Cambridge Rock Festival

So! Who's going to be there?

Steen and I won't be there til Sunday (when we will be doing Panic Room's merch, so come and say hi if you're nearby), but we'll be sticking around for the rest of the day. Panic Room, the new-look Breathing Space *and* Mostly Autumn with Livvy? Sounds like a great day out to me!

Oh, apparently there are some other bands on as well...

Let's hope the weather is kind to us, eh?

I will, of course, be there. But come on, howzaboutz Saturday as well...

AstralEnigma wrote:

I will, of course, be there. But come on, howzaboutz Saturday as well...

Well, as it turns out, Steen and I have decided to camp, and as we have passes for the whole weekend, it looks like we'll be rolling up on Saturday afternoon. Can't say I'm particularly enthused about the Saturday line-up, though, tbh - all the stuff I'm interested in happens on the Sunday (yay) or on the Friday (when we simply aren't able to be there).

Ah well!

Well, at the very least you should go and see Emerald Sky on Saturday. OK they're not prog, but think of a cross between Girlschool and Rush, with Deep Purple hooks...

AstralEnigma wrote:

Well, at the very least you should go and see Emerald Sky on Saturday. OK they're not prog, but think of a cross between Girlschool and Rush, with Deep Purple hooks...

Rush aside, you're not really selling it to me there, Trev...! I guess they might be worth a punt after all your raving. I suppose it depends what time they're on, and what time we get there!

Oh well, can't win 'em all. Aneil likes them - does that help?

See you there Dave, but as we are going on Thursday, we might look a little rough by the time you get there.

I shall also be there with camera in tow, so should have a
few pictures to add here or Facebook afterwards.
Will also be in York next Thursday for the first gig of
the new line up.
Andy

ColinCamel wrote:

See you there Dave, but as we are going on Thursday, we might look a little rough by the time you get there.

Speak for yourself darling

By Sunday I will be as rough as hell, but hey Strongbow gets you through anything and as long as i get a shower a day i'm happy ... shame you will miss Crimson Sky on Friday but strongly recommend the whole weekend it has a great vibe (he said in his best hippy voice)

AndyGoodall wrote:

I shall also be there with camera in tow, so should have a
few pictures to add here or Facebook afterwards.
Will also be in York next Thursday for the first gig of
the new line up.
Andy

Best of luck to the band, especially Heidi and Adam, for Sunday. I will be going just for the Sunday. Breathing Space, Panic Room and Mostly Autumn all on the same bill. It doesn't get much better than that. I just have to go. Not much else appeals on the day, but it will be worth it.

On a personal level, I'm a bit gutted that Chantel McGregor is playing on the Saturday. Wish it was Sunday! Chantel always plays to kill, and is due on the main stage at midday Saturday. Far too early. Anyone still half asleep will soon get livened up. She will deliver a great set. I know that Chantel will be staying over and is looking forward to seeing BS, PR & MA, all for the first time, the following day. I know she's looking forward to it, and I'm sure she's going to enjoy it.

Roll on Sunday, and hope that Heidi is fully recovered.

Couldn't get to CRF this year - how did it go ?

Any news on the set list, how the band performed / how the sound of the new line-up compares with previous version ?

Stephen C

Breathing Space with Heidi and Adam were truly amazing. Despite worries about her voice prior to the gig, it held out and then some. Adam is a talented guitarist and also has a good singing voice. His song "Silver Skies" (hope I got that right Adam) which was an addition to the set was very good and fit in well I thought. We were also treated to a new song from the current line, and what a treat that was - sorry can't remember the name of the song, but am sure Heidi or the lads will put me right - it rocked!! This truly is the beginning of the new era for the band and what a tremendous beginning - I cannot describe in words how excellent they were. If I didn't know any better I would never had believed it was their first gig together as a band. They were very tight. A different direction and we love it. The crowd at Cambridge also loved the new line-up. WELL DONE LADS AND LASS!! You lot rock.

Can't wait to see you again and again and again.

H x

I thought the band put in a stunning performance on Sunday. I had never heard Heidi sing, but the way she tore into the opener, Below The Radar, won me over completely before she had even finished the first verse. I've felt for some time that this is the best opener from the Breathing Space collection, so I was very pleased they opened with this one. Heidi's got a great voice, ideal for the band, and Adam played as if he's been in the band for years. As they both write as well, the future looks very exciting for both the band and the fans. It was also nice to see Heidi play some acoustic guitar. I think it may have been on Adam's song.

The other songs played (I think) were Clear, Run From Yourself, Coming Up For Air, When I Hold On To You, Searching For My Shadow (Yes!), No Promises. Plus Adam's song, and another new one to finish. I can't remember the name of it either! Hope this list is correct, and I haven't put any wrong ones in. The set went down very well with the large crowd that had gathered inside the marquee. After such a powerful performance, I'm sure those who had not heard the band before can't fail to have been impressed.

