The Clameens, PØRTS, Glenn Rosborough, Queen & Disco Halloween Ball.
The Guildhall, Derry~Londonderry
Friday 31st October, 2014
It’s Hallowe’en in Derry~Londonderry. The city is packed with people of all ages out in force for one of the most celebrated nights of the City’s calendar. Tonight the historic Guildhall is opening its caged doors for revellers to see The Clameens, PØRTS and Glenn Rosborough perform for The Link Academy’s Music School Fundraiser.
Zombies, Elves and Superheroes all make their way into the Grand Ballroom to await Glenn Rosborough taking to the stage to start the evening’s entertainment. The ballroom, with its backdrop of stained glass windows and gothic looking organ pipes sets the mood perfectly for the Hallowe'en festivities.
Glenn is dressed in a sharp white suit and demonic horns. The band open with punch, performing Never Gonna Let You Down, giving us a surreal treat with vocalist Jilly St John dressed as a glittering unicorn and David Kirby as a schoolgirl. Glenn performs current single Did It For You to the high spirited colourful audience who are immediately dancing. After greeting us with humour and warmth, Glenn changes the pace with Rushing In. As the haunting strains of moody lyrics and music floats across the ballroom, zombie brides take to the floor, ballroom dancing in a gothic trancelike state. Glenn takes us on a surreal musical experience throughout his set, each performance carefully thought through to deliver a unique showcase.
After a mind blowing start to the evening, PØRTS are up next. The band are unrecognisable, dressed as Skeletons, and keep the Hallowe’en theme in mind by opening with Devil is a Songbird which sees the crowd singing along enthusiastically. We are stopped in our tracks with an intensely mesmerising cover of Moby’s Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad, performed flawlessly with PØRTS' unique beats and vocal style consuming our senses as we watch. Their set of familiar songs delight the crowd with the emotionally charged ballad I’d Let You Win bringing people together, dancing in a world of their own. The energy charges up with Letters, getting the room bouncing …even a fancy-dress donkey raucously dances before the audiences comes together, swaying and singing in harmony for final song Few and Far Between.
Finally, with the crowd primed, The Clameens burst on stage with Follow. Headlining the show, we are given extra special treats as they give us many exclusives in their set. Colours, a brand new song never played before delivers frontman Sean's rich vocals with strong drums and bass taking us on an emotional rollercoaster, followed straightaway with Lies from their upcoming new EP. The band throw themselves into entertaining us with a high energy mix of old favourites and brand new tracks, My Forever Song being played live for the first time. Sean’s natural confident charm with the audience keeps our attention firmly placed on the band with their last song She’s Got My Heart dedicated to every woman in the room. After a worthy round of applause, the room buzzes with positive vibes as Queen & Disco take to the stage. Their DJ set continuing what the 3 bands started, taking us into the early hours of the night.
Stacy Fitzpatrick
