PAUL HEATON’S TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING AT BRAMALL LANE

There was an expectant atmosphere along Bramall Lane as the throngs of thousands flocked to the hallowed ground, all of whom were hoping to witness a special homecoming gig from Paul Heaton. The veteran songwriter had come home to Sheffield, a city deeply rooted in his past and loved by the masses around the world throughout his illustrious career, and turned the old football ground into an electrified singalong of nostalgia, pride, and music excellence.

The night began with a scorching support bill, bookending an evening to be remembered for a lifetime. This gig featured lively performances by indie legends The Lightning Seeds and Britpop contemporaries Shed Seven, warming the welcoming crowd with an anthem-packed set that evoked memories of the heyday of British music. The crowd, consisting of old school followers and new converts in roughly equal proportions, were already in singing and shouting mode even while the band’s Heaton had not even laid hands on the mic.

Around 8:40 PM, the eagerly anticipated moment at last arrived. With purposeful strides and infectiously energetic steps, Paul Heaton emerged on stage, accompanied by the angelic vocals of Rianne Downey. With the first note, the atmosphere lifted off, and the rest was an exhilarating trip through his collection of wonderful work. The audience was treated to a wide-ranging body of work throughout his career, effortlessly darting backwards and forwards between Housemartins and Beautiful South classics and material from his solo career, such as some from his new album, The Mighty Several.

Each song received a thunderous applause. Their classic hits like Rotterdam, Don’t Marry Her, Perfect 10, and Happy Hour were loudly sung along to by the entire stadium, the noise echoing far into the night. And the even newer stuff stood its ground in a set whose songwriting ability remains as sharp as ever. The wit and warmth of Heaton’s signature survived to create an intimacy all its own despite the enormous crowd. He talked to his public as he would an old mate, regaling the gathering with stories, anecdotes, and moving observation upon his lengthy affair with Sheffield. One of the evening’s highlights occurred when time was taken out to pay tribute to Sheffield United’s desperate defeat the previous night in the Championship play-off final. A Blades man through and through, he paid them tribute with sympathetic and solidarity-full words, turning what had been a miserable weekend for many into an occasion in its own right. A highlight occurred when he led the gathering in a storming performance of Greasy Chip Butty as fans spilled out of the ground, bringing thousands together with a final emotional sing-along.

When the evening drew to a close, after nearly 30 tunes, unremitting applause, and a broad-hearted atmosphere, those in the crowd weren’t ready for it to end. It was apparent to all in the gathering that it was something special, something greater than the concert. A triumph of community, of collective experience, and of music’s abiding legacy. Paul Heaton, voice of the people and songwriting master, proved to Sheffield why he’s in such esteem and close to the hearts of everyone. And in reciprocating it in spades, he left a mark, later to be treasured beyond the final note dissolving into the night.

BRADLEY FOSTER & RACHEL BROWN

PHOTOGRAPHY – KEVIN WELLS PHOTOGRAPHY