Pink Floyd by Candlelight Review: Live Concert Verdict
The popular Concerts by Candlelight tour rolled into the market town of Bury St Edmunds for Pink Floyd by Candlelight. It was my first ‘by candlelight’ concert and it won’t be my last. With music duties performed by the tribute band ‘What the Floyd’, the event delivered 90 minutes of great Floyd in the cavernous, atmospheric space of Bury St Edmunds Cathedral.
The candles were bunched neatly around the front of the stage and along the first few rows, with static lighting framing the stage. This meant only the front few rows truly experienced the up-close glow ‘by candlelight’, but it in no way impacted my enjoyment of the show.
Unlike authentic Pink Floyd gigs, there was no massive projection screen or elaborate wider lighting and theatrics. This made for a harder build-up for the band in such a vast space as the cathedral, but as both the musicians and the audience relaxed, we all settled into a brilliant first half.
From the Piper to the Bell: The Setlist
The wider Pink Floyd discography was brilliantly represented—running the gamut ‘from the Piper to the Bell’—with selections spanning The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and The Dark Side of the Moon. Post-Waters era material was also expertly handled, featuring tracks like On the Turning Away and What Do You Want from Me.
Lead vocals were shared well between the bassist and lead guitarist, striking a strong balance reminiscent of the classic Waters/Gilmour partnership. Opening with Shine on You Crazy Diamond was an obvious atmospheric choice, and the first half closed strongly with On the Turning Away from A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
The Turning Point
For the second set, the band were truly in form. We were treated to more Dark Side, more The Wall, and a very notable rendition of The Great Gig in the Sky.
Whilst modern Pink Floyd concerts, including Gilmour, Waters, and Marshall Gilmour Webbs, split the song across three or four voices, Adele Harley delivered the full song solo. It was undoubtedly the turning point of the evening, as any lingering doubts about the performance quality vanished. I have to say it was the best live rendition I’ve heard since Delicate Sound of Thunder.
Looking Ahead to Next Year's Tour
From that moment on, the band were thoroughly rocking, pushing through more Dark Side tracks before turning their attention back to The Wall. Run Like Hell (an interesting choice for a cathedral!) and Comfortably Numb brought a fantastic night of music to a close.
The band will be touring again next year, and I certainly hope to catch them with the full light show.