Lindisfarne took to the stage at Eastbourne’s elegant and intimate Royal Hippodrome Theatre on a Friday night in July, the red flock wallpaper in the bar was humming with anticipation. Neither audience not wallpaper were disappointed. The iconic folk‑rock pioneers brought their Geordie warmth and authenticity with them to create a magical evening of music, stories, a shared sense of appreciation and, dare I say it, homecoming. Yes, I know Eastbourne isn’t their home, but the band claimed we, the audience, made it feel so. Who cared if they said the same thing at every venue, in Eastbourne, they meant it.
Front and centre, and sitting “Ozzy-style” centre stage but with a regular chair doubling as his majestic throne, was Rod Clements, the band’s musical heartbeat and only remaining member from the original 1968 line-up (yes, they were formed in the same year as Black Sabbath), whose multi-instrumental talents were on full display. He moved seamlessly between mandolin, fiddle, fabulous slide guitar, and lead vocals.
Taking the majority of the lead vocals as well as playing guitar and electric piano was Dave Hull‑Denholm. Dave has a terrific voice that handled the demands of songs that were written years before the original singers’ voices dropped a few octaves. Keeping a thread to the original band members, we learnt that Dave is the son-in-law of original iconic member, Alan Hull, who died suddenly in 1995.
Steve Daggett played harmonica, acoustic guitar, the beautiful Hammond organ, and provided lovely harmonies. Drummer Paul Smith, who joined in 2021, wowed with his steady yet energetic beats that felt just right—not flashy, but perfectly tuned to the band’s vibe.
The tag is “newest member” went to celebrated North-East bassist, Neil Harland, who also played a lovely electric double bass for several numbers. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the bass sounding so melodic. He was able to show off his playing to great effect with a couple of duets where only he and Rod remained on stage. Neil replaced Sam Thomson who left in February, so he’s got up to speed in record time, as would be expected from someone with his pedigree. One assumes he’s enrolled for the rest of the tour.
With several decades-worth of material from which to choose, there were plenty of timeless songs delivered with gratitude as well as polish.
Lady Eleanor made an appearance surprisingly early on, which was great. The audience was mesmerised by Dave Hull-Denholm’s rendition. Close to the recording but with an undeniable edge. Naturally, we exercised our vocal muscles.
I’m sure I wasn’t alone in waiting for the big hits, but the songs in between were far from fillers and I clocked many audience members singing along to the lesser known (at least to me) numbers as well as the likes of Meet Me On The Corner, which we all sang. In fact, when Rod asked if anyone had seen them playing in their very early days, a considerable portion of the audience affirmed that they had.
By the time we got to Fog On The Tyne, we were well up for it and Rod graciously allowed us all to shout out the “wee wee” line. Well, you don’t perform for as long as he has without knowing a thing or two about what your fans want.
The guys started at 7:31pm – just a minute after advertised time – took a 20 minute interval and wrapped at 9:50pm. A most satisfying two hours and well worth the reasonable ticket price.
We were sent home with Run For Home reverberating around our heads and being sung in the street as we filed out. It’s the perfect rock anthem but just one of the catchy numbers in the Lindisfarne repertoire.
What makes Lindisfarne opening night magic is not just song selection, but why they play.
This concert didn’t feel like a trip down memory lane—it felt like a living continuation of a folk‑rock spirit that remains vibrant and necessary. This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—it’s music carried gently forward with authenticity, humility, and a sense of collective memory. Lindisfarne are certainly not past their prime—they’re honed, present, and fully engaged in the music and with the audience
They are currently on a very long tour travelling the length and breadth of the UK with some shows already sold out.
Get yourself along to one of the shows and enjoy a soul-stirring evening of folk-rock magic.
For tour information and tickets, visit: lindisfarne.com
