COURTEENERS // OPEN AIR THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH
Their warm up show for TRNSMT and Old Trafford is hotter than expected at the Scarborough OAT 100th gig celebration
★★★★☆ (4/5)
COURTEENERS PERFORMING AT SCARBOROUGH’S OPEN AIR THEATRE - 08.09.2021
PICTURE BY: | JOHN HAYHURST @SNAPAGIG.COM
An unusually hot day at the coast and the normal tourist visitors are supplemented with the bucket hat brigade, fans of the Courteeners. They may have had a few already and forgotten to have a covid lateral test, so the bizarre sight of people swabbing orifices is what greets you as you walk towards the brilliant Open Air Theatre in Scarborough.
This venue is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine, and promoters Cuffe and Taylor are celebrating tonight as its the 100th gig at the Theatre, the venue was opened by The Queen no less in 2020 and has seen Britney Spears, Elton John, Kylie and a host of other world stars tread the boards here. In the returning summer season we’ve had The Stereophonics, Kaiser Chiefs, Anne Marie and Nile Rodgers, later next week we’ve got Duran Duran for the finale. So its a busy place and rightly so – tonight The Courteeners will play a warm up set for 2 of their biggest gigs – TRNSMT festival on Glasgow Green and then Old Trafford for 50,000 fans at a special homecoming gig in Manchester.
They bring along The Coral for the ride tonight and whilst their new offerings from latest album ‘Coral Island’ don’t really hit the mark, a quick burst of ‘In the Morning’ resolves that early on, however, they don’t really appear to be enjoying it – a very studious complexion on Skelly’s face throughout. ‘Dreaming of You’ does manage to get everyone on their feet though at the end.
I don’t think I’ve seen Liam Fray with such long hair and beard before, in fact he had passed by waving at everyone before they realised it was him, until he picked up his guitar and then the band launched into ‘Are you in love with a notion’.
With the front standing section packed in quite tightly they reeled through ‘Cavorting’ without spilling a pint – thankfully. I’m guessing at the expensive bar prices they wouldn’t want to spill a drop - that’s unusual for these fans.
It is a very tight performance despite the lack of gigs and probably rehearsal time, Fray’s voice and guitar are in impeccable form.
A 22 song setlist that is a celebration of the years and albums from this fine indie band, who seem to now, finally, be stretching themselves out of the shadow of Oasis. Able to headline festivals without being compared to their mentors, although still walking out to ‘Morning Glory’ isn’t really helping that.
They have the songs, and in ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ have an anthem sung at the top of these fan’s voices. It is the track everyone has been waiting for and obviously comes out for the encore.
A great set full of energy and a stunning video screen behind Liam & Co helps to transfer that energy all the way up to the steep tiered seating in this 7,000 capacity theatre.
Whilst this was a warm up for 2 big shows, they are returning later this year to do their ‘Whites of their eyes’ tour at much smaller venues – look out for details near you!
