The Levellers - Shine at the Bristol, Harbourside!!!

****1/2

Levellers make sure we all have a beautiful day!!!.

The Levellers ****1/2 first planned to do their 'Beautiful Day Out' back in 2020, but I think we all know the reasons why it needed to be rescheduled. So, they are back in 2023 with a strong line up with music running from 1pm to 11pm and the weather played it’s part in making sure it really was a beautiful day by the riverside in central Bristol. They came on in their signature uniform of jacket with patches on, well all expect Mark who always has his own more natural relaxed style.

For a set like this, at a city centre summer festival you know you are in for the hits, and they didn’t disappoint with fan favourites of ‘England my Home’, ‘Sell Out’ and ‘Exodus’ all making early appearances in the set with suitable singing along. The Levellers have always had quite a devoted fan base most of whom seem to know every word to almost every song, which makes each gig an experience all round as it almost a shared experience.

That said as Mark Chadwick did say at one point, if you don’t know the lyrics, “just make some shit up, it still works”. They do preach an anarchistic lifestyle, so having less top-down rules, even as far as lyrics are concerned seems to fit with the ethos. At one point the Didgeridoo player makes an appearance at first just playing a solo onto an otherwise empty stage before the whole band return member by member and with him included launch into probably their best know song ‘One Way’.

As you can imagine, this was probably the biggest song along so far. Staying on that topic, Mark was not impressed with the last time he asked for a sing along, so wants every syllable this time, I think the crowd impressed more this time for ‘Carry Me’. The main set was closed on a very fitting song for being at Bristol Harbour with ‘The Riverflow’.

They were soon back for a couple more with ‘Fifteen Years’ and closing on what else but ‘Beautiful Day’ I mean what else could you end a set with when you have named your one-day festival 'A Beautiful Day Out'. A wonderful event once again with a band who have been playing for around 35 year now proving why they still bring the crowds in.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

The Levellers - Setlist
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Liberty Song
England my Home
Food roof Family
Sell Out
Exodus
Truth Is
The Boatman
One Way
Too Real 
The Road
Albion and Phoenix
Men-an-Tol
Carry Me
Dirty Davey (McDermott's 2 Hours Cover)
The Cholera Well
The Riverflow
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Another man's Cause
Fifteen Years
What a Beautiful Day

Check Out! 'What a Beautiful Day' Below...