Gig review: Ocean Colour Scene, Shed Seven and The Bluetones at Millennium Square, Leeds

Ocean Colour Scene in Millennium Square, Leeds. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

All three bands lit up a sun-drenched Millennium Square in spectacular fashion in a mini-festival on Saturday and Sunday evening.

The three 1990s indie bands performed superbly in front of their legions of supporters, who lapped up Saturday’s sold-out, sun-drenched affair from start to finish.

After an impressive set from The Bluetones, Yorkshire favourites Shed Seven took centre stage, a role they enjoy on their home turf.

The York band played all their usual classics, ending with Chasing Rainbows, and frontman Rick Witter was in typically fine form throughout, indulging in his laddish banter with the adoring fanbase.

The biggest highlight for many in the Leeds crowd – and for the boys in the band – was their cover of Kaiser Chiefs’ I Predict A Riot, which became appropriately unruly when they were joined on stage by none other than Ricky Wilson.

The Sheds played other favourites such as Going For Gold, On Standby, Disco Down and many more before Ocean Colour Scene took centre stage.

I first saw the Birmingham band supporting Oasis at Knebworth in 1996 and they continue to impress, some twenty years since the release of Moseley Shoals.

They are currently out on tour playing the album in full and nostalgia was everywhere on Saturday night as a huge indie disco took hold.

Playing the album through live, in the order tracks appear on the record, saw The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught the Train and The Circle explode brilliantly in quick succession.

There are then slower tracks such as Lining Your Pockets and Fleeting Mind before other memorable hits including 40 Past Midnight, It’s My Shadow, You’ve Got It Bad and Get Away.

The follow up album, Marchin’ Already, turns 20 itself next year and was in a similar style to Moseley Shoals.

At the end of the set we get some of its tracks added in – Travellers Tune, Better Day and Hundred Mile City.

It was raucous stuff and a thoroughly enjoyable night out, although the long and slow queues for beer left many revellers frustrated.