Chantel McGregor/Big River -
Cambridge Junction 2, Thursday 26th June, 2025
Set List: Hometown Hustler/Long Way/Don’t Hold Out/Devils Whisky/Why Should I/Beautiful Trauma/Higher Ground/Rattlesnake Love/Wings/Preacher.
A crowd of near 500 attend the venue for this, the final gig of the tour. With 29 shows in 35 days and covering a distance of over 6000 miles, countless visits to Wetherspoons, breakdowns and being pooed on by a seagull, it’s been eventful!
I have been lucky enough to attend 3 of these shows (unlike a few hardened fans who have attended many more - dedication indeed!), each one offering something special and unique as our West Yorkshire lass and her band have grown in confidence delivering their new album, 'The Healing' in its stunning entirety.
The shows have featured different support acts and tonight we have 'Big River' who perform their set of Blues driven Hard Rock with power and emotion. Blue Nation who have featured in many of the shows make the short journey from Geordie land to Cambridge to be present, showing their support and the connections developed throughout the tour.
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Big River, a four piece from Kent formed in 2016, really look the part. Big hats and a big presence with Lead Singer, Adam Barron having almost ankle length hair (exaggeration!) and a massive beard with his big hat and playing his baby guitar (ukulele) for some of the show: this image is further exaggerated.
It hasn’t been easy for Big River in recent times as I discover while talking to Adam. He had been struck down with a life changing illness which put the band on hold just as they were getting traction and noticed. This illness meant being able to sing again was doubtful, actually his life looked like it could be cut short.
At the Junction tonight one would never know this, such is the performance by Adam and the band that consisted of Becky Scott (Drums), Damo Fawsett (Guitar) and Simon Gardiner (Bass). From opener, ‘Hometown Hustler’ to the finish of Bad Company’s ‘Deal With The Preacher’ (Mick Ralphs) the 45-minute set flies by. Adam emotional as he introduces this last song, dedicating it to the legend who lost his battle with life last week…
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During my conversation with him I learn why this loss has hit him so hard. It turns out he had been the frontman in Ralph’s touring band for many years. He tells me how Ralph loved being on the road in a transit van touring Europe. He wasn’t an ego fuelled Rock Star, just a great bloke who loved being one of the boys and playing his guitar. R.I.P Mick Ralphs.
Best songs for me are ‘Beautiful Trauma’ and the impassioned ‘Wings’.
Set List: I Will Breathe/Broken Heartless Liar/Tears/Stand On My Own/Echoes/Undercover/Truth Will Out /The Healing/Lose Control/Burn Your Anger/Your Fever/Creep/April. (not in this order, review will explain.)
There is an air of expectancy as the show begins with ‘I Will Breathe’ creating an urgency that surges through the songs, so much so that by the close of the fourth song we have gained ten minutes.
Looking bemused and bewildered and entertaining us with her own kind of banter and much to the amusement of her band members and the audience alike, Colin removes the only set list for the show from her view which sparks some spontaneity.
Chantel isn’t really sticking to this anyway and apart from the opening and closing numbers no one is really sure what is coming next, most notably her! Ha…Ha…! An extra song ‘Lose Control’ is played which gets the timing back on track and is very energised.
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However, this is Jamie Brooks’s chance to perform a solo on the keyboards and Chantel has forgotten! After a bit more banter with the crowd we are retreated to most of the song along with Jamie’s solo. It was well worth it!
Maybe we need a bit more of that hilarious between song banter that we have so come to love and expect! And we are promised her ‘Oscar’ speech later.
The songs are performed with pace and power displaying the confidence of their progression and how they have evolved at the live shows. ‘Broken Heartless Liar’ is sung and played with venom and angst as it targets those who emotionally destroy another. Later in the set ‘Truth Will Out’ focusses on misogynist manipulation within the music industry. Well, Chantel does it her way, without compromise.
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Her shows are quite the ‘dressy’ affair and tonight we see many ladies in her chosen attire. For this tour, she has adopted a black dress to reflect the ‘misery’ of the lyrics to the new album, but she maintains an informal and casual air with her bare feet and natural ‘girl next door’ looks along with often hilarious banter. The complete antithesis of her singing and playing.
The whole show is breathtaking. For me ‘Creep’ is the highlight. Chantel performs without guitar, commenting she feels naked! She looks exposed and vulnerable, but delivers a magical moment of beauty, her voice is simply sublime…agraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
As the show nears its conclusion, we are privy to the Oscar speech to great hilarity as, lost in the moment she calls it her Octopus speech! She could be a stand-up comedienne. Parents, band mates, soundmen, lighting guys and most importantly us the fans get thanked, she omits the seagull!
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‘The Healing’ closes the show, as it does the album of the same name. What a night and what a tour! It's filled with unrelenting magic! One to remain in the memory for years. If you haven’t entered the world of Chantel McGregor then you really need to!
By Paul Mace