REVIEW: The Sherlocks ‘Wake Up’ O2 Academy Sheffield to launch UK tour

It was a surprise treat for fans as they launched their UK tour with a sold out show at O2 Academy Sheffield. The gig was more like an end of tour homecoming for the South Yorkshire band, writes Richard Derbyshire.

In the two and a half years since their last Sheffield gig, the four-piece have secured a second top 20 album with Under Your Sky, supported Liam Gallagher in Europe and won new fans all over the world.

Now frontman Kiaran Crook, his brother and drummer Brandon, lead guitarist Josh Davidson and his brother and bassist Andy were back in the city where it had all started, and with their biggest ever setlist – see full list below – in front of more than 2,000 fans.

BUY TICKETS: See The Sherlocks on tour – playing Birmingham O2 Institute (Feb 23), Nottingham Rock City (Feb 25), Liverpool Invisible Wind Factory (Feb 26), Leeds O2 Academy (Feb 27), Newcastle Boiler Shop (Feb 28), Glasgow (Feb 29), London Electric Ballroom (March 2), Bristol Thekla (March 3), Brighton Concorde 2 (March 5), Southampton Engine Rooms (March 6), Cardiff Tramshed (March 7). Tickets at thesherlocksmusic.co.uk.

Also see The Sherlocks back in Sheffield this summer playing the city’s Tramlines festival, in Hillsborough Park, on Saturday, August 1. For tickets visit tramlines.org.uk.

They have played bigger venues elsewhere, but it is here, in Sheffield, where there is the greatest clamour for their infectious guitar music, something that hasn’t changed since early shows at Rocking Chair, Plug and The Leadmill.

The upbeat, but ominous Magic Man kicks things off; Escapade, Blue and Last Night still resonate fiercely, while melodic recent singles Waiting and NYC (Sing It Loud), dedicated to Kiaran and Brandon’s Grandad, are new crowd favourites.

Sweet sounding album track Dreams and latest release One Day share a wide-eyed optimism and contrast nicely with big rock numbers like Nobody Knows and Live For The Moment.

Later, it was back to 1989 with a cover of The Stone Roses’ I am the Resurrection being greeted by a sea of bouncing fans in new Sherlocks merchandise bucket hats, perhaps the start of a new craze for Sheffield.

Boxing enthusiast Kiaran then led a sing along in support of Tyson Fury, on the eve of the fighter’s rematch with Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas.

Sixteen months away from the UK circuit is a long time away, but somethings don’t change and the chorus to final song Chasing Shadows was still being sung as the house lights went on.

The Sherlocks have played this venue before, but now with two records under their belts and years more experience, this gig was another step up for the Bolton upon Dearne pair of brothers.

Killer songs and hard graft are why this group have pulled themselves up from playing the smallest pubs and clubs to academy-sized venues and beyond.

Now, emboldened from Sheffield, they take their message to the rest of Britain.

Fans at O2 Academy Sheffield were treated to the live debut of what could be the first song from The Sherlocks’ third album.

Wake Up, a catchy upbeat number, which has the potential to be a new anthem like Chasing Shadows.

Kiaran said the song had only been written a few weeks ago and has already been recorded with legendary Manic Street Preachers producer Dave Eringa, who previously worked on their single Will You Be There?

“It’s a very fresh tune,” he said. “I wrote it, the lads loved it, so we contacted Dave and booked a date in at Rockfield, although, at that point, I had only written one verse, so I had to finish it quickly!

“I wanted to write a tune like Chasing Shadows, a proper banger, not much more than three chords.

“We recorded it in the same studio used by Oasis and Stone Roses, Now, a few weeks later, we are playing it for the first time tonight - that is how much we rate the song and how quickly things happen with us.”

Earlier in the evening, Birmingham’s Ivory Wave drew a big early crowd and showed why The Sherlocks had chosen them for main support on this tour, although they had to cut their last song when lead singer George Johnson suffered voice problems.

The Sherlocks setlist from The O2 Academy Sheffield, February 21, 2020

Magic Man

Escapade

Blue

NYC (Sing It Loud)

Last Night

Dreams

Wake Up

Will You Be There?

One Day

Heart of Gold

I Want It All

I Am The Resurrection (cover)

Nobody Knows

Under Your Sky

Live For the Moment

Waiting

Chasing Shadows