Lindisfarne were back at The Fire Station again, almost one year since I last saw them at the Sunderland venue. In between I have also seen them at their iconic Christmas show (2023) at the equally iconic Newcastle City Hall, their (and formally my) musical home. Apologies for repetition in my blog entry, but I have seen this band so many times, repetition is inevitable.
The Fire Station website: “Legendary 70s Tyneside folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne present a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members fronted by founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle, and slide guitar. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs including ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, ‘Fog On The Tyne’, ‘Lady Eleanor’ & ‘Run For Home,’ plus a second-to-none reputation for live performance, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize audiences remains undimmed and is guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet and singing along.”
I first saw Lindisfarne supporting Van Der Graf Generator, with Genesis lower down on the bill at Newcastle City Hall in early 1971. I then attended the Lindisfarne first Christmas concert at the City Hall. Over the last 53 years I have seen Lindisfarne countless times (reminder to myself to check exactly how many times I have seen the band). Some memorable times follow in this blog entry.
Let’s start with the Lincoln Festival, and of climbing up a lighting tower to watch the bands and dancing on the top of the makeshift tent we build out of bales of hay (I do not recall where we found the hay) with about 20 “boys” from Sunderland that we met there, some for the first time who became lifelong friends. The term “boys” is particularly significant. Boys were a group of people from the town who stuck together and formed some sort of group identity, perhaps like the boys in David Bowie’s “London Boys” and Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys are Back in Town”.
It was at the Lincoln festival that they triumphed with the whole crowd singing along to songs from Nicely Out Of Tune and the Fog On The Tyne albums. The Grangemouth festival 1972 in Scotland where they again got the crowd singing along. Seeing them at Sunderland Top Rank around 1972 and headlining the City Hall two nights in a row, one with Genesis support and the other with Stackridge support on the Dingley Dell tour (a much-underrated album). Then the split and witnessing Lindisfarne 2 and the other offshoot Jack The Lad at festivals. The reforming of the band with a magical comeback concert at the City Hall and then back at the top with “Run for Home” and attending a sold-out concert at Redcar Coatham bowl during which we all danced on the tables and the aforementioned single was high in the charts.
The Alan Hull solo concert at the City Hall. Then all the Christmas concerts which I attended during the 1980s at the Newcastle City Hall. Travelling to Carlisle Sands Centre to see their farewell concert. I even took a copy of that evening’s Newcastle evening Chronicle along with me to the Carlisle concert; they were pictured on the cover and I got them to sign the newspaper. They were surprised as they did not know that they featured in it! Attending a ceremony outside the City Hall when a blue plaque was placed there to celebrate the life of Alan Hull. Ray Jackson’s Lindisfarne played outside at the ceremony.
And then starting to see the newly reformed band a few times, firstly with Ray Jackson fronting the band and more recently with Rod Clements as front man. I don’t know how many times I must have seen Lindisfarne, but it is on many, many occasions, most recently at the City Hall and the Fire Station.
The Fire Station was packed for this concert and the set list was very similar to those I have witnessed recently. As usual, we were treated to all the classic songs: “No Time to Lose”, “We Can Swing Together” and my personal favourite “Winter Song” performed perfectly by David Hull– Denholm, Alan Hull’s son in law. Soon, we were on the home front and the closing songs were: “Fog on the Tyne”, “Meet Me on the Corner” and “Run for Home”. The closer was, as it was in 1971 and has been ever since: “Clear White Light”. Another great concert by the North-East heroes.
Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site as usual. Next stop Newcastle City Hall Lindisfarne Christmas show this December 2024! See you soon Geordie heroes.
Setlist: Set 1: Alright on the Night; Squire; Scarecrow Song; Statues & Liberties; Lady Eleanor; Can’t Do Right for Doing Wrong; All Fall Down; Anyway the Wind Blows; Road to Kingdom Come; Walk a Crooked Mile; January Song.
Set 2: No Time to Lose; Passing Ghosts; Sundown Station; Dingley Dell; When The War Is Over; Winter Song; We Can Swing Together; Fog on the Tyne; Meet Me on the Corner; Run for Home; Clear White Light, Part 2.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on October 7, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Probably THE classic fun band. I love their albums but have never seen them perform. I have seen Jack the Lad twice, and the 2016 talking-tour fronted by Mitchell and Laidlaw but, sadly, that’s as good as it gets.
Glad that you had yet another good time and that it stirred so many happy memories for you, Peter.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on October 7, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Yes Roger Lindisfarne are always good fun. The classic Geordie band. Roll on the Christmas concert at the City Hall. Happy days Peter
Posted by treetopflier2009 on October 7, 2024 at 2:20 pm
I just have to hear anything from Nicely Out of Tune and I am transported straight back to 1972! Classic Geordie Band!
Posted by vintagerock on October 7, 2024 at 2:32 pm
YesNicely out of Tune is their best album and contains many classic songs. I am now regularly seeing Lindisfarne at least twice a year, once at The Fire Station and again at the City Hall Christmas concert. And I never tire of them. Happy days Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on October 8, 2024 at 11:46 am
Sadly, I’ve never seen any version of Lindisfarne live, but I love their records, and concert recordings and videos. Some great songs and great music. This concert sounds like another good one.
Hope you enjoy the Christmas concert too.
By the way, I’m glad the you got £0.25 off the Grangemouth Festival entry in 1972!
Posted by vintagerock on October 8, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Hi Ciaran yes Lindisfarne are a fun band. Are they known in Ireland at all? The Grangemouth festival was a great day with the magnificent Jeff Beck headlining. Happy days Peter