Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Progressive Rock royalty comes in many different forms, many distinct tastes and moments that in the end the fans list could so wildly dissimilar that they would surely encompass the whole colourful spectrum. It is in the nature of such lists that one name would positively stand out, would always grab the attention of the crowd, Steve Hackett, the quiet man of Progressive Rock but also arguably the most prestigious and creatively entertaining; it is no wonder that he was amongst the headline musicians for the inaugural Stone Free Festival.
The epic nature of the day was such that any set coming from the bands was always going to be on the shorter side, it is to be expected at any festival that has hopefully longevity and aspirations in its sights, the best thing in these circumstances is to roll with it, drink in the nectar and allow yourself the pleasure of every note hitting you with the grace of a velvet glove but with the power to shatter continents.
To revel in a short set, especially in the world of Progressive Rock is almost an unlikely prospect but when it comes to Steve Hackett, when it comes to arguably the driving sweet musical force behind some of Genesis early material, short is not an issue, it is just a matter of perspective.
Surrounded by the musicians who conquer the Progressive with the man of the hour, including the superb Nad Sylvan and the graceful Nick Beggs, Steve Hackett took the 02 audience on a journey of rememberance and self discovery, of inflamed passions and lyrical cool; it was a journey that replayed itself in the memory for many all the way back to their homes and long trips ahead.
With a set comprising of the songs Every Day, Loving Sea, A Tower Struck Down, Shadow of the Hierophant, Dance on a Volcano, the erupting and seismic The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and the elegance of Firth of Fifth, there would have been many who were moved by the delicate, by the graphic and the responsive in the evening’s performance.
A true delight by a master, by a man who lets his guitar speak for him but whose every word should be seized upon with absolute joy.
Ian D. Hall