The Trevor Horn Band

[Peter H]

An unexpected pleasure. We really enjoyed this

[flossiefiddler]

Hit after hit after hit, just as I thought it would be. Loved them, a real crowd pleaser.

[Fegg]

Yes, this was a covers band, but it was their own material and they were superb.

Not wishing to open up a debate about what defines a covers band (as life is too short and I'm probably missing something obvious anyway), but if it's their own material...

However, we too thought they were superb and enjoyed the set immensely. Definitely one of the highlights.

[Andy]

Yes, this was a covers band, but it was their own material and they were superb.

Not wishing to open up a debate about what defines a covers band (as life is too short and I'm probably missing something obvious anyway), but if it's their own material...

However, we too thought they were superb and enjoyed the set immensely. Definitely one of the highlights.

Kiss From a Rose was not sung by Seal. Holly Johnson was not on stage to sing Relax or Two Tribes, Jon Anderson did not sing Owner Of A Lonely Heart.  Some original artists, but not all. That's what I meant.

[Bingers (Chris)]

Should've headlined Thursday! Brilliant set like a Top of the Pops of the last 30 or so years. The genius that is Russ Ballard was the icing on the top (of the Creme Horn   )

[Nick Peake]

Fantastic set - hit music brilliantly re-created live.  Definitely should have been put above The Divine Comedy - what a finish to the night that would have been ... Relax! Wow!

[Danny_C]

Firstly I am going to say I enjoyed the set and in general felt it was well presented and competently performed.  However it was simply a rehash of some of the huge number of hits that he has been involved with, most of which he did not perform in as far as I am aware.

Given his involvement this was clearly not a covers band bashing out standards, but it could have been and would have been just as interesting to listen to.  The only thing that lifted this was the physical presence of Trevor Horn himself which added a modicum of originality to the set.

For many (most likely the majority) he would have made a better headliner for the night, however I was happy to listen to him from the back and sing along with the odd bit and go down to listen to DC as a proper band performing their own numbers (and yes I know the line-up is not the same as it was)

[Paul]

I saw them at Wickham last year, and knew what to expect. Great fun as a band. Not seen Russ Ballard with them before, and he was great. I do think the present incarnation of 10cc does Rubber Bullets better, as Lol Creme's top notes sounded slightly rough, but everything they did was pretty good. Matt Cardle was the same guest as the previous time, and he sings well.

Like many posters, I felt they should have been on last.

Paul

[Andy]

To be fair, Lol Creme didn't sing much on the 10CC numbers, the main vocalist for those was Jamie Squire.

[Keith]

All sorts of pleasures to be had, from the obvious ones, like Two Tribes and Video Killed... Felt a little embarrassed singing Relax at the top of my voice when I spotted a small boy on someone's shoulder's next to me, not so with Living In The Plastic Age, which I can safely say I was the only person singing along to every word (used to collect Buggles singles as a teenager). The Russ Ballard guesting was inspirational, and doesn't he still sing well (with Jamie's help); Matt Cardle stormed it on The Power of Love and especially Owner of a Lonely Heart; Jamie was stunning singing Cry.

Couple of gripes - one female singer was flat (not sure which as they sung together) and the 10CC songs were a bit weak - but otherwise a great fun set with something for everyone.

[Andy]

It has to be said that the current 10CC did a better job of both Rubber Bullets and I'm Not In Love when they played in 2013, with the only original member being Graham Gouldman. Also, I'm not sure Cry lends itself to a live performance, given the massive overdubs on the original.

Still had a great time with the Trevor Horn Band, though.

[spooley (Simon)]

I really enjoyed Cry - never expected to hear that song live and I thought Jamie Squire's vocal really did it justice.
(My shaky / poorly-composed video of most of it, with reasonable sound 'though, is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI5_jI_HAKs&t=2s)

I've seen Graham Gouldman's 10cc several times in recent years, splendidly enjoyable but I think I preferred Trevor Horn's I'm Not in Love ... the TH band version seemed to have less reliance on a backing track.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

My favourite band of the weekend  

Funny, when they were first announced I checked them out and saw that Russ Ballard (a hero of mine) sometimes plays with them, and posted on TAW how amazing it would be if he turned up and to have the crowd singing along to God Gave Rock'n'Roll to You. Hendo responded that he couldn't think of anything worse!!

Anyway - fast forward and there I was, at Cropredy, singing along to it   fan-bloody-tastic.

Lol Crème was a bit squeaky, but Jamie Squires was brilliant, Matt Cardle amazed me, had no idea he could sing so well, and they whole set was great. I was quite happy that they didn't headline as it meant we could go back to the tent and watch the shooting stars.

[hendo (Dave)]

My favourite band of the weekend  

Funny, when they were first announced I checked them out and saw that Russ Ballard (a hero of mine) sometimes plays with them, and posted on TAW how amazing it would be if he turned up and to have the crowd singing along to God Gave Rock'n'Roll to You. Hendo responded that he couldn't think of anything worse!!

Anyway - fast forward and there I was, at Cropredy, singing along to it   fan-bloody-tastic.

Lol Crème was a bit squeaky, but Jamie Squires was brilliant, Matt Cardle amazed me, had no idea he could sing so well, and they whole set was great. I was quite happy that they didn't headline as it meant we could go back to the tent and watch the shooting stars.

I did! Sorry. Just didn't want a covers band sing along thing!
Having said that we played a fest on the Sat night and the headliners were a very poor covers band doing much the same material!

[Albie]

I thought Jamie Squire had a great voice, I liked most of the songs he sang. Matt Cardle I thought destroyed Power Of Love, would have been better if JS had sung it. Overall I thought they were reasonably entertaining.

[davidmjs]

The only track I've listened to is Owner of a Lonely Heart.  The singer is competent, but nothing more.  There's no subtlety - either musically or vocally...no light and shade.  They sound like a loud, brash wedding reception covers band to me.  There's a time and a place for this, of course.  In a world of covers bands, the ex-talent show wannabe is King.  Louder, faster, 'better'.  Look at me, it screams... Just right for 2017.

Update: Actually, I have listened to Rubber Bullets over breakfast, which is much better (imho).

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

the ex-talent show wannabe is King.  

Love and Pride? They would get my vote!

[davidmjs]

the ex-talent show wannabe is King.  

Love and Pride? They would get my vote!

Wear your Docs, mind..

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

the ex-talent show wannabe is King.  

Love and Pride? They would get my vote!

Wear your Docs, mind..

That's going to earwig me for the rest of the day  

[bassline (Mike)]

Lol....I love Love And Pride...but I will forever onwards hear the band shout 'Wear your docs, mind', instead of 'Get your boots on.'

I did enjoy this set a lot, and even Matt Cardle, (more his X Factor thing rather than him) didn't ruin it. I'd side with the it's a covers band though, as a lot of the stuff was records they produced, (the original band name was The Producers), rather than wrote - and if Trevor had a writing credit, it's along with a zillion other people, suggesting that the song was brought in by the band and he suggested a tweak in his producer role - so it's a bit like the Alan Parsons Project doing Dark Side Of The Moon. No biggie though. It was good to hear Cry. Good fun.

Useless trivia: Both Trevor Horn and Trevor Rabin who were involved in Owner Of A Lonely Heart, have the middle name Charles.