One of the largest multi-artform venues in the UK, Warwick Arts Centre first opened its doors in 1974 and presents over 2,000 performances a year, with music, drama, dance, comedy, film, visual arts and literature events all featuring.
As Warwick Arts Centre gets ready to reopen following a major tran...
JOHN GRANT - Reviewed by Steve Adams
“Life is a battlefield each day” - the opening line of the opening song (Just So You Know) of John Grant’s set at Warwick Arts Centre couldn’t have been more on the money. The tune, from his recent album Boy From Michigan, doesn’t relate to ongoing Covid fears, police concerns, fuel, food and test tube shortages but felt apt all the same.
The melancholic tune is actually designed to comfort the singer’s nearest and dearest after he’s gone, and hardly makes for an “are we gonna rock tonight?” opening, but is typical Grant - poignant and sardonic at the same time, trading heartfelt emotions with references to people who “don’t even pick up their dog’s poop in the park”.
The juxtaposition set the tone for an evening that saw Grant dance - in his inimitable, self-mocking way - back and forth between poignant piano ballads and full-on electronica, a trick he manages without skipping an electro beat. Heartbreaking numbers like The Cruise Room and Dandy Star shouldn’t work alongside the daft Sparks-like Rhetorical Figure or mercurial Pale Green Ghosts, but somehow do - and can be attributed to two constants - Grant’s genial personality and wonderful baritone.
The changing pace definitely gave the evening an added dynamic, as did the unheralded addition of multi-instrumentalist Cormac Curran, whose guitar and saxophone flourishes brilliantly augmented the keyboards of long-term cohort (and local lad) Chris Pemberton. The trio were clearly enjoying themselves too - Grant admitted he felt great on stage but ‘discombobulated’ everywhere else - but the number of empty seats and cautious mask-wearers bore testimony to the fact that not everyone is truly comfortable with, or ready to return to, live gigs just yet. For those that overcome those fears, this cracking show was wonderful reward.
One of the largest multi-artform venues in the UK, Warwick Arts Centre first opened its doors in 1974 and presents over 2,000 performances a year, with music, drama, dance, comedy, film, visual arts and literature events all featuring.
Warwick Arts Centre,
The University Of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Rd,
Coventry
CV4 7AL
warwickartscentre.co.uk
Telephone: 02476 524524
Email: Box.office@warwick.ac.uk
Prophecy
Until Sun 26 Jun
Frankenstein - How To Make A M...
Until Sat 28 May
A 21st-century gig-theatre classic created from a 204-year-old go...
Squidge
From Sun 29 May
Immerse yourself in this shared experience for children 3-8yrs an...
Mmm Ahh Whoosh!
Wed 1 Jun
A brand-new gig for 0–5-year olds.
The Rheingans Sisters
Sat 4 Jun
Ladies of Letters
From Tues 7 Jun
Adapted from the long running TV and radio series.
Errol's Garden
From Sat 11 Jun
Based on the book by Gillian Hibbs.
Sound Symphony
From Wed 15 Jun
A highly interactive, sensory performance for autistic young peop...
Made in Dagenham - The Musical...
From Thurs 16 Jun
Presented by Coventry's own Three Spires Guildhall.
Abel Selaocoe
Fri 17 Jun
Genre-busting South African cellist.
Chamber Choir Concert
Wed 22 Jun
The Marksman (Der Freischütz)
From Thurs 23 Jun
In celebration of nearly 200 years since its first performance!
University of Warwick Symphony...
Sun 26 Jun
With Emily Watson-Breeze, clarinet.
From Wed 24 Aug
Inspired by the Bristol Bus Boycott.
Tim Peake: My Journey To Space...
From Fri 23 Sep
The first British astronaut to visit the International Space Stat...
Sofie Hagen
From Sat 1 Oct
Sofie presents her new show, Fat Jokes.
Public Service Broadcasting
Sat 1 Oct
Rewards for the Tribe
From Wed 5 Oct
Dave Gorman
Thurs 6 Oct
Powerpoint To The People.
Jessica Fostekew - Wench
Fri 7 Oct
Dawn French Is A Huge Tw*t
Sun 9 Oct
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Fri 21 Oct
Kiri presents her new show, Home Truths.
Joanne McNally - Prosecco Expr...
From Fri 21 Oct
Jon Richardson - The Knitwit
From Thurs 27 Oct
Jon Richardson returns with yet more of his worries.
