Margate Loves Us – The Beautiful Ones, Suede and Manic Street Preachers – Dreamland Summer Series, July 19 2024

Margate Loves Us - The Beautiful Ones, Suede and Manic Street Preachers - Dreamland Summer Series, July 19 2024

Words and Pictures: Bracken Hake / Kraken Media

Two of the greatest British rock acts from the 90s, touring together across the UK. With more hits than Mike Tyson in his prime, what’s not to like? It’s no surprise the venues on the tour all but sold out within hours of tickets going on sale. We decided to send Bracken Hake, our young 20-something photographer and reviewer to see what all of the fuss was about. No bear in mind, Bracken was born after both bands hit the big time, after the albums that broke the bands and moved them into the upper echelons of music royalty. For someone used to, as Monty Python might say’, something completely different, we were looking forward to opening his eyes and ears to show him how the professionals do it. Read on and see if he was blown away…. 

It’s Friday! Not only do I have a half-day at work, but I also have a gig I’ve been looking forward to all week. It’s the last show of the short Manic Street Preachers and Suede co-headline tour, right in the middle of Dreamland’s Summer Series. I must say, this is probably the most picturesque venue I’ve ever seen: a stage set right in the middle of a vintage funfair, with all the rides open for the audience. It was great, especially since we had a long wait before the first band went on. Dreamland is the perfect setting for a gig. The venue’s charm and history added to the overall atmosphere, the sound was excellent, the only thing I didn’t enjoy was the heat! [Youngsters… always moaning – ED]. Although that’s out of the venue’s control.

Source : https://www.dreamland.co.uk/

Manic Street Preachers

First up were the Manic Street Preachers. I didn’t know what to expect, my editor had told me it would be amazing and to be fair, I loved it. I admit, going in I only expected to recognize one or two songs, but I ended up knowing half the setlist! They started the evening with an energetic set that mixed their rock roots with a modern twist. They played popular songs like “Motorcycle Emptiness” and “A Design for Life,” which gained so much enthusiasm from the crowd. Lead singer James Dean Bradfield kept the audience hooked from start to finish while bassist Nicky Wire kept us photographers happy with many jumps and kicks.

‘A Design for Life’ triggered a mass singalong and for the guitarists in the crowd, Bradfield’s soloing on ‘La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)’ seemed to hit the mark perfectly. And speaking of perfect, it was brilliant to see them perform several songs with The Anchoress. She adds a level of vocal beauty to the songs and it gives them a great feel. Judging by the crowd, ‘Your Love Alone Is Not Enough’ is a really popular tune. Smiles, singing and much cheering from the thousands of people stood around me. 

My favourite part was when they performed “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next,” and the whole crowd sang along. It was almost as if I was transported back into the 90s, not that I know what that was like as I wasn’t born at that point.

SETLIST

You Love Us
Everything Must Go
Motorcycle Emptiness
This Is Yesterday
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
To Repel Ghosts
Little Baby Nothing (with The Anchoress)
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough (with The Anchoress)
Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier
A Design for Life
La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Walk Me to the Bridge
Kevin Carter
Suicide Is Painless (Theme From MASH) (Johnny Mandel cover)
From Despair to Where
No Surface All Feeling (with snippet of “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins)
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Suede

As the night went on, the excitement for Suede grew. Before this gig I had never heard of Suede, despite my Editor pointing out just how good they are but he’s quite a lot older than me [Cheek – we are having words! ED] but after talking to members of the audience about how much energy they have I was excited. The band delivered a strong set that spanned their career to date. Proving that their modern work is in keeping with the songs of old, they started with ‘She’, which was a tour debut, as was ‘Electricity’ later on in the set, which captured both the audience’s and my own attention right away. Brett Anderson’s stage presence and unique voice filled Dreamland, charming both old fans and new.

Highlights included ‘Trash’ and a new track ‘Antidepressants’, the latter of which debuted at the Isle of Wight Festival. As a photographer I have never seen a frontman with so much energy, with many moments that had me running across the photo pit chasing the best shots and poses. Overall I really, really enjoyed this gig. It has opened my eyes to a whole new genre of music, and I haven’t been able to stop listening to Suede since! [I did tell you! – ED]

Full credit to Dreamland and the team there. It’s making going to concerts down in Margate a must-do experience and it’s helping truly revitalise the town. Sometimes we need a little more energy than just the Turner Gallery and Dreamland are providing it in spades. 

SETLIST:

She (tour debut)
Trash
Animal Nitrate
The Drowners
Electricity (tour debut)
It Starts and Ends With You
Flytipping
New Generation
Filmstar
Antidepressants
Saturday Night
She Still Leads Me On
Shadow Self
The Wild Ones
So Young
Metal Mickey
Beautiful Ones

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