Two years since the original date, Gerry Cinnamon took to Glasgow's Hampden Park Stadium at the weekend to give a belter of a performance.
On the first of two nights, the Castlemilk singer stood on stage for the first time on Saturday, July 16 to play to his biggest audience yet of 50,000.The lyric 'This is the beginning of the rest of your life' written above the stage, was fitting for a gig that was long-anticipated not only for the fans, but Gerry too.
A hold up in getting into the venue with Music Glue tickets, which were eventually swapped for Ticketmaster versions due to a scanning issue, didn't put a dampener on the mood. Doors opened at 4pm and thousands flocked to the stadium throughout the evening with each supporting act gaining a bigger crowd, before Gerry's entrance at 9.15pm kicked off with a bang.
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Opening with 'Lullaby', the 37-year-old crooner drew from his two hit albums playing songs that generate a legendary live experience including ‘Dark Days’, ‘Sun Queen’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Where We’re Going’ and platinum-certified singles ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Belter’. He also gave a flavour of new music, playing unreleased track ‘Sacred’ and a stunning tribute to his hero Billy Connolly with his own rendition of ‘I Wish I Was in Glasgow’.
With each track, the crowd sung back every lyric in perfect timing - so much so that when Gerry didn't get to his mic on time Kampfire Vampire, the fans had his back while he gave a smirk, as if he knew it had been worth the wait. While each song had their moment and with no sign of a lull, 'Belter', 'Diamonds in the Mud' and 'Discoland' proved he had the bouncing crowd in the palm of one hand, and his guitar in the other.
It's a skill to bring 50,000 people together and make them feel the same way, no matter where they come from. Fans travelled from all over the UK to see Gerry play at Hampden that weekend and it felt like the feeling was mutual when they all belted, 'I've been all around the world, But, there's nowhere compares to my hometown" from Diamonds in the Mud.
"And that's what it's all about", Gerry admitted on Saturday night. He took a moment to speak to his fans, thanking them as 'it has been a long, really long, time coming'. After seeing the crowd sing every word back, dance to every beat, he said that this is why he doesn't do interviews, because all that matter is "this-right here" - 'this' being the music and the thousands of people all in one place for it. And with that he wiped a teary eye, and didn't take long to crack onto another tune.
It was a gig that could have carried on right into the wee hours of the morning if Gerry, and the Live Music Act, allowed it. Even after a quick encore, Gerry wrapped it up with Canter, but the crowd kept going. As everyone walked out the exit, hundreds bellowed the lyrics of Canter, once again in unison as a final nod to the indie singer.
Gerry said: “Unbelievable gig. Unbelievable atmosphere.
"Three years in the making. Folk there from the four corners of the world.
"Cheers everybody. Been there since day one.
"Means the world. Love yous."
Gerry Cinnamon played at Hampden Park on Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17 to a total of 100,000 fans, with support acts from The Charlatans, Jake Bugg and The Snuts, Travis and Vistas.
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