Paul Weller, with support from Stone Foundation, performing at Sherwood Pines Mansfield on Saturday 29th June 2019

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Having last taken Sherwood Pines by storm in 2014, it was a sold out crowd who braved sweltering temperatures yesterday to welcome Paul Weller back.

Opening were Stone Foundation who came onto the stage to rapturous applause, and kicked off proceedings with new song Sweet Forgiveness from their latest album, Everybody, Anyone.

Delivering an eight song set list that included Season Of Changes, The Limit Of A Man and Back In The Game, they managed to increase the searing heat and when they finished with Ann Peebles’ I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, they had convinced this crowd to go and see them in Nottingham later this year.

Leaving the crowd wilting a little, they were back on their feet when Paul Weller made an appearance. Backed by the ever present lead guitarist Steve Cradock and bassist Andy Crofts, he launched into I’m Where I Should Be, before following up with a Style Council song, the upbeat My Ever Changing Moods.

Having previously shown a reluctance to dip into his back catalogue of The Style Council and The Jam material, last night saw him positively embrace them with three Style Council songs including the delightful Have You Ever Had It Blue and the anthemic Shout To The Top! and five Jam songs like a rare outing for Man In The Corner Shop and the timeless That’s Entertainment which prompted joyous chanting from a crowd that knew all of the words.

With Stone Foundation’s brass section on hand to bolster the likes of Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), it was also a night to celebrate his solo songs. Mermaids and Brushed were given an airing and the spellbinding Wild Wood with its evocative charm actually made the heavens open up for a few minutes respite.

It was a strutting and boisterous Peacock Suit that closed the show but for the encore there was Saturns Pattern, Broken Stones and Jam songs, Start!, Precious and of course the ever present cover of Curtis Mayfield’s Move On Up, before they signed off with the night’s highlight, Town Called Malice.

At 61 years old Weller may not be the angry young man that saw him form the Jam in 1976 but he is undoubtedly still one of the most revered performers of the last forty years, and on last night’s performance it was easy to see why.

Stone foundation performing their Street Rituals Tour at The Glee Club Nottingham on Wednesday 25th October 2017.

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

It was an all standing crowd that welcomed the Stone Foundation to the Glee Club and the five band members, along with a fantastic three piece brass section, got them all moving from the off.

Along with Neil Sheasby, lead singer Neil Jones has been under the radar for a number of years and after enduring several line ups and sound changes, they were spotted by The Specials’ drummer John Bradbury and the rest is history.

Having more recently come to the attention of the Modfather, Paul Weller’s influence was there for all to see and hear. Producing their new album, Street Rituals, Weller has helped guide them through to their new status as a must see soul band.

Considering their age, it was no surprise to see a crowd that has clearly grown up in the 70s and 80s as they were taken back to the Graham Parker & The Rumour and Brinsley Schwarz pub-rock days.

Starting the evening with funky opener Back In The Game, the soul boys really got the crowd bouncing, while new song Season Of Change sounded like an old familiar classic.

As the band is touring to promote their new album, the set list was jam-packed with songs from it. There was the wonderful Open Your Heart To The World and Limit Of A Man which went down a treat. Songs from their 2015 album, A Life Unlimited, were given an outing as the crowd sang along and clapped to Beverley and Pushing Your Love.

With the vocals at times being drowned out by the very tight band, the set was brought to a close with a cover of Ann Peebles’ I’m Going To Tear Your Playhouse Down, and while the Stone Foundation hadn’t quite managed that last night, they did shake the rafters proving that they are now a band to be reckoned with.