Saturday night saw us heading up to The Lomas Hall in Stannington to help celebrate not one, but two 40th birthdays – for David and Jamie. And what a night it turned out to be! A packed hall, a cracking atmosphere, and a playlist full of the biggest hits from the 90s and 00s – it had all the ingredients for a proper birthday blowout.
The Lomas Hall is a brilliant venue for live music. With its high, wide stage at one end, there was plenty of space for us (and all our gear) to stretch out and put on a full show. We had Mark DJing between sets, keeping the tunes flowing while we caught our breath and grabbed a drink.
There was one slightly unexpected twist early in the evening – the oven in the hall broke down, just as the pies were supposed to go in! For a moment it looked like disaster, but quick thinking saved the day. The catering team whisked the pies off site to another oven, and although there was a bit of a delay, everyone was fed and happy before our second set kicked off. And honestly, no great party story is complete without a little chaos!
Set One – Indie Anthems and Singalong Gold
We opened up with “Bohemian Like You” to get everyone in the mood, and it worked a treat. From there, it was a nostalgia-fuelled ride through some of the best tracks of our favourite era – “Teenage Dirtbag,” “She’s Electric,” “Dreaming of You,” and “Parklife” all went down a storm.
A special mention to Ben T, who stepped in on drums for the night – he absolutely smashed it and kept us tight from start to finish. The crowd were in fine voice too, especially for “Roll With It” and “Mardy Bum.” We closed the first set with “Dakota,” which had the whole room singing along at full volume.
Set Two – Dancefloor Mayhem
After the (eventually) successful pie break and a few of Mark’s bangers on the decks, we launched into “Take Me Out” to kick off the second half. From there, things just got louder, sweatier, and more glorious – “Valerie,” “Common People,” “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” and “Mr Brightside” all keeping the dancefloor full.
By the time we hit “Sex On Fire” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” it felt like every voice in the room was singing in unison – arms around mates, pints in the air, and pure 00s joy. We rounded off the night with “Seven Nation Army,” which turned into a massive chant that could probably be heard across Stannington.
A Night to Remember
Huge thanks again to David and Jamie for having us – and happy 40th! Thanks also to Mark for DJing and to Ben T for jumping on drums and keeping the rhythm rock solid. Despite the oven drama, the night was a total success and a proper celebration of two top blokes.
Until next time, Stannington – you were brilliant.
