A Triple Header Begins

The first leg of a triple-gig week kicked off in style with my long-awaited debut gig alongside Jimmy Simmonds. After years of promising to sort one out, it finally happened—and it couldn’t have been a better choice.

Pre-Gig Adventures

We boarded a late lunchtime train and arrived in Norwich just before 3pm, primed for some pre-show beverages. The Bell was our first port of call for a couple of rounds, followed by a quick stop at The Murderers, and finally a pitstop at The Champion. Once again, my map-reading skills fell short, prompting a quick cab ride towards Epic Studios. One more pint at the historic Ribs of Beef and then a decent curry finished off our pre-gig rituals. Timing was impeccable, giving us a chance to catch the support act.

Venue Vibes

Epic Studios—an unexpected gem. Formerly home to Anglia Television, it produced nostalgic gems such as Sale of the Century, Tales of the Unexpected, and Knightmare. Its transformation into a music venue has been an inspired choice. The standing-only format might be tough on aging limbs, but the layout was generous, sightlines clear, and acoustics top-tier. Even from the back of the room, we had a perfect view and excellent sound.

CAST Take the Stage

Following the support act, CAST stormed onto the stage. The set wasn’t too dissimilar from their earlier 2024 performance (let’s call that CAST 1), but that hardly mattered. With Love Is The Call being my most played album this year, I was completely immersed. Every track was familiar. Every chorus was sung. There was dancing—well, something resembling it—and the band were in fine form.

John Power and co. didn’t miss a beat, and the crowd lapped up every minute. The new material blended seamlessly with the classics, and their sound was as tight as ever. By the time it ended, it felt like mere minutes had passed.

Journey Home

After the gig, we grabbed a taxi back to the station. The train journey home was soundtracked perfectly by the best of Paul Heaton—fitting, since he’s next on the calendar for Jimmy and me.

In Summary

A brilliant night that ticked every box: top company, top tunes, and a surprisingly stellar venue. CAST continue to be one of the most consistent live bands on the circuit, and Love Is The Call deserves every spin it’s getting. Norwich, we’ll be back.