Jen Brister - The Optimist
Fri 28 Oct
If Jen has learned anything in the past 18 months, it’s that she’...
Paul Chowdhry
Sun 6 Nov
Jason Manford
From Thurs 10 Nov
Jason tours his new show, Like Me
Chris Thile
Thurs 10 Nov
With support Sam Amidon.
GoGo Penguin
Fri 11 Nov
Henning Wehn
From Sat 12 Nov
Presenting his new show, It'll All Come Out In The Wash.
Harriet Kermsley
Sun 13 Nov
With her new comedy show Honeysuckle Island.
Ed Gamble - Electric
From Sat 19 Nov
As British As A Watermelon
Thurs 24 Nov
A messy sensory experience...
Sara Pascoe
From Fri 2 Dec
Sara presents her new comedy show, Success Story.
Stick Man
From Sat 3 Dec
Freckle Productions’ adaptation of the popular children's book.
Shaparak Khorsandi - It was Th...
From Sat 10 Dec
Where Shaparak left a part of her brain in a field in Hampshire....
Lucy Porter - Wake Up Call
Sat 28 Jan 2023
A brand new stand-up show from the TV and radio favourite.
Beauty and the Beast
From Wed 2 Nov
Presented by Ballet Theatre UK.
Russell Kane
From Fri 17 Feb 2023
He's back again!
Dara Ó Briain
From Sat 25 Feb 2023
Dara tours with new show - So, Where Were We?
Chris McCausland: Speaky Blind...
From Fri 28 Apr 2023
Much-loved children’s book Oh...
Posted on Fri 22 Apr
Only Fools duo to star in hit...
Posted on Wed 30 Mar
Theatre company returns with B...
Posted on Wed 30 Mar
Top marks for Max Richter gig...
Posted on Mon 14 Mar
REVIEW: A Tale of Two Cities a...
Posted on Fri 18 Feb
Dawn French to bring new one-w...
Posted on Fri 18 Feb
Review: Stewart Lee at Warwick...
Posted on Sun 13 Feb
Review: Top marks for Rhod Gil...
Posted on Mon 31 Jan
Warwick Art Centre's Mead Gall...
Posted on Thu 06 Jan
REVIEW: Beckett's Room at Warw...
Posted on Mon 06 Dec 2021
Beckett's Room makes its UK pr...
Posted on Thu 02 Dec 2021
Welcome back, Warwick Arts Cen...
Posted on Tue 24 Aug 2021
Welcome Back, Warwick Arts Cen...
As Warwick Arts Centre gets ready to reopen following a major tran...
JOHN GRANT - Reviewed by Steve Adams
“Life is a battlefield each day” - the opening line of the opening song (Just So You Know) of John Grant’s set at Warwick Arts Centre couldn’t have been more on the money. The tune, from his recent album Boy From Michigan, doesn’t relate to ongoing Covid fears, police concerns, fuel, food and test tube shortages but felt apt all the same.
The melancholic tune is actually designed to comfort the singer’s nearest and dearest after he’s gone, and hardly makes for an “are we gonna rock tonight?” opening, but is typical Grant - poignant and sardonic at the same time, trading heartfelt emotions with references to people who “don’t even pick up their dog’s poop in the park”.
The juxtaposition set the tone for an evening that saw Grant dance - in his inimitable, self-mocking way - back and forth between poignant piano ballads and full-on electronica, a trick he manages without skipping an electro beat. Heartbreaking numbers like The Cruise Room and Dandy Star shouldn’t work alongside the daft Sparks-like Rhetorical Figure or mercurial Pale Green Ghosts, but somehow do - and can be attributed to two constants - Grant’s genial personality and wonderful baritone.
The changing pace definitely gave the evening an added dynamic, as did the unheralded addition of multi-instrumentalist Cormac Curran, whose guitar and saxophone flourishes brilliantly augmented the keyboards of long-term cohort (and local lad) Chris Pemberton. The trio were clearly enjoying themselves too - Grant admitted he felt great on stage but ‘discombobulated’ everywhere else - but the number of empty seats and cautious mask-wearers bore testimony to the fact that not everyone is truly comfortable with, or ready to return to, live gigs just yet. For those that overcome those fears, this cracking show was wonderful reward.
on Fri, 01 Oct 2021