Rhyl Gathering Rocked …. The UK tour starts here!

Rhyl Town Hall rocked as Mike Peters performed 115 songs to a sold out capacity crowd of fans at the official 29th Gathering on March 11th – 13th 2022.

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

Upon the Friday evening arrival, fans were presented with specially commissioned 40th Anniversary Alarm Rosettes and a carnival atmosphere was in full flow by the time Mike Peters took to the stage promptly at 8pm.

The roar as Mike stepped into the spotlight was breathtaking as everyone rose as one to celebrate the return to the UK stage, of their hometown hero.

Mike Peters brandished his trademark electro-acoustic Auden Deceiver guitar which was sonically fortified by a red sparkle bass drum and loop station. Mike gratefully acknowledged the audience  and dived start into the first of  four sets beginning with Two Rivers from 2019’s number one UK Rock album Sigma.

The first set ran for approximately 80 minutes with songs in reverse order from 2021 back to 2008. Mike was armed with a beautiful looking songbook that featured the recently designed song title red poppy logo and as he turned the pages, song after song from this most creative of Alarm eras was revealed and performed.

TWO RIVERS
BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN
TIME
HEROINE
TOMORROW
BEAUTIFUL
COMING BACKWARDS
HELLFIRE
NEUTRAL
CENOTAPH
PEACE NOW
A BREED APART
FREE ROCK AND ROLL
DIRECT ACTION
LOADED
BADGE OF HONOUR [Part II]
PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS
SITUATION UNDER CONTROL
ONE GUITAR
ALARM CALLING
KILL TO GET WHAT YOU WANT [ DIE FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN]
THREE SEVENS CLASH
LOVE HOPE AND STRENGTH

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

After a short interval Mike was back on the stage (which was situated in the centre of the venue), and surrounded by fans on all sides. Mike hardly spoke throughout the evening, preferring to let the music do the taking and in this second set, performing songs from 2006 – 2000 beginning with songs from the Under Attack album followed by selections from the 5 x album In The Poppy Fields Collection. A standing ovation from everyone present was made complete with  a rousing version of Close and a rocking 45 RPM.

SUPERCHANNEL
MY TOWN
IT’S ALRIGHT / IT’S OK
THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE
IN THE POPPY FIELDS
COMING HOME
TRUE LIFE
THE INNOCENT PARTY
YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG [AND INNOCENT] ONCE
THE DRUNK AND THE DISORDERLY
BE STILL
PEACE AGREEMENT
EDWARD HENRY STREET
MERCENARY SKANK
THE NORMAL RULES DO NOT APPLY
NEW HOME NEW LIFE
THE UNEXPLAINED
WHEN EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT
ALL SEEING
SWAN SONG
CLOSE
45 RPM

Day Two began with an afternoon convention and British Premiere of the new Alarm film – 50 Days In Lockdown. Mike Peters posed for official History Repeating photographs with all who attended and then introduced the film which was displayed on a huge 16 foot screen. An illuminating Mike Peters Q&A session followed with questions covering all manner of subjects. As the minutes ticked by, you could sense the anticipation for Saturday evening and the forthcoming tour growing with every passing moment of the event.

Saturday evening opened up at 1900 only this time, the audience members were presented with Red Poppy Hand Flags upon arrival and by the time Mike took to the stage at 8pm the excitement in the air was palpable.

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

Taking everyone on a musical journey through songs from 1999 to 1992, Mike Peters and the audience were both in absolute top form. The lyrics filled the room and every song played evoked special memories for all in attendance. Some beautiful and unexpected performances brought many a tear to the eye and the sound of everyone singing Breathe in perfect unison was one of the many, many high points of the weekend.

HOUSE OF COMMONS
RISE
HIGH ON THE HILL
MY CALLING
TRANSCENDENTAL
SHINE ON
FEEL FREE
GONE ELVIS
REGENERATION
ALL IS FORGIVEN
THE LOVE WE MADE
BROKEN SILENCE
NO BETTER THAN THIS
BACK INTO THE SYSTEM
TRAIN A COMIN’
SPIRITUAL
A NEW CHAPTER
THE MESSAGE
INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
BREATHE

The second of the Saturday night sets began with Moments In Time and we were transported back to the very origins of The Alarm’s music via songs from each and every Alarm album of the nineteen eighties. The encore was filled with songs from Declaration and as the midnight hour approached and with Mike having already been on stage for over 6 hours, we arrived at the beginning as each and every person in attendance declared themselves UNSAFE.

It was once in a lifetime concert and never ever to be forgotten.

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

MOMENTS IN TIME
ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD
RAW
THE WIND BLOWS AWAY MY WORDS
HAPPY XMAS [WAR IS OVER]
THE ROAD
SOLD ME DOWN THE RIVER
NO FRONTIERS
HARDLAND
HOW THE MIGHTY FALL
LOVE DON’T COME EASY
RIVERS TO CROSS
A NEW SOUTH WALES
EYE OF THE HURRICANE
RAIN IN THE SUMMERTIME
NEWTOWN JERICHO
PRESENCE OF LOVE
PERMANENCE IN CHANGE
ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOME
SHELTER
RESCUE ME
STRENGTH
KNIFE EDGE
FATHER TO SON
DEESIDE
DAWN CHORUS
DAY THE RAVENS LEFT THE TOWER
MAJORITY
SPIRIT OF ’76
WALK FOREVER BY MY SIDE

ENCORE 1

ABSOLUTE REALITY
THE CHANT HAS JUST BEGUN
DECLARATION
WHERE WERE YOU HIDING WHEN THE STORM BROKE?
THE DECEIVER
THIRD LIGHT
HOWLING WIND
WE ARE THE LIGHT
SIXTY EIGHT GUNS
BLAZE OF GLORY

ENCORE 2

THE STAND
MARCHING ON
UP FOR MURDER
UNSAFE BUILDING

Sunday morning broke to with a beautiful North Wales day as people gathered outside the Royal Victoria Hotel where Mike gave an impromptu performance and talk about the first ever Alarm gig back on June 5th 1981. Mike gave everything he had even at this most non rock of roll of performance times playing Shout To The Devil, Pavilion Steps and Sixty Eight Guns. A moment of silence was called for to remember those we have lost through the pandemic or other tragic circumstances before the chords and lyrics of Unsafe Building permeated through the reverie.

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

Photograph by Stuart Ling.

Everyone was invited back to Dyserth Waterfalls for a group photo and tour of The Alarm Chapel and soon to be renovated acquisition of The Red which is about to be converted into a hotel, coffee shop and bespoke music venue.

Mike and Jules showed everyone around and chatted for hours. It was a perfect way to spend a Gathering weekend and guess what……. this event does not conclude until April 15th 2023 when the band perform at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff!!!!!

Photograph by Stuart Ling.