10 May 2025
Matt Adams is at The Horn for an exceptional gig from the wry pop combo…
The last time I was at The Horn, it was to watch a singer with cropped platinum hair belting out a pop classic for the venue’s 50th birthday celebrations.
But on this occasion St Albans MP Daisy Cooper was in the audience, and the stage was dominated by a similarly-coiffured Alison Wheeler, long-term vocalist for both The Beautiful South and their spiritual successors The South, bringing their particular brand of quirky tunes to a Bank Holiday crowd who were determined to have a good time.
Alongside fellow singer Gaz Birtles, they led a Sunday night singalong to a playlist of pop classics, with
highlights including the likes of A Little Time, Rotterdam, Perfect 10, Ol’ Red Eyes is Back, Song for Whoever and Don’t Marry Her.
There was no room to dance, and barely space to wave your arms, as the band’s continued popularity after almost 18 years in this incarnation alone packed the intimate surroundings to bursting point. Forget trying to grab a loo break or buy some more drinks, once you were in the thick of it there was no getting out.
But recognising the more mature age of some of the crowd, the band wisely split their set into two halves, allowing those of us with weaker bladders in our advancing years to achieve that much-needed respite.
There were no disappointments from the set list – despite its mysterious disappearance before the gig had even begun (thankfully a replacement was retrieved from backstage) – with hit after hit rolled out in quick succession.
As a nine-piece band, it was almost as much of a squeeze on stage as it was on the floor, but this only added to the entertainment value, as you couldn’t help but admire the sheer musicianship on display. This was a group very much at ease with its components, and giving them each plenty of opportunity to shine.
It’s not often you see a drummer (Dave Anderson) and a percussionist (Karl Brown) in the same line-up, and credit must also go to the double act of lead guitarist Phil Barton and bassist Steve Nutter, ably supported by Andy Price on keyboards.
But it’s the brass section which really stands out in The South, adding that soul vibe to bring a real emotion to their music. Su Robinson on sax and Gareth John on
trumpet proved just as important to the performance as vocalists Alison and Gaz. It was also a delight to see Gareth take on singing duties for a number of tracks, giving Gaz the chance to pick up his saxophone and blast out some notes.
Their songs might prompt reflection on the era in which they were first performed, but they have also become timeless masterpieces of the pop genre in the decades since. Sunday night at The Horn isn’t the time you’d usually expect to be participating in an intimate yet up-tempo journey through the back catalogue of one of British music’s most celebrated acts, but that didn’t make it any less entertaining. This was a rare chance for an up-close and personal performance featuring a band who relish in the amazing songs they have the privilege to perform, and why the hell not?
But the icing on the cake was their appearance in the bar afterwards, casually mixing with fans over a few drinks for a chat about the music, breaking down the barriers between band and audience in a way we so rarely see these days.
A triumph of a gig, and one which won’t be forgotten any time soon.
