Now in its fourth year, Trentham Live have curated another diverse selection bands across 4 nights of entertainment at the Trentham Gardens estate with each night appealing to a different audience. The third night of the run sees the Manic Street Preachers headlining with support coming from Public Service Broadcasting and The Anchoress.
There is a symbiosis between Welsh multi instrumentalist The Anchoress and Manic Street Preachers. She has mentioned them as an influence and her latest album, Versions, includes her unique take on ‘This Is Yesterday’. She also duetted on ‘Dylan & Caitlin’ and James Dean Bradfield has reciprocated appearing on ‘The Exchange’ from The Art Of Leaving. She cuts a striking figure with red hair and pink sequinned suit reflecting in the early evening sunshine. Their brief set takes choice cuts from The Art Of Leaving with that song itself showing some influence from Depeche Mode. Meanwhile ‘Human Reciprocator’ shows a far more quirky 80’s electronica side and the set it well received.
It must be said that, as a band, Public Service Broadcasting are hardly the most thrilling live proposition. History tells us that to get noticed keyboard players need to wear snazzy capes or attack their instruments with large knives. Aside from the drummer, the other four band members are stuck behind keyboards and computers, and even when switching to bass or guitar, there’s minimal movement on the stage. However, it’s clear that PSB aren’t about bombast and egos and it’s the addition of some spectacular lighting and the use of screen animations and film footage that complete the package for an enthralling show. The use of archival film footage in particular provides a narrative to the largely instrumental tracks; ‘Spitfire’ uses clips from The First Of The Few and ‘Electra’ uses images of a Lockheed 10 Electra to tell the story of Amelia Earhart.
In one of the rarer songs with lyrics, James Dean Bradfield joins them to sing on ‘Turn No More’ telling the demise of mining towns. For all the synth stylings its the addition of captivating bass lines and guitar solos that sets them apart from other electronic bands and the space themed ‘Go’ and self explanatory ‘Everest’ serve as a fine way to bring their support slot to a conclusion.
During changeover the lake behind the stage slowly disappears from view as day turns to night but the stage lights and, more so, the backdrop screens burst into action the moment the Manic Street Preachers hit the stage with electrifying fan favourite ‘You Love Us’ with Nicky Wire being particularly lively. There’s no new album to currently promote so what follows is a 90 minute journey through their career but with a heavy emphasis towards their early hit laden albums.
‘Everything Must Go’ and a brilliant ‘Motorcycle Emptyness’ are early hitters that have the crowd singing along from the get go. The Lifeblood album often gets overlooked but ‘To Repel Ghosts’ sounds immense. The Anchoress then comes back on the stage to join the band on ‘Little Baby Nothing’ and sticks around for ‘Your Love Alone Is Not Enough’.
After a bombastic ‘A Design For Life’ things are slowed down a little for an acoustic take on ‘Ocean Spray’ on which they are joined by JF Abraham, from Public Service Broadcasting, on trumpet. He then also joins in on ‘Kevin Carter’. The uplifting ‘Walk Me To The Bridge’ is one of the more recent songs aired. While Bradfield had earlier reminisced about their last visit to Stoke, it’s Nicky Wire that takes us back 31 years ago to The Wheatsheaf where he remembers being well looked after even though they only played to 60 people. He then reminds us that that was when they were a four piece which provides a suitable segue dedicating the next song, ‘From Despair To Where’ to Richie.
Refreshingly, there is no encore and the band play straight through to closing song ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’. A fabulous night with a setlist that sent both the hardcore and casual fans home happy.
Trentham Live has gone from strength to strength and is now a well established festival. It’s well organised, in a convenient location not far from the M6 with good (free) parking and food and drink that by comparison are well priced. They have already confirmed another 4 nights of shows for August 2025 and we’re already looking forward to the line up announcements.
Setlist:
You Love Us
Everything Must Go
Motorcycle Emptiness
This Is Yesterday
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
To Repel Ghosts
Little Baby Nothing
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier
A Design for Life
Ocean Spray
Kevin Carter
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Walk Me to the Bridge
Tsunami
From Despair to Where
No Surface All Feeling
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
