The
Marillion Convention
Pontins Brean Sands
Somerset
April 5th - April 7th 2002
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to. Silhobbit.com are the first to bring you an account of this event, so
come back in a few days and we'll give you a full account !
Only Marillion would have the audacity to organize such an event. Only Marillion fans would make the event a success by getting into the spirit of things to make this an amazing weekend.
This was the deal,
The Web booked Pontin's holiday camp from Friday afternoon until Sunday
afternoon, filled the place with fans from across the world (yes - fans
were there from America and Australia!). From this point it was up to
Marillion to entertain and that is what they did.
The plush accommodation would have been fit for the queen mother (gawd bless her). Four to each chalet. After unpacking many of the fans mingled with the band around the grounds and the sun beamed down enhancing the family atmosphere. Fans hugged old friends and the evening's proceedings kicked off with Aziz and then Robin Boult which unfortunately I missed but reports were more than favorable.
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Friday - Brave Well the whole album was last aired at an outdoor festival in Brazil many years ago. Some of the fans were in for a treat of there lives if they'd not seen the thing done before. As expected the venue was packed and the band played it from start to finish as they had many years the previous |
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Saturday Afternoon - Swap the band! There are some very talented people who are also Marillion fans. This extraordinary performance saw Marillion exchange their members with fans who had previously sent in their self made video performance...and this was magical! |
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I'm not able to mention each song or the musicians, but the three who I loved
included an American guitarist who swapped Rothery and played Rothery's guitar
note perfect! The sound and the notes were as if played by Steve R
himself! It was strange to see Marillion with unheardofs playing a Marillion
set.
After each track the audience applauded the new boy and the Marillion member who had been exchanged returned. Hogarth did an excellent job of calming the nerves and congratulating these short-term Marillion members who will remember the performances for the rest of their lives! |
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An English girl brilliantly replaced Hogarth as vocalist for a brilliant
rendition of No-One-Can... when in 1991 Hogarth penned the lyrics "No-one
can take you away from me now ..." : how wrong he had been because this
young girl had star qualities!
It was also an amazing moment to hear "Afraid of Sunlight" getting the Norwegian treatment from a brilliant overseas singer....fucking brilliant!!! What a talent and the German bassist could also put Pete out of a job too! |
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Various other songs were well performed but the Australian drummer who'd sold
his drum kit to pay for his airfare also delighted the crowd with great drumming
on the song King.
Remarkable and "one off" for those who saw this unique set...a real pleasure. |
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Saturday Evening The afternoon session of Q and A to the band bought an interesting array of questions as you can imagine! Wishing Tree played to a packed house for their first 'real' gig (if you've been to Steve Rothery's BBQ then you'll know what I'm talking about). Hannah came over from USA and Steve's band had the gifted Pete Salmon (ex Jadis) on keys, whilst the lovely Jo Rothery sang some wonderful backing vocals. The fans loved it and Rothery played great too! |
| White Buffalo kicked some arse. The are a talented trio who have supported
before.
Cry No More are a lighthearted Irish act who were perfect with their mix of folksongs with rude lyrics and comedy...brilliantly entertaining.
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| Marillion now once again climbed onto the stage for their third gig since the day before. This was a set list-lottery where a fan would choose a numbered ball which corresponded with a Marillion track. |
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| Fifty Songs / Fifty Balls and as many as they could fit in two hours. The list was projected onto a screen so the fans had the excitement of keeping fingers crossed for the best songs. | |
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When 'Uninvited Guest' was drawn Mark Kelly looked worried and was forced to announce that this song couldn't be played because he didn't have the disc with the sounds with him! |
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The fans were not interested in his bad planning and demanded the track and the band were keen to expose Mark Kelly's error so they played the song whilst he struggled to join in with wrong keyboard sounds....the "Cuckoo " sample was missing so he imitated it through the microphone which was a great moment! |
| We also enjoyed an abysmal rendition of 'Interior Lulu' hand picked by a German fan who witnessed the band struggle through it! Brilliant to watch them look worried at this unrehearsed song! | |
