Suede - Heritage Live Audley End Review

 

The incredibly long history of many British buildings and locations, with their huge acreage and idyllically groomed grounds, have ensured that such settings are an ideal host for countryside summertime concerts. Were it not for the unpredictable factor disturbing the calm - the British weather, and its thrill in toying with us consistently, these concerts would have a claim as most picturesque and soul-nourishing of the British festival calendar. Heritage Live run a host of events across a host of luxurious locales, and have seen artists range from The Who to Robbie to Tom Jones perform previously. Alas, during this late July/early-August heatwave of mostly sunny days, today, rain and thunder threaten largely across the horizon…

 

Audley End House and Gardens, here in Essex, is the setting for indie-britpoppers Suede’s final night of their European tour. Madness, Richard Ashcroft and Elbow top the bill on the other nights, There are many on picnic blankets and deckchairs who are content to sit and enjoy life and the food and the drink and the music without necessarily moving from their spot throughout - it’s a gloriously leisurely day and the looming thunderstorms somehow miss all of Saffron Walden. To the left of stage it’s impossible to miss the huge Audley End mansion, built in the seventeenth century, and this prestigious atmosphere adds to the intimate exclusiveness of the occasions; it’s certainly the best of the British summer feeling. It’s also easily the most immaculate location - the toilets are spotless even outside the VIP section and can be seen to be regularly cleaned, and throughout the day litter pickers wander through the site ensuring all pleasantries remain. 

 

 

Watching frontman Brett Anderson jump and sweat and pound his vocals and dive-into-the-crowd on repeat with such frenetic album is almost the antithesis of the calm aura that the gardens evoke, were it not for the fact that Anderson has considerable energy and charm. Be it asking the crowd to singalong because his voice is going, or making Paris Olympic jokes about containing Greece Mythology in his sex, Suede delight the crowd with a ninety-minute headline set containing staples such as Animal Nitrate, Metal Mickey and Beautiful Ones, alongside a hearty selection from most recent album Autofiction. Going further, new song Antidepressents is played, from an album titled “X”, “though I’m sure we’ll come up with a funny and intellectually clever title at some point”, Anderson sarcastically tells the crowd. 

 

 

Earlier, Nadine Shah’s arresting delivery proved a strong introduction to the musical events, alongside her plea for peace and a ceasefire at the end of her powerful set. Ex-Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr proved to be a capable sub-headliner; gently mocking some of the lack of engagement in the crowd by paying tribute to the fans at the front who were bothering to listen. His set, delightfully containing many Smiths songs such as This Charming Man and How Soon Is Now, and even some new songs which he joked the audience didn’t want to hear. Remarkably, Marr sings and sounds a lot like Morrissey on the Smiths numbers, and gives the Audley End punters an early chance to singalong. 

 

The occasion finished without rain and with strong performances from three great British artists on a great day out in the British festival season, and in such a splendid and well-maintained location. Suede ended their European tour with no sense of gig fatigue and Audley End ended its first night hitting it out of the park.

 

 

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