Within a couple of songs the Levellers already had the sold out crowd jigging along to their hit single “What a Beautiful Day” and for a band who have been festival favourites for a good number of years it was soon apparent they can still cut it in small and sweaty venues.
The reason I mention the word sweaty is due to how ridiculously hot the Wedge was this evening, with frontman Mark Chadwick announcing he too was being “blinded by sweat” by which point I can’t imagine anyone tonight would be able to deny that they weren’t feeling the same.
Another classic in “15 Years” from the bands second album “Levelling the Land” was also played early in the proceedings showing how many classic tunes were to come, and although pulling heavily from the aforementioned album this really was a night of greatest hits and exactly what was needed.
It’s a shame it was so uncomfortably hot, although this didn’t seem to bother the Levellers too much as you can tell how much they enjoy playing as bass player Jeremy Cunningham constantly throws his dreads around and bounces up and down throughout the gig, or take note of the interaction between the band as their additional member joins them on stage providing didgeridoo to a number of tracks.
The biggest sing along moments were to “One Way” and “This Garden” which added to the electric atmosphere, and newer tune “The Recruiting Sergeant” was also well received, which having been released in support of the charity War Child has the Levellers continuing to stand up for what they believe as well as providing the crowd with a fantastic Sunday night… although did I mention how hot it was?
