Love Music Live Warrington

Presents

Mark Chadwick

(The Levellers)

at Warrington Irish Club 

Friday 5th May 2023 

In 1994 the ‘Levellers‘ performed on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury to a reported 300,000 people. It’s the biggest Glasto crowd to date…and tonight Mark Chadwick, the iconic frontman of the Levellers, performs an intimate, stripped-down acoustic set at Warrington Irish Club (words you think you’ll never hear yourself say!). Ok, it’s the stuff of dreams for us, live music fans, and unsurprisingly it’s sold out. There’s a real buzz in the air tonight, a real sense that this is the gig that’s gonna go off. It’s all standing tonight, so dancing is guaranteed. Local Singer and songstress, Vicky Williams, is providing support, so a good night is on the cards. These Irish Club gigs really are quite something and personally, I really look forward to them. We get to see legendary musicians in a relaxed environment, acoustically and up close, in a way that’s just not possible in most venues.

(Vicky Williams_Credit: Warren Millar)

Support: Vicky Williams 

It’s another fun set from Vicky: original, witty and kooky, a style at times that’s not dissimilar to Kate Nash, but drawn from Vicky’s own experiences in life, woven together with interesting song style and unusual singing style. Breathy, then high and loud, often with spoken word, it’s a fascinating concept and one that works well, performed well and musically tight. Country and folk vibes collide with the quirkier, verging-on indie feels. Explaining stories behind each song and theme, the interaction is genuine and it’s a well-received set. Vicky’s vocal floats happily atop the strumming and melodic sounds from her trusty guitar and sidekick which she affectionately refers to as ‘the lost boy”. Another playful, authentic set, a delight to watch.

(Mark Chadwick_Credit: Warren Millar)

Headline: Mark Chadwick 

It’s quite apparent that Mark has quite some following. Our venue is packed to the rafters now and after chatting to several fans I find out that people are willing to travel from all around the UK to see him. He arrives on stage, brimming with smiles, a vision of merriment, and after a quick “hello” it’s on with his set. 

It instantly feels good as he fills the stage with his cheery disposition. Mark is so natural up there and his stage presence is huge; he’s very likeable, and interacts genuinely throughout the performance, exclaiming  “Let’s all get drunk and sing songs about love”, to which a huge cheer goes up and people are instantly dancing. The feels are joyful, and very high vibrational; it’s fun-filled, laid back, ‘good time’ and it’s going down super well!  A lively performance, with foot tapping, lots of ‘hey’s’ and ‘ho’s’ and real folk sounds. The atmosphere is brilliant; it’s reminiscent of cosy pub backroom singalongs where all are welcome and everyone joins in. Animation, liveliness and vigour are brought in abundance. Mark is smashing it! 

Songs are familiar, well-loved, some exuberant… a celebration of what’s good in life…others are more heartfelt and soulful.  The vocal is on point, very distinctive, earthy and loud, but with a full-bodied, honey-like sound dripping from every word. The sound is one of flux, bolstered, poetic, a swelling of guitar strings, expansive. It pokes fun at times, light-hearted and jovial, but positive in its message and in the feeling it conveys.

As a crowd, we’re right there with him from the off,  and in what must be a first for the Irish Club we have a moshpit of sorts…a wave of dancing, swaying arms and jigging ripples and spreads afar into every corner of our venue, its energy enveloping us in its warm, cheery embrace. It evokes sunshine and cider, orchards and fields, rolling hillsides and blue skies – it’s real food for the soul and it’s impossible not to smile or to be seduced by this sound. Such an enthusiastic and energetic performance… you can see – no, feel – the passion Mark has for performing, for songwriting and for ensuring a good time is had by all.

(Mark Chadwick_Credit: Warren Millar)

A full set, brimming with Levellers hits, and an added encore is performed. It’s been heartwarming, joyous and such an amazing energy. One of the best acoustic gigs I’ve attended. Mark Chadwick brought it all: performance, musicality, an exceptional voice, but above all a wonderful sense of fun and nostalgia – on a miserable, wet Friday night he managed to make sunshine through his music, which we all basked in appreciatively.  

Mark, what a stellar set you brought us! Thank you, and I look forward to your next visit to Warrington and a cheery cider or two!

Words; Janet Harding

Photography: Warren Millar

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