Ocean Colour Scene

Another gig. Another London stopover. And yes—another rail replacement service. This time Neil played chauffeur, driving us to Shenfield where he expertly snagged a driveway parking spot. From there, we jumped on a train bound for Brixton, with a layover at a Peckham Travelodge via the Elizabeth Line to Whitechapel and an overground hop. The hotel just so happened to be opposite The Red Bull, a no-nonsense local pub, which—naturally—we made our base camp.

After a couple of pints each, we took a bus into Brixton to grab a bite before the show. Dinner was Brazilian street food (not a euphemism). Though the cheese balls could double as hockey pucks, the meal was otherwise decent—albeit somewhat of a culinary mystery.

A Fragment of Kula Shaker and a Fumbled Entry

The gig was at the iconic Brixton Academy, a venue still recovering from a tragic incident in 2022 when chaos at the doors led to the deaths of two security guards. While tighter security has since been implemented, the crowd management felt poorly thought-out. We were herded like livestock, and the process of simply entering the venue bordered on farcical.

Thanks to the disarray—and our well-timed tea run—we only caught the tail end of the final track by Kula Shaker. A shame, but the anticipation for the headliners kept spirits high.

The Main Act: Ocean Colour Scene

Often considered the quiet workhorses of Britpop, Ocean Colour Scene once again proved their credentials. Kicking off with The Circle and You’ve Got It Bad from 1996’s Moseley Shoals, they immediately set the tone with Steve Craddock’s guitar wizardry and Simon Fowler’s distinct vocals taking centre stage.

The set dipped momentarily during some slower tracks from One from the Modern, but the crowd reignited when Hundred Mile High City exploded through the speakers. The timeless The Riverboat Song and fan-favourite Traveller’s Tune continued to raise the roof.

What makes OCS special is their depth. While Oasis and Blur battled it out in the headlines, Ocean Colour Scene quietly built a catalogue that’s held up remarkably well—and it showed in Brixton. The audience, made up of both nostalgic fans and first-timers, sang every word with gusto.

The encore didn’t disappoint either. After the bluesy stomp of Get Away, they closed with The Day We Caught the Train—a reminder of just how potent their songwriting can be when nostalgia meets melody.

Final Thoughts

Yes, getting there was a mission. Yes, we missed the support. But Ocean Colour Scene delivered exactly what we came for: tight musicianship, enduring songs, and a crowd unified in admiration. Britpop’s unsung heroes? Maybe. But they’re still packing a punch in 2025.

Date: 4 April 2025
Venue: O2 Academy Brixton, London, England
Tour: 2025 Tour
Source: Setlist.fm

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