There are very few things akin to watching Bastille under the backdrop of a summer's night sky. Their concert as part of the Colchester Castle Summer Series was one I wanted to never end. The buzz around the grounds before they took to the stage made it clear this was going to be a very special evening.
They were supported by several incredibly strong supporting acts: Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets, Only The Poets, Orla Gartland and Arthur Hill. Only The Poets were a particular highlight, performing "Jump" and "One More Night", which really warmed the crowd up and set a great tone for the rest of the evening. Arthur Hill rounded off the support slot by giving us a preview of his upcoming song release, "Orange Wine".
Then, Bastille came onto the stage and the atmosphere shifted, and from their very first note, the crowd knew this was going to be an incredibly special performance. They opened with “Things We Lost To The Fire”, which was a stunning and breathtaking way to open a set, and it set the tone for what turned out to be a whistle stop tour of their releases. They carried on into “Shut Off The Lights” and several other songs which demonstrated the range and depth of their songs.
They also bought out an unplugged version of “Wild World” stripped back, really letting the vocals shine through and carry the song in a way that felt private despite the size of the crowd.
Bastille don’t just perform their songs, they seem to feel the, as well. You can see that in the way the band behaved, moved and performed. There was a true, unmistakable sense of love and passion of the songs that they performed, and they were delivered with a sincerity that felt almost infectious.
Woven into their set, they also had a section called Other Peoples Heartaches, where they performed various covers, for example, “No Scrubs” and “Don’t Let Go”, which seemed to turn the concert lawn into a party.
Bastille also treated us to something new, a song called “In The Light Of The Morning”, which is not yet recorded. This being previewed live for a crowd, we felt genuinely lucky to hear it first, and given the response itll be very well received when it does officially release.
The audience participation around "Save My Soul" was another standout moment of the night. The band let the crowd carry part of the song, and it built a genuine connection. They closed shortly after with "Pompeii", and the reaction from the opening notes said everything.
Looking back, what made this night so special wasn't just the setlist, it was the range; from the quiet intimacy of "Wild World", from the joyful chaos of the covers to the privilege of hearing a brand new song. Bastille gave a set that felt really thought out and heartfelt. Paired with a summer's evening on the concert lawn, it made for one of those nights that's hard to top.
