I was at the very first Rhythm Force concert in 2008 where Jools Holland played and I attended subsequent events (featuring Status Quo) before the event became so popular that it had to move to Twickenham Riverside.
However, I had not been to any of the summer evening concerts at Kneller Hall so I thought I’d go along on Saturday night to the “Rock and Pop” event. Happily, this is just a few minutes’ walk from home for me – just as well as I had seriously overloaded the picnic bag and I felt like I was in military training carrying such a heavy backpack. I waited for my friend to arrive at the gates and nervously looked on at the chaps in army fatigues who were wielding rather large guns. Don’t suspect there’ll be any misbehaviour at these events.
The concert was due to start at 7pm so we had gone along a little early to ensure we had a good position – not wanting our view from the rug to be obscured by those who managed to bring chairs. There were already over 1,000 people there. But we picked our way to the very front where we found a perfect spot. While we started to eat our picnic a junior band played away – they were really rather good.
Right on time (military precision has it’s benefits), a young and extremely proud bandmaster introduced the local band – Row 8. This comprised three singers and four other musicians. We were up and running with Queen’s “Crazy little thing called love” and a seamless transition in Rhianna’s “California King Bed” during which there was an excellent guitar solo. Kings of Leon’s “Use somebody” encouraged the audience to participate with some clapping – but we were all singing along already. There was another track (Demi Lovato?) before they took a break
Then the stage filled with men in kilts and boots. Yayy! The Royal Regiment of Scotland’s band - Drop of the good stuff – offered a mixture of Scottish, Irish, soul and punk music. There was a rousing ceilidh tune before an Abba medley and the Tina Turner classic “Proud Mary”. The sax solo in Leona Lewis’ “Light up” was a highlight for me. The Dubliners’ “I’ll tell me Ma” went down a storm – these folk know how to party as well as how to energise an audience. There were Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars tracks before “Loch Lomond” which had a hauntingly magical start and almost became a (happy) riot.
Then both bands appeared with a guest strings group (now around 16 on the stage) and we sang along to Coldplay, Kelly Clarkson and Eliza Doolittle numbers. Lance Corporal Michelle Hull stood out as a brilliant singer as did her male colleague with a Cee Lo Green cover. The other female singer came into her own during two Emeli Sandé songs. There was a fabulous trumpet solo and then we were all on our feet to songs like “Moves like Jagger” and “Living on a prayer”. There were heart felt demands for two encores and we were rewarded with more dancing to “Get Lucky” and “Sex on Fire”. The two hours were over way, way too fast.
During some of the breaks I met two trainee musicians who are playing at Wednesday’s “Last night of the Proms” concert (break a leg!) and also one of the staff who had compered the second Rhythm Force event.
Overall, it was a cracking show with a more intimate (like a family) atmosphere than the larger Rhythm Force. And the performers did so well it’s hard to believe that most of them have done active service in Afghanistan. There were lots of children dancing happily at the front throughout the show – they were really well behaved and had some incredible moves. I also thought it was brilliant community relations to have a separate area for the residents of local White Lodge Home. And for those who hadn’t taken picnics there was a bar and food stalls.
All concerts are free to members of the military. Tickets are priced at £15. The final concert in the series “Last night of the proms” is on Wednesday 24th July – tickets via Skiddle http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Twickenham/Kneller-Hall/
Kneller Hall http://www.army.mod.uk/music/23271.aspx
Kneller Hall on its open day in September 2012: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/blogs/showblog.php?post=2533
The original Rhythm Force concert in 2008 (it now takes place on Twickenham Riverside) http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/blogs/showblog.php?post=642
