A long ago sold-out evening at the Portland started with Near Jazz Experience playing a set that explored the seemingly limitless possibilities of a jazz trio; with drums and hefty electric bass providing the foundation for multi-instrumentalist Terry Edwards, mainly on saxophone (sometimes two at once!), melodica and pocket trumpet. Together they produced a super-tight rhythm driven sound varying from complex up-tempo pieces to the more wistful new single ‘Afloat’. The audience were happy to join the celebration of their addictive sound by playing along with percussion shakers (which I think were mostly handed back at the end…)
There was a time when a music line-up would often feature a comedian or poet (John Cooper Clark, Attila the Stockbroker, John Shuttleworth et al) and The Nightingales have maintained this tradition for their shows; on this tour it was cult legend Stewart Lee performing a relaxed and hilarious 20 minute act drawn from some of his 1988 club routines. Much-loved and appreciated, he certainly made his mark and left the audience wanting more!
The Nightingales continue to be a formidable live attraction with an energy and commitment that doesn’t diminish with time. Tonight playing an hour of continuous songs with no let-up for audience interaction or appreciation; it was a fully immersive experience. They have an immense back catalogue to draw on but also still release new material with album ‘Perish The Thought’ just out and featured single ‘Chaff’ being one of the highlights tonight.
Dynamically supported by spiky guitar and incisive bass and the superlative drumming and duelling vocal from Fliss Kitson, the lyrics and vocal demands of founder member Robert Lloyd draw you into their special and unique world. A a bit like listening to the late Mark E Smith, it is an onslaught on the senses. From the noise fuzz of ‘Real Gone Daddy’ to the punching art-rock of ‘Best of British Luck’ and the timeless sentiment of relative oldie ‘Company Man’, tonight showed that the Nightingales continue to push against the barriers.
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum