Capacity: 1,849

Concert starts: 7:30pm 

Address of venue: 2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB. MAP

Website: www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/cornex

COMMENTS

When Nick Mason (during the press launch of the Rome staging of The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains) made comments in Italy about heading out to small venues, to play early Pink Floyd songs, few took the remarks seriously. As unlikely as it seemed, Nick was entirely truthful and in the initial announcement a set of four shows in London were announced for his new band. Due to the critical success of those shows in May 2018, held in small venues in Camden and Putney, a full European tour was announced for September. The expanded shows for the full tour were even more highly acclaimed, and it came as no surprise when further dates for 2019 were announced!

Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets brings together some familiar names, all great musicians: joining Nick are Gary Kemp and Lee Harris on guitars, Guy Pratt on bass, and Dom Beken on keyboards. Kemp is best known for his work with Spandau Ballet, Harris as having played guitar with The Blockheads (Ian Dury's band), Pratt needs no introduction, and Beken is principally known for his work with The Orb, and Transit Kings (with Pratt). The band will be playing early Pink Floyd songs.

This is a unique opportunity to experience Pink Floyd's celebrated and significant early body of work played live including songs from albums 'The Piper At The Gates of Dawn' and 'A Saucerful Of Secrets'.

The regular sale of tickets started on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th at 10am (UK time), via Ticketmaster, Seetickets, TheSaucerfulOfSecrets.com and the venues themselves.

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!

Do not read on if you don't want surprises to be spoilt, regarding what the band played!

A return to what some call the spiritual home of Pink Floyd, for Nick Mason. Reminders of Syd Barrett hung heavily over the Corn Exchange, not least with the eye-catching art installation that was unveiled at the Syd tribute held at the venue, dazzling those in the foyer.

Adding to the historic feel of the show were various people from the band's past, including Peter Gilmour, David's brother - the closest the show got to what some people were convinced would happen (a guest spot by DG). Sightings of Phil Taylor earlier in the day added to the rumours, although he was there in part for an entirely different reason. Dick Parry strolling around Cambridge with Phil and his wife further gave flutters of excitement, although Dick lives in the area these days.

A typically high vaulted roof is found in the Corn Exchange (around the country, these buildings tend to be quite similar) and for some reason (maybe that) it proved a really hot auditorium which band and audience (most of which were standing) felt the effects of. It's rare that you'd see security in front of a Floyd stage indoors, handing out water mid-show for those feeling the effects!

The additional "buzz" for this show in particular (with people having flown in from all parts of the world, including the US, loads from Italy, and someone who had flown in from Chile specifically for this concert!) gave a great atmosphere to the gig, which seemed to help propel the band to new heights of performance.

I mentioned Phil Taylor being in Cambridge - this was to deliver a pair of beautiful, and eminently fitting, guitars which Nick had arranged with Phil. Gifts for Lee and Gary for the North American tour, the guitars were replicas of Syd's mirrored Telecaster, and what better place for the pair to play their new acquisitions?!

One small technical glitch happened as the final song, Point Me At The Sky, began: the PA feed of Dom's keyboards packed up. A hurried switch to the back-up rig he has for just such an eventuality didn't change the lack of keyboards through the PA. Unusually, he could still hear his playing through his in-ear monitors, so gamely kept at it with the hopes it would rectify itself and the audience would be able to hear it too. It lent a kind of "unplugged" feel to the song, and with many being unfamiliar with it, I wonder how many people noticed? That's live music though - that's why people go to see bands, for the unique nature of each performance and the unpredictability of things.

A day off now before a brace of shows at the Roundhouse in London, to conclude this mini-tour of the UK, and the band head home for a very well-earned rest before it all resumes in July, in Europe.

We'd love to know from those attending how they felt the concert went. How was the show for you, if you were one of the fortunate ones to attend? Let us know what YOU thought!

CONCERT REVIEW by BD CONTRIBUTOR, Heather Fenton

We had seats in the balcony and it was pretty warm up there as well. These buildings were not purpose built for music concerts but The Saucers overcame all this and with a fantastic lively start with their first two tracks the building was soon rocking!

This carried on throughout and we were treated to numerous old Floyd favourites including tracks we never thought we would hear performed live (Vegetable Man and Atom Heart Mother). Nick and Guy paid tribute to Syd whilst Gary paid a lovely tribute to Nick.

All of the band were out to enjoy themselves and did! This rubbed off onto an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Nick got his gong back for Set the Controls (after Roger had a go at it in New York) and demonstrated a much more gentle touch, leaving it to Guy to finish off when Nick was engaged on drums. The slide guitar on One of These Days was superb whilst 'Remember a Day' brought a lump to most peoples throats' and Bike as always was a good bit of fun.

We hope Nick and the band have a nice rest before tackling Europe, we however hope that we will see them again either later this year or into 2020.

