Restless fans wait impatiently for the Glaswegian synth pop 80s rockers in the darkness of North Wales’ confined and overflowing Venue Cymru. The lifeless space immediately transforms as a striking light display vanquishes the walls. The eager crowd erupts as the Scottish rabble emerge on stage, followed by lead singer Jim Kerr, flaunting his roots in a tartan jacket, smiling humbly as he greets the audience.

 

The post-punk band showcases an impressive twenty-nine track back catalogue of their finest material over the past three decades. The set list comprises tracks from their sixteenth and latest studio album Big Music, released in 2014, as well as embracing songs from their early edgy and unconventional days of the late 70s.

 

The alternative, new wave futurists remain equally as exhilarated and energetic throughout the entirety of the performance, illuminating their individual style to electronic trance rock pop. Simple Minds deliver flawless and harmonic acoustic versions of  ‘The American’ and ‘Home’, before a tender and atmospheric interpretation of ‘Rivers of Ice’, starring vocals, guitar and keys by Catherine A.D. who joined the band for the 2015 Big Music tour.

 

The calmative atmosphere is abandoned as set one closes with an explosion, with the 1985 arena filling hit ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ from the film The Breakfast Club.

 

The band’s Scottish roots are accentuated as Kerr murmurs that they are in need of a glass of whiskey and a bite of shortbread. The crowd chuckles as the collective members disperse off stage for a fifteen-minute interval and outfit change.

 

Set two opens with contemporary renditions of ‘Book of Brilliant Things’ and ‘East at Easter’, featuring vocals by the artistic and talented Sarah Brown, who joined the band in 2009. Brown’s stage presence adds a fresh element of creativity to the performance, allowing the band to connect to a modern and younger audience.

 

The performance captures a current take on the wide spectrum of the ensemble, showcasing material from their conception in 1977 through to the modern day, exhibiting the distinguishable talents of Kerr, Mel Gaynor (drums), Charlie Burchill (guitar) and Andy Gillespie (keys) appealing to the loyal and older audience, yet encapsulating an up-to-date atmosphere with the newer members.