Lighthouse Family Live Again In Sheffield

For Lighthouse Family second time around always seems to be better than the first; their debut hit Ocean Drive only became a hit after being released for the second time and now after a lengthy break the duo seem to be bigger than they were back in the in 90’s.

Their manager had told them before arriving on the stage at Sheffield City Hall that there was no such thing as an easy night in Sheffield – add to that a dreary Monday night and they had their work cut out.

Their new album Blue Sky In Your Head gave impetus to their lighting technician who bathed the band in blues and pinks for most of the evening. Even lead singer Tunde Baiyewu wore a blue suit.

From opening up with Question of Faith though the blues of a Monday night soon vanished. Some might say that all the Lighthouse Family songs sound the same – they do all fit into the same format but when you hear Tunde’s distinctive vocals you instantly know who you are hearing.

Apparently the title for Put My Heart On You came from a comment Tunde’s daughter said to him. You would not expect a heckler at a Lighthouse Family concert but even in Sheffield on a Monday night, the audience know what they want – as Lifted is performed the up to now sedate audience are up on their feet.

“It’s been a long tea break” jokes keyboard player Paul Tucker after the track, perhaps they were drinking Yorkshire Tea as the break lasted over 10 years!

Backed by a four piece band with a guitarist who has been with the duo for 25 years, it was an accomplished set that drew on their back catalogue and looked to the future with tracks off the new album.

As the familiar guitar riff of Ocean Drive is played the fans are back up on their feet – the track is still a radio favourite a quarter of a decade on.

As they leave the audience with I Wish I Could Know How It Feels (To Be Free) they had proved to their manager and the fans that even on a Monday night in Sheffield you can, as the title to one of their hits says, be Lifted. Lets hope the next tea break they have is not as long!