Reviews

It's a rare sunny summer's evening, deep in the heart of Thetford Forest on a day without rain. An eclectic mix of people has gathered in a clearing, and The Feeling have just taken to the stage.

The crowd, lounging on picnic rugs and collapsible chairs, is instantly roused by the feelgood anthemic tunes that begin to echo among the trees.

The laidback lead singer, Dan Gillespie Sells, wows his audience with ease.

Relaxed and beguiling without being pretentious, Sells, and the rest of the five-piece, Richard Jones, Kevin Jeremiah, Ciaran Jeremiah and Paul Stewart, immediately charm the audience, with music you can't resist.

Ageless style

Sells' neat appearance looks like he has been taken out of 1960s' London, perhaps from an advert in a magazine tucked under the arm of an office-bound commuter.

Enjoying the moment - see more photos in gallery

The group's sound has tones of 1970s' pop rock with a definite 1980s' era Queen influence - all mixed with 21st century cheery pop.

Perhaps the time-spanning music explains the appeal they have across all age groups. Fans from 8 to 80 are swaying as Fill My Little World rings out across the park - hands clapping, arm waving, lighters out. 

Everyday inspiration

The Feeling launch into tracks from their album, Twelve Stops And Home. The lyrics are a quirky take on the poetry of everyday life from the predictably love-filled I Want You Now and Fill My Little World to Kettle's On and Rosé – yes, about making a cuppa and wine.

The latter, Sells enthuses, is reflective of the band's time spent holed-up with alcohol for company while penning their best-selling album.

The group have taken a break from creating their next offering to appear at Thetford, not long after a critically-acclaimed performance at Wembley’s Concert for Diana.

On a balmy summer's evening, the grand Thetford Forest provides a venue which seems small and intimate, the crowd has negotiated the pathways through the trees to reach a clearing where they seem to be transported to another world.

Darker sounds

Emotions are drawn from the music, the dancing crowd appears calm and reflective at the slow, thoughtful and heartfelt performance of Strange. 

The crowd is given a starring role in Never Be Lonely, and responds just as enthuastically to Join With Us, a glimpse at what is to come from The Feeling's next album – light-hearted lyrics coupled with a darker sound, linking their carefree music with a more offbeat indie twist.

The band have a presence as if they have been around forever, not of five fresh-faced 20-somethings from London and Sussex. They perform the Buggles classic Video Killed The Radio Star as if it were their own.

But after a rousing rendition of Helicopter with light effects swirling out across the night sky, the smiley happy people leave to dance back through the forest with I Love It When You Call ringing in their ears, feeling that the world seems a nicer place.

The Feeling played Thetford Forest on Thursday, 12 July, 2007.