At half past seven on Saturday morning I set off in my car from home. Four and three quarter hours later I arrived in Edinburgh at the Royal Highland Showground for Frenzy, billed as 12000 people, one big stage, one amazing day.
There were, I think, eight different bands playing one after another, giving nearly eleven hours of almost non-stop music. There was a programme available, but it didn’t tell you who was playing when, so we just had to stay in the place nearly all the time, for fear of missing a good band!
The day started with some ceilidh band, but I wasn’t there in time to see them. Then there was Paul Oakley, Johnny Parks, Cathy Burton and the David Crowder Band, although possibly not in that order. Paul Oakley did a set of his worship songs, and then Johnny Parks and his band from Ireland got us all jumping up and down to a rocking set of more worship songs.
Cathy Burton played a set of songs I hadn’t heard before, and Dan Wheeler was playing some great guitar in her band. And then the weirdly bearded Texan, David Crowder, heated the place up again. If you haven’t heard the David Crowder band play live, you really should. Their CDs are okay, but live they rock!
Some ex-criminal call Tony then talked for a while, and then we went to get some food. But while we were queueing for fish and chips, we heard that Delirious? had started playing, so we rushed back into the hall. I hadn’t been particularly anxious to hear them play, as I’ve heard them so many times already, and at the last couple of gigs I went to I wasn’t overly impresesd. But this time I was. They were easily the best band of the day, playing everything flawlessly, with a fantastic lighting and video display, and they really knew how to entertain, inspire, lead worship, and just put on an all round amazing show.
After delirious, the band I really went to Scotland to see were up – Third Day. I only have three of their albums, so I wasn’t expecting to know a lot of their stuff. But I think there were only a couple of songs I didn’t know, and I was surprised at how many of the other people there also knew all their songs – with nearly everyone singing along. Their lighting wasn’t as cool as delirious’s, but their music was just as good. Delirious still beat them overall though! (If it was a contest, anyway).
Five minutes before Third Day finished their set, the final band arrived at the venue, having just flown over from Amsterdam where they’d played in the morning. The Newsboys weren’t originally supposed to be at the concert, but another band pulled out last minute, so they were quickly replaced by the Newsboys. Another of Christian Music’s big names. They didn’t have their revolving drum kits though. And it didn’t seem like many people knew their songs, although I did spot a few singing along to Breakfast in Hell. Anyone else think their lead singer looks rather like Dr. Evil?
And after all that, I was thoroughly knackered, but had enjoyed every minute of the day. I then went up to Comrie Croft to stay at Andrew’s place, and yesterday I drove back to Coventry. Making a total of twelve and a half hours of driving in two days. I really don’t want to see another car for a week!
Great photos! Reckon you could sell them.