Let’s Rock Exeter 2024 @ Powderham Castle (ft Ali Campbell (UB40)/Boomtown Rats/From The Jam/ The Real Thing/eXTC/Jason Donovan/Kim Appleby/Clare Grogan (Altered Images)/Sonia/Sister Sledge

Perhaps not the strongest line up ever for Let’s Rock Exeter but still more than enough musical treats to make it well worth the £40 or so for a ticket (even if the cans of ‘cider’ – containing less than a pint – were £6.50 this year). Here are a few of my highlights…

Sister Sledge kicked things off in fine style at 11.50am, almost breakfast time. Lost In Museli anyone? Debbie Sledge may the only original sister in the band but at least her daughter and son are part of the line up now, so the lyrics of We Are Family still kinda ring true. 

Shared DNA aside they put on a cracking show and the Chic powered tunes are absolute belters.

Clare Grogan (Altered Images) was another early highlight, slipping in a quick swearword, “Well, I am from Glasgow” she explained after forgetting the lyrics to a song. Bless 'er. 

Clear winner of the 'Most Fun Set Of The Day' Award she dropped in 2022's Mascara Streakz, bringing that classic Altered Images sound bang up to date. 

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy eXTC’s set so much, given that drummer Terry Chambers is the only one from the original band, but hearing some of these songs played live for the first time was a proper treat. This Is (top) Pop!

The Real Thing dished up some of the best British Soul ever committed to vinyl, with a particularly funky Can You Feel The Force hitting the sweet spot, before From The Jam delivered a hits filled set that, at times, sounds spookily close to the original band.

I thought The Boomtown Rats might divide the crowd a little but St Bob soon won ‘em over. And yes, they did play all the songs you’d want them to play. Looking a little like Gandolf’s younger brother the 72 year old’s in remarkable shape and relatively new track, The Boomtown Rats, capped things off with an almost techno vibe showing there’s life in the old rats still.

Ali Campbell ended the day and he was in fine voice with a great band behind him. It’s not UB40 sadly but we all know what happened there. He wasn’t the chattiest soul, but maybe he’d had…wait for it…too much red red wine the night before. Oh dear.

Let’s Rock Exeter 2025’s still unconfirmed at the moment and I’ve read rumours that it may not happen or that it could move, which would be a shame. If it is still on though can we please, please, please finally get Jimmy Somerville down here? Cheers.