Sweden Rock Festival 2009: Marillion 5th June 2009

Setlist: Uninvited Guest / Whatever is Wrong / Between U and Me / Hooks in You / Afraid of Sunlight / Cover My Eyes / Slainte Mhath / Neverland / Happiness is the Road
First band I managed to see on the Friday was Marillion. Sadly, I was too late to catch Neil Morse, although I did bump into him when I was watching Marillion from the side of the stage… Shameless, aren’t I?
I love this band. Uncool as Fuck… That’s what their legendary T-shirts used to proclaim, and well they may be, but they are also one hell of a band, and their fans are legion. You can’t argue with any group that has been around for so long and whose fans pay for the next CD before it has even been recorded.
The first time I saw Marillion was at their Reading Festival performance in 1981 when they just about stole the show from everyone. Since then I have seen the band on quite a few occasions and never have I seen a duff show. They always play a great gig and give you much more than your money’s worth and Sweden was no exception. As they came on stage the weather was pretty good, but this year it was, shall we say, changeable. The clouds came over as they delivered a storming Hooks and it started to chuck it down just as H introduced Afraid of Sunlight. You couldn’t make it up!
Nevertheless, they kept at it and blew the clouds away. Slainte Mhath was outstanding and one of my fave Marillion tunes and I particularly enjoyed Happiness, with which they ended a really strong set. Being on the side of the stage, I said a quick ‘Hello’ before dashing off to see my gang, who were due on stage a little over an hour later… I told you I had no shame ;-)
I love this band. Uncool as Fuck… That’s what their legendary T-shirts used to proclaim, and well they may be, but they are also one hell of a band, and their fans are legion. You can’t argue with any group that has been around for so long and whose fans pay for the next CD before it has even been recorded.
The first time I saw Marillion was at their Reading Festival performance in 1981 when they just about stole the show from everyone. Since then I have seen the band on quite a few occasions and never have I seen a duff show. They always play a great gig and give you much more than your money’s worth and Sweden was no exception. As they came on stage the weather was pretty good, but this year it was, shall we say, changeable. The clouds came over as they delivered a storming Hooks and it started to chuck it down just as H introduced Afraid of Sunlight. You couldn’t make it up!
Nevertheless, they kept at it and blew the clouds away. Slainte Mhath was outstanding and one of my fave Marillion tunes and I particularly enjoyed Happiness, with which they ended a really strong set. Being on the side of the stage, I said a quick ‘Hello’ before dashing off to see my gang, who were due on stage a little over an hour later… I told you I had no shame ;-)