John Griff: Future’s bright for Alive show
There’s been political change announced in the county with the retirement of Brian Binley MP at the next general election – I wonder who will succeed him. We’ve musical excellence in the brilliant Alive@Delapre concerts – just before the weather turned and the heavens opened. And now – historically – a baby boy, born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Prince of Cambridge will grow up in the same media glare as his father and uncle – a modern royal, third in line to the throne, in a modern world. What’s next?!
In celebrating the new birth with everyone else, there are plenty of people far better qualified to comment on the constitutional ramifications of the new royal than I. My only contribution therefore is to congratulate William and Catherine on their new arrival and to wish them all the happiness that they could wish for as young parents with a long, happy, healthy life for their bundle of joy. Will there be another child to follow before too much longer? Time will tell and there’s no rush just yet, but I would anticipate so. Great-granny must be delighted – she’d only just gone on holiday before having to dash back for the celebrations…
Town came alive
For Northampton, the weekend saw three excellent days of weather for a multitude of events, most notably perhaps the Alive@Delapre concerts. As the county baked in the sun, a variety of acts delivered the goods for thousands of happy concertgoers at a site that’s never seen anything like it before. You’ll have read the reports and seen the pictures in this paper already – for me what was significant was what went on behind the stage. If there was a relaxed atmosphere outside, it was like a village green in summer inside the compound.
relaxed atmosphere
On Friday, Paul Weller strolled around with his family, a plate of food in his hand, stripped to the waist. To be any more relaxed he’d have needed to be horizontal. The entire cast for Saturday got down to the serious business of an impromptu football match – which Lawson/Vamps won from The Wanted. Half the match was spent with various band members leaping over the security wall to retrieve the ball from undergrowth near the London Road. If the fans had known (or the band managers) there’d have been a riot.
Then finally on Sunday James Morrison sauntered around with a mug of coffee, talking to everyone he encountered, including me. The teenage Market Square busker who left home on the Harborough Road for Cornwall returned as an international star, wondering if some of his former Kingsthorpe schoolmates would be in the audience.
There was absolutely no diva behaviour and everyone from the artists to the audience and crew genuinely seemed to enjoy their Delapre experience.
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT
As it develops – and it will – Alive@Delapre could be a significant catalyst for future tourism and the local economy. Over the weekend local hotels saw an increase in trade, as did taxis and shops. The planning and running of the event seems to have been spot on – due credit to all concerned therefore.
The event returns next year over the 18th, 19th and 20th of July – I’m told that at least some of the artists will be announced by September and all of them in time for Christmas presents to be bought.