Anyone from Portsmouth knows that Portsmouth Guildhall is the biggest venue in the city, so when Crystal Tides announced they were headlining this iconic venue last year, we knew this was going to be a special night.
Within a week of the tickets going on sale last year, the venue had completely sold out. Many people signed up to the waiting list for spare tickets, desperate to be a part of this event.
I first saw them play at a small venue in Brighton a few years back, and seeing how they have grown and progressed is a remarkable achievement. Headlining and selling out the Wedgewood Rooms last April, this band is going from strength to strength.
Following on from their mini tour these past few weeks, playing venues in Oxford, Manchester and Brighton, it all led them to this night and a core memory for the band.
I’ve always been a huge advocate for support bands and always encourage people to get down to any venue before the main act to watch the support band. Tonight, Harvey Jay Dodgson took to the stage with his band to warm up the already packed venue.
Dodgson and his band really know how to light up the stage! Their incredible energy gets everyone in the crowd buzzing and ready for an amazing night. With such a fantastic show, fans can’t wait to see what Harvey has in store for us next! In addition to playing his new single, ‘Embers,’ there were fan favourites ‘Freedom’ and ‘Caroline,’ and he had the whole venue singing straight back at him.
In classic Crystal Tides style, special mention to whoever created the nostalgic playlist that accompanied the breaks between sets. Filled with 90s pop anthems, it was a fun way to energise the crowd and found myself amongst the rest of the crowd having a pre-set dance to Steps – 5,6,7,8.
During the concert, the band displayed their remarkable back catalogue, playing almost an hour and a half of indie rock songs, many of which the audience sang along to word for word. It was clear how much this experience meant to the band and the effort they had put into reaching this milestone. From some of their first songs, ‘Little Lies’ and ‘Courtney Love’, to their latest releases from the EP ‘The Middle’, with the title track being dedicated to a friend who sadly passed away from cancer three years ago. Billy mentioned between songs that the past few weeks had been incredible yet challenging for his voice. The crowd, however, was fully engaged, enthusiastically singing the lyrics to each song.
The band also announced they have been working on something special, a full album due to be released soon. We were also given the opportunity to hear a new song, and if that’s a snippet of how the album is going to be, then we are in for a real treat. The band know they have so much support not only from local fans but also from the team who help behind the scenes. I’d like to bring attention to Rhona Murphy, their photographer, who has supported them from day one and is one of the best photographers around, as well as Harry, who I’ve seen previously, always with a camera in his hand and creating videos and photos from behind the scenes.
They also paid huge respect and thanks to Billy Fitzjohn, their manager, who works so hard with the acts he supports. Not only can you see how much respect there is between them all, but you can also see true friendship and love. To finish it off, the band then brought to the stage the amazing Cantando Choir who elevated their last few songs to another level. Joining the guys for ‘One Night in Paris’, ‘Headcase’ and my personal favourite ‘Honey’, it was exceptional.
The evening exceeded the already high expectations and was a magical for the band from start to finish. What an incredible achievement for them and to witness this event is something that will always bring a smile to my face. I don’t know the band personally, but I am proud of them all. Their hard work has paid off, and they have hit this huge milestone in their musical career!
