Capacity: 3,500

Concert starts: 8pm

Address of venue: Stockport Rd, Manchester M12 6AP. MAP

Website: academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester

COMMENTS

Due to the critical success of the four initial shows in May 2018, held in tiny venues in London's Camden and Putney, Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets announced a full European tour for September that year. 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. The insatiable demand for more dates, in more locations, resulted in the band carrying on from where they left off, with numerous shows in 2022/2023 taking the music to new fans, as well as those who have already experienced the show, eager for more - particularly with the halt to concerts due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The band clearly had a great time over the last couple of years, as they are performing more shows in 2024!

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 starts on FRIDAY 16th FEBRUARY at 11am local time, via this link at MyTicket.co.uk. Our thanks to John Johnstone for the ticket scan shown to the right.

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!

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

Show seven of the 2024 UK and European tour tour, and the Saucers are back in Manchester, at the O2 Apollo. Initial reports are that the band were on great form and the crowd gave the band a very healthy ovation at the end! Did you go to this show? Let us know!

The band now head north to Glasgow in Scotland for their show there on Friday night.

CONCERT COMMENTS and PICTURES from BD CONTRIBUTOR, John Johnstone

The Saucers move it up a notch!

My wife and I returned to Manchester Apollo to see Nick Mason and his Saucers again after seeing them for the first time almost six years ago.

After 15 minutes of ambient music composed by Dom Beken, the Saucers took the stage promptly at 19:30 and kicked off with a rousing version of Astronomy Domine before playing the two early singles Arnold Layne and See Emily Play. Great start! Then came the surprise of the night … Remember Me, with the band playing along to the voice of Syd Barrett (which had been extracted for the tour by Dom Beken). Dom actually played harmonica during part of the song. The backdrops displayed during the song were of Syd at various stages of his life and the overall effect was one of nostalgia and 60s beat music. Brilliant!

The band then played the usual suspects Obscured By Clouds/When You're In, Remember A Day (a real favourite) If/Atom Heart Mother/If reprise before finishing the first set with a heavy version of The Nile Song and Set The Controls. Nick, as usual, was the heart and soul of the proceedings with his usual quips and a light-hearted dig at Roger Waters.

The second set started with an almost metal version of The Scarecrow (with great visuals) and then Fearless (with the Anfield crowd singalong at the end, very brave!). Childhoods End and Lucifer Sam followed before moving into a blistering version of Echoes. Wow!!

The band then came back of for two encore numbers - a belting version of One Of These Days and an out-of-this-world A Saucerful Of Secrets.

This was the sixth time that I have seen the Saucers and it was probably the best show to date. The band were obviously at ease with the songs and were visibly enjoying themselves. What a great bunch of musicians, surely they will tour again …

One postscript to this - I found out afterwards that I was sitting next to Keith Jordan of Neptune Pink Floyd fame, what a small world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!