Nestled on the picturesque Yorkshire Coast in the charming town of Scarborough, the open-air theatre showcases some of the finest national and international talent. This season features an array of impressive acts, including Busted, Becky Hill, and Bill Bailey – though there was one artist on the list that we’re always keen to see, and that’s James. One of the most influential British bands to date, the nine piece are currently riding the wave of success from their number one album, Yummy, which was released back in April. We caught their performance at the Open Air Theatre stage on Friday 26th July, with support from The Lilacs, and Reverend and the Makers.
The first act of the day was supposed to be Girlband, but sadly they had to pull out at the last minute due to illness. Fortunately, The Lilacs were able to rush from Truck Festival to Scarborough in time. Hailing from Wigan, the four-piece delivered a blend of indie rock reminiscent of early Arctic Monkeys and The Courteeners. Despite the challenge of performing first while people were still arriving, the Northerners rose to the occasion and frontman Ollie Anglesea’s engaging rapport with the crowd won them over instantly, most notably when he sought out someone named ‘Grace’ to dedicate the track of the same title to. With an electrifying onstage presence, a wealth of melodic tunes, and riffs galore, The Lilacs undoubtedly have a lot going for them and based on this support slot alone, they’re destined for much bigger things in the future.
When Reverend and the Makers are on the lineup, you know that you’re in for – and that’s a lot of bouncing. Coming on to the ravey ‘Bassline’, the Sheffield rockers are festival veterans and that was reflected in their setlist, which saw them storm through a series of upbeat tracks, including ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ and ‘Heatwave in the Cold North’. The band exemplify the importance of a great frontman, and Jon McClure worked tirelessly to embody that role – whether hyping up the crowd or delivering energetic dance moves reminiscent of a wedding. His stories between tracks drew laughter, and he consistently provided witty responses to hecklers. After a lively performance of ‘He Said He Loved Me’ – complete with tongue in cheek vocals from Jon’s wife and fellow band member, Laura – the set concluded with the euphoric ‘Silence is Talking,’ with Jon promising to join the crowd for James.
With over fourty years in the business, James know exactly how to start a Friday night setlist, and they did so with ‘She’s A Star’ – warming the crowd up before launching into the joyous ‘Waltzing Along’. The first Yummy track of the evening – ‘Better With You’ – followed, offering an intimate moment between frontman Tim Booth and Chloe Alper, as they face each other, lost in the moment. Though she’s been enhancing James’ sound in a live setting for years now, Chloe’s vocals are a defining feature on Yummy. Her voice, especially on ‘Better With You,’ blends seamlessly with Tim’s, creating a captivating harmony.
The synth heavy ‘Life’s a Fucking Miracle’ followed, marking Tim’s only venture into the crowd, where he interacted with the fortunate fans at the front. Constantly breaking the barrier between artist and fan, Tim’s gestures like this not only demonstrate the band’s appreciation and love for their audience, but they also transform large venues like the Open Air Theatre into intimate spaces. A James show is much more than just watching the band onstage, it’s an immersive experience. It’s not their first time at the Open Air Theatre, it’s their fourth, and Tim commented that the venue always provides a magical experience, bringing out the best in them. Though if you’ve seen James before, you’ll know that they don’t need a venue for that and true magic lay in the downtempo section of the evening.
When multi-instrumentalist Saul Davies picks up his violin, you know that something beautiful is on the way, and after ‘Say Something’, the band played the gentle ‘Out to Get You’, ‘Five-O’ and ‘Shadow of a Giant’. From the first listen of Yummy, it was clear that ‘Shadow of a Giant’ would soar in a live setting. Beginning with Mark Hunter’s haunting piano and Saul’s mesmerising violin work, the track also featured Adrian Oxaal’s evocative cello. As the track gradually built momentum, the instrumentation became increasingly dynamic, weaving a rich tapestry of sound before eventually fading to silence.
On the band’s UK tour last month, they impressed not only with their lighting but also with their on-stage visuals, particularly during ‘Mobile God.’ A track about being ruled by your mobile phone, it was cleverly accompanied by real-time AI video and images of the band and crowd, adding a striking layer to the performance. The emotive ‘Butterflies’ followed, with multi-coloured butterflies adorning the screens. Though the track initially slowed the tempo down, it gradually built it back up, culminating in a burst of creativity from each band member, with Tim and Chloe’s powerful vocals complimented by Saul’s electrifying guitar work and an infectious drumbeat from David Baynton-Power and Debbie Knox-Hewson.
Tim’s not the only way to go walkabout during shows and the trumpet fuelled ‘Sound’ saw Andy Diagram subtly sneak off the stage, reappearing on the roof of one of the bars. Avoiding the usual trumpet sounds, Andy employs effects pedals and loops to create a unique tone that elevates James’ overall sound, and his solo in ‘Sound’ is a standout moment where his innovative approach truly shines. Innovation runs through James, shaping their performances, and it’s not unusual for the band to rework their tracks, and they treated the crowd to a sublime piano led rendition of ‘Sit Down’. Holding his mic out to the crowd, Tim was visibly in awe as they didn’t miss a single word. It’s moments like this that remind us of the band’s humanity, and they clearly don’t take a second of what they do for granted. Some bands might struggle to follow such an anthemic song, but James handled it with ease. In a complete juxtaposition, they launched into the adventurous ‘Jam J.’ Featuring loud, pulsating bass from Jim Glennie, the 1994 track saw Tim singing through a megaphone as he let loose, dancing energetically across the stage.
There’s no denying that the band have one of the strongest back catalogues in the British music scene, and their ability to seamlessly blend old and new tracks is admirable. Taking us from 1994 to 2024, ‘Way Over Your Head’ came next. Beautifully arranged, it features some of Tim’s most heartfelt lyrics, addressing depression and a longing for a simpler life, before crescendoing into a majestic choral moment from the band. While it takes time for a song to inspire mass singalongs, ‘Way Over Your Head’ certainly has that potential. ‘Beautiful Beaches’ came next – focusing on new beginnings, the uplifting track was one of the highlights from the band’s 2021 album, All the Colours of You, and is always a welcome addition to their set-lists. Renowned for packing a punch live, it reached a thrilling climax with an explosive drum battle between David and Debbie.
A problem with Saul’s guitar led to ‘Tomorrow’ being swapped for ‘Sometimes,’ resulting in the evening culminating with a triple whammy of hits. Always a crowd-pleaser, ‘Come Home’ was met with raucous enthusiasm, with its synth siren serving as a reminder of the band’s versatility and their talent for continually evolving their sound. Last but not least was ‘Laid’, and it was a delight to see the band gently tease the first verse before exploding into the full version. The perfect finale, it left the audience energised and euphoric as the show came to a close.
James have a reputation as one of the best live bands for a reason. Never playing it safe, they continually push the boundaries, creating a unique experience and new moments of beauty for both themselves and those on the journey with them – something that’s integral to their appeal and longevity.
