime performance.

Out Of This World starts, and it has been exactly that up to now, this song always leaves a chill up my spine, and being here does nothing to change that, from Steve’s haunting guitar, to Ian’s gentleness on the drums, this is the track that really showcases the entire bands knowledge of how to play a song with emotion, without making it sound sickly sweet, or overly emotional.

‘This song is called Faith’, H announces, with a small grin on his face, not dissimilar to a small boy who has a secret, and what a secret, a great song, played with pride by the boys, five guys bringing a baby into the world, and here, for the first time, showing it off. A treat for one and all, it is warmly received and gets a generous round of applause, not just because it is great, but the first of many.

Mark says, ‘We thought we would play something you know’ and thus Mark starts playing Garden Party, H starts singing, then leaves it to the crowd, dancing around the stage and almost conducting us in the process. We sing at the tops of our voices, mainly during the ‘I’m punting…’ area of the song, H smiling, Steve R just going for it, Ian belting it out, Mark standing at the back with what looked to me like a Cheshire cat smile on his face, but it could have just been a trick of the light. Pete jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof, this is the best way to finish what has been a great night of music.

This has been for me a great weekend, better than last years. I get home and before I do anything else the DVD from the Friday night is in the machine, reliving a great evening. It has been a roller-coaster that 2000+ came along for the ride of our lives

Thank you one and all. See you on tour.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

But let me say this BETWEEN YOU AND ME ... I had a BEAUTIFUL time!!! And it was all MADE AGAIN by you all!!!

My friend and I took of by car at 05.45 am on that Friday morning... Having our own MAP OF THE WORLD.. Knowing the convention was WAITING TO HAPPEN again off course.. We knew.. for us no HOTEL LOBBIES... or BITTER SUITE..

But waiting UNDER THE SUN and BORN TO RUN up the stairs to get the best places in the house DURING THAT TIME OFF THE NIGHT.. we would not be COVERING OUR EYES.. but feel BRAVE enough.. to go and see you got YOUR HOOKS IN US..

In that SPACE and time we would have our own GARDEN PARTY.. Hoping not to become THE FORGOTTEN DAUGHTERS (or SONS for that matter)...

Knowing we would go MAD and feel KING of the world to be there.. And hoping to become LORDS (LADIES) OF THE BACKSTAGE maybe.. (wishful thinking)

The end of the convention was there way to soon again and AS HARD AS LOVE it was for us to leave. We WASHED OUR HANDS and said GOODBYE TO ALL THAT...

It was an OUT OF THIS WORLD experience again... Somehow we just can't manage to GET BEYOND YOU... Just know if OUR HEARTS WERE BALLS THEY WOULD ROLL UPHILL with you!!

To SAY JUST FOR THE RECORD... I hope I haven't seen THE LAST OF YOU for many years to come... I just have to tell this otherwise YOU 'LL NEVER KNOW!

To encapsulate the entire week-end in one word - I would chose COMMITMENT.

COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE THERE:

THE FANS TO THE BAND
THE BAND TO THE FANS
THE HARDWORKING SUPPORT BANDS/BACK-UP CREW/ORGANISERS OF THE EVENT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.