Dizzy Lizzy and Pogue Traders: St Patrick’s Day party!

Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

It was a huge party! St Patrick’s day 2023 shaped up to be THE party night of the year in Brighton so far! The Pogue Traders and Dizzy Lizzy poured it on!

Dizzy Lizzy and Pogue Traders: Friday 17 March 2023, Concorde 2, Brighton.

Brighton based promotions team Black Rabbit Promotions had put on a special and unique night for St Patrick’s Day.

Dizzy Lizzy

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

St Patrick’s Day 2023, Unsurprisingly Concorde 2 is a near sell out, calls for spare tickets had been posted over the days prior to the gig for those unlucky enough not to have snapped them up in time! Last year I was in the company of The Undertones, this year it was different, for some almost a pilgrimage maybe to remember their hero or partake in a slice of The Pogues Irish magic. I know little of the line-up bands tonight, and so am looking forward to this one. Rumours abound of an all out party night, with Guinness on tap and St Patrick’s Day hats!

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Dizzy Lizzy claim to be the definitive UK Thin Lizzy tribute band. The perform across the UK delivering all the greatest hits and so much more! This is a totally live performance. I saw Thin Lizzy live way back, and these guys are real close. The line up of Dizzy Lizzy,  Thin Lizzy tribute band, at Concorde 2 are led by the ever present ‘H’ on vocals and his well worn black and silvered Fender bass guitar.

H takes to the stage, the lights dim, smoke pours out, white lights spinning in the darkness, and the lads blast out with the set opener Jailbreak. Damn it sounded good! That first song with sirens blasting was a set highlight for me. Then, without stopping for breath it was into Chinatown, The Rocker and then my go-to Thin Lizzy track, Rosalie.

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The guitars screamed at us with a really close authentic sound, and matched with lots of hair, it came together to shine as an impressive performance. H is a master showman, he pulls off Lynotts moves, fist pumps and bits of chat. He hammers that bass as if his very life depends on it!

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Now I love my original Live and Dangerous album, still the original on vinyl and the set tonight included some eight tracks from that album including Emerald and Still In Love. Then with a lot of energy, edge, and a heavy duty bass line punch we were treated to Dancing In The Moonlight and Massacre.

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The guitars soar as we are treated to respective solos, all nailed down effortlessly and then there’s that twin guitar harmony sound that Lizzy perfected, and may I say, perfectly executed! A shout to the drummer, sat way back and he was situated behind a kit that was massive. Sadly we couldn’t see much of him behind all that gear. He rocked it hard giving an extraordinary performance. I think this kit would rival Brian Downey! Four huge Marshall amps graced the stage pumping out the rocking ear tearing sounds.

H and the guys put down a wonderful version of Cowboy Song that ripped suddenly into The Boys Are Back In Town. The crowd was going full tilt by now, the St Patrick Day hats all gone. Sweat pouring down everyones faces as the newly installed lasers fired into the crowd. Pure Lizzy magic right there, in front of us in Brighton. Consider that one nailed guys – a stunning rendition. Moreover, those two tracks were welcomed and praised with a huge cheer from the crowd. Magic.

The set heading for closure saw the wonderful Whisky In The Jar, Emerald and final song was Killer. Dizzy Lizzy have hammered it home for the entire performance. They were smashing it with every song. And you could tell they were enjoying it as much as the large crowd.

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

To sum up then, a fantastic set and a top performance from Dizzy Lizzy. They had the packed Concorde 2 rocking all through their 70 minute power set. Dizzy Lizzy are indeed a top live tribute act. They are truly dedicated to one of rock and roll’s all time legends ‘Phil Lynott’ and Thin Lizzy. They got together in 1994. Their performance and sound and that all important set-list accurately recreate that trademark Thin Lizzy sound. The only song I really missed was Don’t Believe A Word. A sound that sadly we can no longer hear or see performed by the originals. Go check them out! Seriously good outfit.

Dizzy Lizzy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

DIZZY LIZZY are on Facebook here!

The Pogue Traders

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Formed back in 2007, The Pogue Traders have become established as the UK’s leading Pogues tribute band. With a comprehensive set of Pogues numbers that are very faithful to the studio arrangements, The Pogue Traders play to sell-out major-venue audiences in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Nottingham, and tonight it was the turn of Brighton! They play to crowded pubs all over the country, leaving behind thousands of satisfied (and hung-over) gig-goers.

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

As 7.45pm came close Concorde 2 filled up and the atmosphere was warm and fuzzy The Pogue Trader’s took to the stage to a huge Brighton cheer. They started the show with Streams of Whiskey. This is a song that, as I understand, The Pogues usually used to start their own sets with.

Let me tell you it was busy on that stage! Nine band members and a huge array of instruments mad things really tight up there! Next up was If I Should Fall From Grace With God and Brown Eyes.

The sound mix at Concorde was spot on. A magnificent sound wrapped us in a warm snug and fuzzy blanket of atmosphere, but Pogue Traders play like demons! Concorde 2 provided the perfect backdrop for this band’s cover of well-known songs and their own infectious on-stage shenanigans.

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

We had a Tin-whistle, guitar, mandolins, drums and percussion and accordion. The band would swap around on vocals. Pogue Traders were replicating that wonderfully unique sound of The Pogues. They are all the very engine room and heart of this band, and they all proceeded to lavish love on, in some instances, decades-old songs. The crowd did not stop for their full hour, and a bit extra, set. So, what else can one do but raise a glass, albeit plastic these days, and join in!

This was followed by a wide range of Pogues classics including Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, Dark Streets of London, Auld Triangle, Waxies Dargle, and Boys From The County Hell. The Pogue Traders delivered their set brilliantly. Lead vocals from Lou were faultless. Stopping only for a swig of his Guinness he smoothed us through the set. At one point, he provided his own percussion using a tin tray and his head. I asked him after the set how his head was feeling. “Sore” he replied, we both fell about laughing.

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

This was a precision performance of how a Pogues show might be today.  There was an overwhelming sense of fun among the crowd and the band. Those Pogues classics and those many hits The Pogue Traders  performed, was plenty to keep the crowd bouncing. I can honestly say I have not had so much unadulterated fun at a gig in a while. The musicianship on display was superb. The Pogue Traders play so well and so tight.

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

All that topped off with sterling performances from the musicians made for a top night.  The capacity crowd knew the songs and they belted them out as loudly as they could, and they revelled in the magic and music of a band whose music will forever lift the spirits. The sheer musicianship and the determination of Pogue Traders to deliver powered them through so many amazing songs for over an hour.

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Pogue Traders put on barnstorming performance, I think they would have played on for hours as they seemed to be enjoying the night as much as us.  And, as we head for the end, we had a truly vibrant version of Fiesta the band played their hearts out to close out the show. We were given Dirty Old Town, no room for Fairy Tale Of New York as the Pogue Traders had over run, but we had Irish Rover to close. Perfect!

The Pogue Traders: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Don’t just take my word for it, go see them yourself and have fun!

The Pogue Traders are waiting for you on FaceBook here!

And Finally…

Thanks to: DIZZY LIZZY and THE POGUE TRADERS. Also mega thanks to Black Rabbit Productions and the fab team at Concorde2.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

Black Rabbit Productions hosted the evening. They work hard promoting live music on the south coast. They are a promotion company with years of experience putting on music shows. Tonight was superb. They have some great gigs lined up! You can find Black Rabbit Productions on the WWW 

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