CONCERT REVIEW and PICTURES by BD CONTRIBUTOR, John Johnstone

Cambridge ... wow! I saw NMSOS at Manchester last year and was blown away then, but this was at another level.

I started by travelling down from the Lake District (where I live) via a stop at Sheffield to see an old mate. On arriving at Cambridge, my wife and I took a walk around the city centre in the afternoon to make sure that we knew where the Corn Exchange was so we could get straight there in the evening. There were already a handful of fans waiting outside the hall, presumably to get to see the band arrive for the sound check. As my wife and I wandered up the side street to see if we could get a glance at the stage via an open door, a car pulled up to the door and we were gobsmacked to see Nick and Gary get out! Nick beat a hasty retreat into the hall, but I was lucky enough to get a photo with Gary and have a few words. Nice guy. Chuffed to bits.

On returning to the hall in the evening, there was a real friendly and good-hearted atmosphere amongst the crowd. We took our seats early and, following the soundscape that built up the tension, the band came on at 20:30 as planned to a rousing reception.

Straight into Interstellar Overdrive and the blue touch paper was lit. Honestly, each song that followed was as good, if not better than the last - there were no real favourites as all were brilliant in their own right, both in their original creation and ultimate delivery. It was clear that the band were much more confident than the time I saw them in Manchester, no doubt due to the extensive touring that has taken place in the meantime. The songs were played with panache and in a more contemporary fashion without taking anything away from the originals. Nick's drumming was so snappy and precise and Guy's bass was solid throughout. Both Gary and Lee provided embellishments to the songs with their own take on how they should be played. Don Beken's keyboards also seemed a lot higher up in the mix, which added more presence. Most of all, all the band were having fun!

Highlights for me were The Nile Song (heavy metal or what), Green Is The Colour, Lucifer Sam, Atom Heart Mother, One Of There Days, Set The Controls, Obscured By Clouds, A Saucerful Of Secrets ... and Remember A Day (wow) and Childhoods End (both additions since the Manchester show).

From comments made by both Nick and Guy during the proceedings, it was clear that playing at Cambridge was special for the band, given the obvious connection to this city, and the crowd responded accordingly. Guy dedicated Arnold Layne to the Cambridge crowd.

I must say that this was one of the most enjoyable gigs that I have been to. I've seen Pink Floyd in Oakland, Roger Waters at Hyde Park and David Gilmour twice at the Royal Albert Hall, and this gig/tour is up there with these fabulous gigs. I'm fortunate to be going to see the Saucers at Nîmes in July, so I'm now counting down the days until then.

CONCERT REVIEW and PICTURE by BD CONTRIBUTOR, Ian Ellis

There was definitely an odd vibe around the Corn Exchange when Victoria and I arrived, far more people milling about the entrance than normal at that time of day.

I have been a regular at the venue since 1976, when I saw the criminally underrated Gentle Giant. A band whose stunning musicianship, timing and multi instrumentalism remains secure in the memory of but a few lucky souls who saw them live. So it struck me as odd just how many people were ligging, loitering or just plain old lolly-gagging about the entrance.

We left the Corn Exchange box office and headed into Cambridge to kill some time, but upon our return at around ten to seven we were astonished to see the size of the queue to get in, it stretched around 400-500 metres! In the 43 years I've been attending the old Corn Exchange I'd never seen this, I'd always wandered straight in. Once we got to the front of the queue there was still 500 metre line behind us! Although the venue is under 2000 capacity the waiting masses appeared biblical in the narrow street abutting the venue.

The evening started with a short set from Harry Waters and his cohorts, whom, it must be said, were treated politely and enthusiastically. The front man's patter between each number reminded me of the annoying American actor in the car commercials, but that said, they were all good musicians, and very tight.

The main event started with with a very long taped intro, all bird song and robot noises, I liked it! The light show was what one has come to expect from anyone associated with PF and the sound was crystal clear, but unbelievably loud. The loudest band I have heard in that venue since Living Colour back in '94. It was also astonishingly hot in there - and I mean HOT.

The set was the same as on all other shows, but NMSOS were tight, thunderous and deft in equal measure - and hugely entertaining; bearing in mind there is no front man, everyone stepped up to the plate and delivered in spades.

A great night, a great band and great fun. The best Wednesday evening I've ever spent in Cambridge, listening to early Floyd, expertly played - and complete with the only man to have played on every album - it was totally irresistible, and all delivered with panache, humour and faultless musicianship.

In a nutshell, a total triumph for all concerned.

YOUR HELP NEEDED! We want to cover Nick's concerts the best we can, to share the experience with everyone, especially those who won't be able to attend the shows. We'd love to see ANY pictures, tickets scans, reviews, newspaper reports, and anything else you come across for this show - we look forward to hearing from you!