LIVE REVIEW | JAMES | HAMPTON COURT PALACE 11th June 2025 by Kevin O’Sullivan
It’s hard to think of many bands better suited to an open-air summer night than James. With a career built on defying expectations, emotional highs, and live-wire performances, their show at Hampton Court Palace was always going to be special. As part of the venue’s summer concert series, the Manchester icons turned the regal courtyard into something far more raucous and alive.
True to form, James didn’t stick to the script. Known for swapping out songs and reshuffling setlists, they threw one of their biggest anthems – ‘Sit Down‘ – in early. The result? Exactly the opposite of its title. The entire crowd stood, sang, and swayed as if the night depended on it.
Tim Booth was in his usual fearless form, diving into the audience for one of his signature walkabouts. Faces lit up across the venue – a genuine sense of shared euphoria that rippled through the crowd. Between songs, Booth introduced violinist and guitarist Saul Davies as a folk musician from Manchester. Saul, never one to miss a beat, quickly corrected him: “Portugal and Liverpool, actually!” Cue laughter from both stage and crowd – the kind of unscripted charm that only happens at a James gig.
Visually, the show punched well above its weight. During a fierce performance of ‘Interrogation‘ a swirling “eye of the storm” backdrop matched the track’s brooding tone. Later, ‘Sometimes‘ arrived with a screen full of cascading rain as the crowd took the chorus and ran with it – a moment that visibly hit Booth hard.
From there, things kept building. ‘Tomorrow‘ came backed by hypnotic visuals of butterflies, transforming into a thunderous version of ‘Sound‘ that rattled the palace walls. But the real gut-punch came when Booth spoke about his life in LA and the riots he witnessed firsthand. It was a stark, sobering moment that fed straight into ‘Heads‘, a track dripping with anger, irony and a sharp critique of the so-called American dream.
By the time the night wrapped, the connection between band, audience, and setting felt unshakable. James didn’t just play a gig – they created a communal experience, full of heart, humour and raw humanity. For a band now decades deep into their career, they’re still finding new ways to surprise – and move – a crowd.
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