Close-up on Midlake

Awesome show by Midlake at the Botanique last night (Saturday). The band were on great form and the venue - la Rotonde - is conducive to the creation of a very special atmosphere indeed. Being two metres from the band and almost at eye level was rather different from my previous gig - Bob Dylan at the Forest National on April 6th - where, if it hadn't been for Dylan's unique voice, I would have had no idea who it was on the stage 200 m away.
Midlake previewed one new track, the excellent Children of the Grounds, which takes the Van Occupanther sound and adds more rock guitar. By the time the band is touring Europe to promote the next album they could easily be playing venues of the size of the cavernous Forest National (or at least the Ancienne Belgique). Another reason to treasure the opportunity to see them in such an intimate space. Ta, Stuart.