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: 024 7649 6000
Email: ticketing@warwick.ac.uk
Chineke! Orchestra
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Celebrating a decade of musical excellence and diversity.
Emmanuel Sonubi
Fri 26 Sep
The Life After Near Death Tour...
Dead Ringers
Sat 27 Sep
The 25th Anniversary Tour
Yeh Dosti
Sun 28 Sep
A Golden Jubilee Celebration celebrating 50 Years of Sholay
In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats...
From Mon 29 Sep
Rediscover the Acid House scene in the UK's biggest VR experience...
Natalie Haynes
Tues 30 Sep
Exploring the Argonauts' search for the Golden Fleece...
Imagine-Lennon
Thurs 2 Oct
An intimate evening celebrating the legacy of John Lennon
Stevie Martin: Clout
Fri 3 Oct
Returning to live comedy with her latest sell-out show
The Van Morrison Alumni Band
Sat 4 Oct
Concert marking Van Morrison's 80th Birthday
Nina Conti
Sat 4 Oct
The virtuoso ventriloquist in Whose Face Is It Anyway?
Les Egarés Album Tour
Sun 5 Oct
Featuring Sissoko, Segal, Parisien & Peirani
ganavya
Sun 5 Oct
Improviser, scholar, dancer and multi-instrumentalist
Legends of the Dance Floor
Mon 6 Oct
Strictly favourites & kings of the ballroom reunite!
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great...
Wed 8 Oct
The 40th Anniversary Tour!
Showstopper!
Thurs 9 Oct
Improvised musical comedy at its absolute finest
Omid Djalili: Namaste
From Thurs 9 Oct
The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his acclaimed new show
Ria Lina: Riabellion
Fri 10 Oct
Expect a relentless stream of hilarity...
Dr John Cooper Clarke
Sun 12 Oct
See a living legend at the top of his game
The Story Forge
Sun 12 Oct
Make Your Own Myth in a family theatre adventure
Jack Dee
From Fri 17 Oct
Small World: On Tour
Cirque: The Greatest Show
From Fri 31 Oct
Intriguing touring show, reimagined for 2025
Dara Ó Briain
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The Re:Creation Tour
Chris McCausland - Yonks!
From Fri 12 Sep
A brand new show for 2024...
Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle
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A stand-up show and a support group...
Rob Beckett: Giraffe
From Thurs 20 Nov
Yes! Bobby Beckles is back on tour.
Russell Kane
From Fri 5 Dec
Russell Kane returns with his brand new tour!
Cally Beaton
From Sat 21 Feb 2026
The Namaste Mother F*ckers Tour
Review: Mark Steel at Warwick...
Posted on Mon 19 May
Simply The Best
Posted on Mon 28 Apr
Dog wanted to star in La Bohèm...
Posted on Thu 20 Mar
Review: Motionhouse's Hidden a...
Posted on Fri 07 Feb
Perpetual Motion
Posted on Wed 18 Dec 2024
Review: 10cc at Warwick Arts C...
Posted on Mon 04 Nov 2024
Review: Rhod Gilbert and the G...
Posted on Sun 20 Oct 2024
Songs of Protest takes place a...
Posted on Fri 18 Oct 2024
Warwick Arts Centre is 50!
Posted on Mon 23 Sep 2024
Director Doreen Foster chats to What's On about WAC’s past, prese...
Review - Frank Skinner: 30 Ye...
Posted on Mon 13 May 2024
Moulin Rouge musical Come What...
Posted on Tue 07 May 2024
Half term events at Warwick Ar...
Posted on Fri 03 May 2024
Heads and Tales
Posted on Mon 25 Mar 2024
Return of Milos
Posted on Tue 27 Feb 2024
Bugg's Life
Posted on Wed 21 Feb 2024
Ruby Turner talks ahead of Cov...
Posted on Fri 02 Feb 2024
Best of Japanese cinema comes...
Posted on Thu 25 Jan 2024
Robert Plant's Saving Grace pl...
Posted on Mon 15 Jan 2024
A Gospel Christmas at Warwick...
Posted on Tue 21 Nov 2023
Christmas is coming to Warwick...
Posted on Fri 10 Nov 2023
Autumn half-term at Warwick Ar...
Posted on Tue 17 Oct 2023
Review: Ed Byrne Tragedy Plus...
Posted on Mon 16 Oct 2023
beautifully-constructed performance.
Review: John Grant sings the s...
Posted on Mon 25 Sep 2023
Grant’s incredible renditions took Cline’s sultry – and occasiona...
Warwick Arts Centre launch aut...
Posted on Thu 07 Sep 2023
Phantom Thread
Posted on Sun 27 Aug 2023
Warwick Christmas Lectures set...
Posted on Wed 23 Aug 2023
Warwick Arts Centre launches 2...
Posted on Thu 06 Jul 2023
Review: Mark Steel at Warwick...
Posted on Tue 30 May 2023
A genuinely terrific night, cheerily lapped up by a hugely apprec...
Community group get creative a...
Posted on Fri 26 May 2023
Happy returns
Posted on Thu 25 May 2023
Family celebrations at Warwick Arts Centre...
The Smeds And The Smoos comes...
Posted on Thu 18 May 2023
Wuthering Heights comes to Cov...
Posted on Thu 04 May 2023
John Grant and Richard Hawley...
Posted on Tue 02 May 2023
Still flowering
Posted on Tue 25 Apr 2023
Irish folk rockers Hothouse Flowers chat to What’s On ahead of Co...
Scaling new heights
Posted on Fri 24 Mar 2023
Emily Bronte’s famous love story gets a humorous makeover at Warw...
Festival of Korean Dance comes...
Posted on Tue 21 Mar 2023
Abigail's Party comes to Warwi...
Posted on Mon 27 Feb 2023
Plenty to enjoy this half-term...
Posted on Tue 31 Jan 2023
Three kathak shorts at Warwick...
Posted on Thu 26 Jan 2023
Warwick Arts Centre announces...
Posted on Mon 19 Dec 2022
Space Odyssey
Posted on Mon 19 Dec 2022
A season of horror films 'with...
Posted on Fri 14 Oct 2022
Arab film festival movies comi...
Posted on Fri 24 Jun 2022
Oily Cart brings Sound Symphon...
Posted on Tue 31 May 2022
After The Horse Has Bolted...
Posted on Mon 30 May 2022
Much-loved children’s book Oh...
Posted on Fri 22 Apr 2022
Only Fools duo to star in hit...
Posted on Wed 30 Mar 2022
Theatre company returns with B...
Posted on Wed 30 Mar 2022
Top marks for Max Richter gig...
Posted on Mon 14 Mar 2022
REVIEW: A Tale of Two Cities a...
Posted on Fri 18 Feb 2022
Dawn French to bring new one-w...
Posted on Fri 18 Feb 2022
Review: Stewart Lee at Warwick...
Posted on Sun 13 Feb 2022
Review: Top marks for Rhod Gil...
Posted on Mon 31 Jan 2022
Warwick Art Centre's Mead Gall...
Posted on Thu 06 Jan 2022
Ruby Turner talks ahead of Cov...
When What’s On phones Ruby Turner at home, between gigs, the famed...
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