It was also good to meet Hippy Dave, Trevor & Colin for the first time. With Panic Room & MA both in their usual top form, it was a great day. Didn't see much of the other bands, as I was in the Rock/blues tent most of the rest of the time. That place was really rockin', all of the day. And all of the night.

The set in full:

Below The Radar
Coming Up For Air
Clear
Run From Yourself
No Promises
Silver Skies (Adam's new song)
Searching For My Shadow
When I Hold On To You
New song (Paul did tell me it's name, but the beer was flowing by then - I think it was something like When My Lips Are Still Dry)

An absolutely belting first performance from the new line-up... We were biting our lips when Heidi walked on-stage, hoping that her vocal problems wouldn't cause her too much discomfort or hassle, but the rest had clearly done her the power of good! Heidi has a very different voice to Livvy, and for longer term fans the change may take some getting used to, but Heidi put in a superb, energetic performance that rapidly did away with any doubts anyone might have had. Heidi's voice is a lot 'rockier', and is especially effective when it comes to the belters!

Adam was a total revelation, too: I was grinning like a loon during Coming Up For Air when he despatched the first 'signature' solo of the set without looking like he was even trying, but by the time he was wailing away at the end of Silver Skies, it was like he'd been with the band since day one. Just an incredible performance!

All in all, probably the performance of the weekend - simply far better even than I could have hoped for. Kudos to all, especially to the 'newbies' for really stepping up to the plate - and then some!

Things couldn't have been much better, and the whole lot of you guys were great. The new look and sound is fantastic. Great to meet up with friends and finally put the faces to familiar names. Cambridge ROCKED!

It was a totally different band that took the stage at cambridge, they looked like a tight unit rather than a group of individuals sharing the same stage. The highlight for me was Heidi's vocal performance, Her soulful power has lifted this band to a higher plain. She is a charismatic performer who doesn't need flashy visual props or contrived choreography to totally mesmerise an audience. She can captivate you standing still and singing from the heart, (what most fail to achieve running around the stage posing)!

Thanks Heidi for keeping it real!

(I for one would never have known if I hadn't been told that she had vocal problems before the gig).

Adam also put in a note perfect performance and looked like he'd been there for years, well done that man!

This is a good time for Breathing Space, can't wait for the new album, may they go from strength to strength

They came, they saw, they conquered ... back of net ..

Hello,

Just a note to say how much I enjoyed your set at CRF. I didn't know Breathing Space before and though you'd be out of the "Ambient" genre, tho there's nothing wrong with that.

How wrong I was. A storming rocky set. I would never have guessed it was Heidi's FIRST public performance. I only know that because I was standing next to her mate with the whisky.

I've put some photos on myspace see www.myspace.com/rambles_at_midnight .

I hope to catch you again when you're playing in the Herts area - Hertford Corn Exchange is a good venue, or Hertford Castle Hall.

regards

C

What a stunning set! From the off the New Band just blew me away- Georgia and I were grinning at each other ear to ear as each song unfolded.

Adam looks made for the role and I loved his new song of his.

And Heidi was just awesome ! A very different rockier RnB stlye than Livvy and maybe thats what the band needs. No-one could possibly follow Livvy in her style but Heidi will take us somewhere duifferent again. And she held the stage magnificently. If this is what a few medicinal whiskies does for her then bring on the Malt every time.
I had tears in my eyes during Seaching For My Shadow- for me the undoubted highlight of the whole wonderful day.

And all credit to the rest of the band for pulling off such a stormer with 2 new members and next to no rehersal time.
Can't wait for the next time.
Cheers
Howard
Took lots of photos which will be heading to Tevor once I`ve sorted em

Sounds like it went OK then :>)

So the next question has to be - when are they playing some more gigs so that I can get to see them for the first time ?

Stephen C

Stephen C wrote:

Sounds like it went OK then :>)

So the next question has to be - when are they playing some more gigs so that I can get to see them for the first time ?

Stephen C

More than OK Stephen (only jesting, I realise you didn't mean it literally) , my God, you had to be there to appreciate how amazing it was.

Only one gig arranged so far in Cambridge on Nov 20 (Sat).

Mr Gig wrote:

Hello,

How wrong I was. A storming rocky set. I would never have guessed it was Heidi's FIRST public performance. I only know that because I was standing next to her mate with the whisky.

Well, to be fair it wasn't Heidi's first public performance ever - but her first with Breathing Space (and adam's first too). Not that that detracts from it - I lost count of the number of people who said to me afterwards how well Heidi's voice fits the overall band sound.

And everyone else has said everthing else. It was an excellent start to the new era, AND we have the old era on CD now too, so we can all get a fix of both! (well, I might struggle on the new bit being in America for a year, so come on Paul/Iain please organise the west coast tour ASAP...

My pics of the weekend will be on Facebook soon, and a selection of the best will be on the website when the official ones reach me - I'll let you know.