Steve 'n' Seagull, Manchester Academy
(Steve 'n' Seagull, Manchester Academy, 06/02/25
You need some rock music in your bones. How about some drums and guitar? Fancy a banjo? Maybe a double bass and an accordion? Might as well squeeze in a mandolin, keyboard, some bottle flutes, and a Finnish kantele (Google it).
There’s only one answer: you need Steve ‘n’ Seagulls.
A Finnish farmer five-piece, who deliver country and bluegrass-infused covers of hard rock and metal classics. On paper, it sounds like hurling all the food from the kitchen cupboards into the oven and hoping for a tasty meal, but against all odds, it works.
When you watch musicians who are truly skilled at the ridiculous number of instruments they play, you’re off to a good start. Then you realise they can all sing too. But what really pulls you in is their sheer charisma. Watching Jamppa strut around on double bass, like Angus Young, or Hiltunen effortlessly switch between three instruments and a bottle of beer, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the madness. Throw in some dungarees and hats ranging from a Finnish Herman cap to a stuffed fox, and you’ve got something genuinely unique.
The setlist was mostly covers, including Self Esteem, Carry On Wayward Son, and Run to the Hills. The standouts? The finger-picking brilliance of the banjo intro to Thunderstruck and the haunting bottle flute opening to (Don’t Fear) The Reaper. But surprisingly, their best track of the night wasn’t a cover at all, it was their own song, Ghost Town.
If you want something fun, different and guaranteed to make you smile while rocking out to some classics, go see Steve ‘n’ Seagulls. This band is worth the ticket price, and then some.
Rick
presenter on RRR
Unaccustomed to reviewing tribute bands, we thought maybe we should give this band a go and the fact they were performing at one of our favourites venues, we popped in on the night of their performance.
Bon Jovi, one might say, are coming close to the end of touring, so if this is the case and you are missing the greatest hits of the band then you could do little better other than seeing the real thing with this particular tribute. Having great seats in a great venue the night was looking good and indeed turned to be just that. Digging deep into the Bon Jovi back catalogue as far back as their first breakthrough hit “Runaway” this band surely did know their round all the hits. They treated the crowd to all the usual suspects, Wanted Dead or Alive, Bed Of Roses to name just 2 and of course the now well established sing-along anthem “You Give Love A Bad Name”. Performed to a high standard you could have quite easily closed your eyes and imagined they were the real thing, well almost! So if you get a chance to see them and if you are a fan then will not be disappointed click for this site Home | The Bon Jovi Experience (jonbyjovi.com)
Thanks to the venue for assisting with the review tickets.
Helen
