Ocean Colour Scene Tickets

Very busy Gig , being on a Bank Holiday weekend, absolutely packed to the rafters !

As always Ocean Colour Scene delivered a fantastic night, great atmosphere from the OCS fans as always. And not forgetting the staff. All in all 10 out of 10 by all

Ocean Colour Scene The O2 Academy is filled with 2,500 or so fans here to reminisce about their younger selves, back to the 90s and a time when Britpop held sway across the land. For Ocean Colour Scene it's an opportunity to bask in the glory of songs written back in the day echoing across the venue with verse and chorus sung to the rafters by their adoring followers. With Moseley Shoals 1996, Marchin' Already 1997 and One From The Modern 1999 providing the soundtrack to most of the set, the band set about recreating, in people's minds at least, the best of times from that period. Unlike several bands of this era that we have witnessed playing a 'Greatest Hits' selection, there is a casualness to the way the band approach the evening. From the moment they arrive on stage and throughout the set, everything seems to be treated low key. The lightshow is minimal at times with only a few video sequences thrown into the mix to break things up. It's as if 6 guys have walked into a social club, saw some instruments on the stage and took hold of them to see what noise they might be able to make. Frontman Simon Fowler kept the interaction with the audience low key too with only the odd interjection between songs, though he does encourage everyone early on to "sing along with us as the lunatics have taken over the asylum." The Glasgow audience didn't need a second invitation. Kicking off with The Circle, the songs veer from indie rock to indie folk with the acoustic focused, lower tempo numbers often lost in the surrounding chatter of fans more intent on catching up with their mates. Given the quality of songs being sung and played from the stage, a bit of hush wouldn't have gone amiss. No doubt the band are aware that they have to take a bit of a hit at times though tonight OCS remind us just how many hits they have had, how many songs have endured the passage of time. They may not have received the worldwide exposure and adulation of their Britpop contemporaries, however there can be no doubt this is a band who have earned the right to be placed near the top of any list of successful bands that emerged, and still playing, from the 1990s. Before, ending with crowd favourite, The Day We Caught The Train, the audience were treated to classic renditions of The Riverboat Song and Hundred Mile High City and during the 'quiet' period they brought fans back down a notch with Mrs Jones, Emily Chambers and She's Been Writing, complete with stunning harmonies. Of the core band members, Steve Craddock played lead guitar with minimal excellence whether picking at the strings or strumming away while Oscar Harrison behind the drums kept up the steady rhythm that allowed the touring team to find their marks with ease. There's nothing to suggest the band are seeking to be pioneers for the 2020s. That's probably a result of a sound that always seemed to be looking to the best of the past. The band can leave Glasgow with their heads held high with the audience no doubt nostalgic for that 90s. Kula Shaker, opened the show. It would be unfair to suggest they were a mere support act though. They were Special Guests, and for their time on stage they treated us to a special performance. With the 1996 album K offering the mainstay of tracks played, the band demonstrated a psychedelic edge to their songs that wasn't appreciated by this writer when they were released at the time. Unlike Ocean Colour Scene, there was a flamboyance to their performance, aided in part by a mesmerising psychedelic light show that rebounded off the large curtain placed behind the band. On the evidence of tonight's showing Kula Shaker can justify playing at venues like this on their own right. Bassist Alonza Bevan, Jay Darlington behind the keys, frontman Crispian Mills and drummer Paul Winter-Hart are a tight unit, with guitar riffs as much to the fore as the lyricism of tracks like opener 303 and closing selection Govinda. The highlight of the entire night though was their cover of Python Lee Jackson's "In a Broken Dream" Kula Shaker's signature '60s psych-rock shimmer adding a bit of gloss to an already classic song.

Was there to see Kula Shaker as I am a big fan. However Ocean colour scene blew me away. Cracking set list and had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Great gig

Always a Tremendous gig & venue. Security were very friendly and helpful. Ocean colour scene never disappoint. 👏👏

The BEST and most underrated band of the 90's. I've seen Ocean Colour Scene many times since my first experience in 1996 and they are always brilliant live - they seem to keep getting better. From the first note of The Circle to the last of The day we caught the train, they oozed class. The sound was immense and the video clips and graphics on the screen behind them added another dimension to the show. Great support from Kula Shaker too - took me back to my Uni days and being 18 again. My only gripe was some of the others in the crowd; a guy in front who kept FaceTiming a mate & holding the phone up for him to watch the performance for songs on end blocking my view, and the 3-4 men and women who thought it was ok to stand and chat/shout to each other throughout the songs they didn't know. I feel venues should be doing more to remind punters of some basic etiquette expected at gigs - it's not cheap to attend a gig and people's experience shouldn't be compromised by these sort of things. Fortunately, nothing can spoil such an amazing band for me - loved every second.

Seen OCS too many times to list. One of my favourites! Venue staff were a bit rubbish at dealing with the people standing up in the seated area and throwing the constant trouble makers out. Drinks were overpriced as you have no choice! Your stuck with a venue but you put up with it cos it's the band who are important! And they are worth the watch every time

Absolutely brilliant show. Voices and music sounded awesome. I've waited a long time to see them and was not disappointed. Reaffirming their place on my playlist to this day.

The band were great but unfortunately we missed most of it! The bar at the venue (Swansea Building Society Arena), was appalling & consequently we spent at least 45minutes, a large part of the gig, in a queue for drinks! We were so disappointed & won't be returning to this venue.

Superb probably one of the best live performances by far with affordable admission, not like some bands out there SISAO