Rudimental: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

VIVA Ems | 10th March 2016

Put as main picture copyIt was a spicy start to the day in Manchester for the Rudimental boys. I found out from their live stream on the Rudimental app (which is ace by the way, you need to download it), they were round the corner from my apartment, on their way to Nando’s in Piccadilly. They were hiding a pair of golden tickets for some lucky fans to find for their sold out gig that night at the Manchester Apollo.

I headed down to Nando’s to see what was going on and to have a little catch up with the lads. Piers, Kesi and Amir along with some of the percussionists were chilling in one of the booths waiting for their Peri Peri chicken, but where was Leon aka DJ Locksmith? To my disappointment he was ill and was not well enough to be on stage that evening.

Showing a lot of love for Manchester whilst waiting for their food, we talked about local musician Adio from Bipolar Sunshine who had been supporting Rudimental on tour last year, “he’s doing so well at the moment musically, plus he’s recently had a little baby boy”, Kesi says.

CdC3VHYWwAUAQ-PI got a cheeky little picture for Twitter with the boys and then said my goodbyes, leaving them to eat their Nando’s in peace!

It was a sold out gig at the Manchester Apollo that night. With a dramatic start, Rudimental bounced on to the stage and went full steam ahead into Right Here, I Will For Love and Not Giving In, which got the whole upstairs circle stood up and dancing. Normally bands warm up the crowd, but there’s no warm up period with Rudimental, it’s just an overload of pure drum and bass, bouncing madness from the start and we love it.

Although we were missing DJ Locksmith, this is the tightest I’ve ever seen Rudimental and with powerful vocals from Mahalia, Will Heard, Amir Amor and the incredible Anne-Marie (who had also been pretty ill for a lot of the tour), the Rudimental family blew the roof off the Apollo with confetti guns and a ‘jungle is massive’ rave in the middle of their set.

Big shout out to the sax and trumpet players, Rudimental’s recognisable upbeat funky drum and bass sound just wouldn’t be what it is without you.

Highlight of the gig: Feel The Love – this has always been my ultimate dancing tune and to see Rudimental play it live just takes the tune to another level of greatness, plus with the whole of the Apollo holding up their heart shaped hands it was a pretty special moment in the evening.

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Photography by Karin Albinsson 

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