24th March 2026, Limelight, Belfast
The Feeling are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Twelve Stops and Home. I get the feeling that they are surprised by the size of the stage at the Limelight (compared to other venues on the tour, its much smaller than Shepherds Bush Empire anyway) as frontman Dan Gillespie-Sells refers to the drummer, Paul Stewart, being ‘halfway up his arse’ like in the days of their earliest shows. Also on the stage are bassist Richard Jones, guitarist Kevin Jeremiah, and keyboardist Ciaran Jeremiah.
As an album anniversary show, the set list is wonderfully predictable. Arriving on stage to a recording of what sounds like a glowing review, it reminds us of the wonderful songs that await us. The Feeling are one of those bands where you definitely know more songs than you think you do.
Starting with I Want You Now, swiftly followed by the wonderful Never Be Lonely and the catchy Fill My Little World, the band sound incredible. So optimistic! It’s definitely a glass half full kinda day.
There’s a lot of swapping in guitars through the set and there is a shout out from the crowd for guitar tech Gary. “Guitar tech Gary is a legend,” agrees Dan. “As is our other guitar tech Josh.” He then thanks them, along with sound engineers Duncan and Rhys, who’ve been with them on this tour, celebrating this final night. Dan also quips that when the band started out, the roadies were older, cynical, heavy drug users and the band were young eager whippersnappers bouncing around like bunnies, but these days the roles are reversed as the band are on drugs (for bad backs) and the roadies are the bouncy whippersnappers.
Next up, Kettle’s On, leading into Sewn. I could sing along with every word. This is followed by Anyone and Strange. I start to wonder if the entire album was released as singles, or at least if album tracks had radio airplay, as they are all so familiar.
The band do actually bounce like bunnies for the intro to Love It When You Call. It’s a little more chilled for Rosé (no pun intended), and picks up again for Same Old Stuff, Helicopter and Blue Piccadilly.
The band look like they are going to leave the stage but rearrange themselves on the tiny stage so Dan is behind the keyboards and he does a solo of the final song on the album, Miss You.
Given the backstage door seems to go outside (to their tour bus) rather than to a backstage area, we are told to imagine that they have left the stage and returned for the encore.
The aptly named I Thought It Was Over was followed by the even more appropriately titled Still You Want More, from The Feeling’s second and third albums respectively.
They follow this with a fun and chirpy cover version of Video Killed The Radio Star. The finale was Join With Us. The band take a bow and the show is over.
The Feeling were so much fun! So full of energy and refreshing. I’d forgotten what a great debut album they had, and it still sounds incredible aged 20 years.
Blue Roses Fanzine 2.0 