Marillion Weekend 2023 - day three
No support bands today - the evening started with "An Audience with Marillion", lead by Lucy J. A few questions, videos from fans and musician friends (I'm never going to unsee that image of Nick Beggs), photos, even a proposal.
Marillion played what H described as a "wind-down set to end the weekend", full of songs that get played less often if at all. I loved it - the sort of thing you only get at an event like this.
Support was Pure Reason Revolution, another favourite band. A different line-up but the melodies, harmonies & heavy riffs were all intact - they were amazing & I was full of glee 😁
Marillion's set was album night - An Hour Before It's Dark then other favourites, with Luis Jardim on percussion, & a string quartet joining them from Crow onwards. All with amazing video & lights.
One of the best gigs I've ever been to!
Marillion Weekend 2023 - day two
A more relaxed day, although we were up early for merch again. Got a t-shirt that was sold out yesterday, printed on demand, still warm!
We had lunch full of VEGETABLES. That doesn't sound remarkable but at past Weekends they were so scarce that we almost had scurvy by the end.
Late afternoon we saw the Dave Foster Band - DF on guitar, Ricardo on piano, Dinet Poortman on vocals. More acoustic than I expected but enjoyable.
A few shots from yesterday's live sets (I don't take many).
June Road played a warmly received live set in the afternoon. Lovely harmonies, finger-style guitar and violin.
Dilemma were the evening support act. They can certainly play, but it felt too generic for me.
Marillion are my favourite band and I've seen them many times but this was really special - powerful setlist, great lights and video, and an amazing atmosphere from 3000+ of their core fans.
The site here at Port Zelande looked beautiful yesterday.
Marillion Weekend 2023 - day one (no spoilers)
Busy day yesterday! Early start, queuing for merch first thing, a 5k "fun run"* around the site led by Mark Kelly from the band, a trip into Ouddorp for self-catering supplies, June Road playing to a packed Adventure Factory, then support band Dilemma and a really stunning set from Marillion in the evening.
*They set off slightly early; I caught up to the tail end of the front pack, and hung on for dear life!
John Patterson