Thursday, May 1

The Seekers: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

A standing ovation before they'd even opened their mouths set the tone for the evening. It was touch and go if they'd squeeze any tunes in between the applause.
But we soon settled down to a feast of hits, memories, smiles and - let's face it - a concert to give goosebumps to anyone with a heart.
If someone ever sang Morningtown Ride as a lullaby when you were a babe in arms this Golden Jubilee event was an extension of that. It was one huge hug of a show, with reassuring harmonies from the boys and a perky vocal from singer Judith Durham.
Transporting us back to when every day was warm and sunny, the Australians reeled off hits including Georgy Girl, I’ll Never Find Another You, A World of our Own, and the wonderful Morningtown Ride. 
We could instantly feel the world becoming a safer, friendlier place once again as the band reached out - no longer the innocents setting out on their long journey of musical stardom but still retaining a freshness as their thoughts were set to music.
Their upbeat folky arrangements and melodies have not dated in those 50 years and the band are looking good. Athol Guy on bass and Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley on guitars kept things moving while Judith looks to have made an amazing recovery from a brain aneurysm a year ago. Her voice has not suffered in the slightest and the evening was a genuinely uplifting experience. Perhaps this reunion tour was imply meant to be.
Genuinely warm towards their audience, it was something of a 60s love-in – and with Judith, Bruce and Keith taking centre-stage for solo slots giving us the chance to show our appreciation.
These guys have sold 50 million records. On the strength of tonight’s show, it’s going to be a whole lot more as we raid the back-catalogue.