25th August 2003 - Queens Square, Bristol, England

Itinerary:
Doors 14:00
Lupine Howl 15:00
Martina Topley-Bird 16:15
The Bees 17:15
Goldfrapp 18:15
The Streets 19:30
Massive Attack 21:00
Nick Warren was on the wheels of steel between the bands.

Pictures: Avalanche, Peter Stessels, Florence & Simon Wheatley

Bristol Evening Post
TWO years after the initial idea for a Bristol homecoming, Massive Attack appeared on stage last night to face a sea of 20,000 fans, friends and family in the city's Queen Square. "We can't believe this is happening," shouted tearful frontman Robert Del Naja (3D), visibly moved by the moment. Of course, this was always going to be more than just another gig by Bristol's biggest musical export. For the band, it was only their third Bristol appearance in a career that started almost two decades ago, and therefore a milestone of sorts, but this was one of those events that had virtually slipped into the music history books as soon as the gates were opened earlier in the afternoon. In the run-up to the show, Massive Attack were characteristically vocal about the fact that the only reason they were playing an open-air event in the heart of the city was because there simply wasn't a big enough venue to stage events by bands of their size. It was a sentiment echoed throughout the performance by both main band members, who called for Bristol to get the long-awaited arena it so desperately needs. The day had been kick-started by fellow Bristol band Lupine Howl, the first of five hand-picked support acts, who were followed by former Tricky collaborator and ex-Clifton College schoolgirl Martina Topley-Bird, making her Bristol debut with tracks from her soulful Mercury Music Prize-nominated album, Quixotic. Isle of Wight band The Bees provided some suitably mellow, chilled-out late-afternoon tunes, and West Country-based Goldfrapp moved things up a gear with a set based around their two albums, singer Alison Goldfrapp dressing like a dominatrix at a German electro-clash club, but singing like a 70s disco diva. But if any band was going to really warm-up the swelling crowd gathering for Massive Attack, it was going to be Birmingham garage hero Mike Skinner and The Streets. Skinner has spent the summer playing every major festival in Europe and even though his set still revolves around his acclaimed album, Original Pirate Material, he has blossomed into a very able live performer indeed. With stage foil Kevin Mark Trail, Skinner rocketed through crowd-pleasing versions of his well-observed tales of life in Blair's Britain, including Don't Mug Yourself, Too Much Brandy and Weak Become Heroes. As darkness fell on Queen Square, there was a genuine sense of occasion as the stage lights dimmed and the lengthy introduction for Massive Attack crackled and fizzed into life. Having spent most of 2003 on tour promoting their fourth album, 100th Window, across the globe this was always destined to be a well-honed performance. When it was released, the album - recorded solely by 3D while Daddy G was taking a sabbatical - divided the critics, but it has become an integral part of their live set, as well as choice cuts from Blue Lines, Mezzanine and Protection. A dark, intricate collection of songs, 100th Window may lack the memorable tunes of its predecessors, but most of it works well in a live capacity. The album provided the atmospheric opening track Future Proof, with 3D taking lead vocals in front of a touring band that featured long-standing Massive Attack guitarist Angelo Bruschini. Newcomers to the Massive live experience, confused in thinking that the main band members perform the material together, would have soon realised that Daddy G and 3D rarely appear on stage at the same time. Daddy G sauntered on stage just four times during the performance, although these fleeting appearances provided highlights such as Karmacoma, complete with a trademark bassline that rumbled along the ground and was powerful enough to rattle ribcages. As well as 3D, lead vocal duties were shared by reggae legend Horace Andy (on classic tracks like Hymn Of The Big Wheel), former One Dove singer Dot Allison (standing in for Liz Fraser on Teardrop) and Debbie Marshall. With a backdrop consisting of a gigantic LCD screen spewing out data - a spellbinding mix of statistics from the Iraq war, details of global consumption, text messages from fans and even satellite navigation maps pinpointing areas of Bristol - this was as much a visual assault on the senses as an aural one. From Mezzanine, Inertia Creeps, blended in perfectly with the darker material from 100th Window, but it was the brilliant Safe From Harm and Unfinished Sympathy that proved that what people really wanted was to end the day with the band's more soulful and accessible material. Anybody who expected the band to finish on such a note were lulled into a sense of false security with Group Four, which slowly built up into a breathtaking climax of distorted guitars and keyboards and an apocalyptic storm of strobes and green lasers piercing the darkness and flashing across the tree tops of Queen Square. By the end, 3D and Daddy G were embracing at the front of the stage, soaking up the moment and shaking the hands of the fans in the front row. This was always going to be a homecoming to beat all others, but it was more than that. This was a special thank you from Massive Attack to fellow Bristolians for their loyal support in what has been their most testing year. It was also a landmark concert for the city and hopefully sets a precedent for similar major musical events in the heart of the city.

Bristol Evening Post
Bristol's Queen Square was the scene for the long-awaited homecoming of the city's favourite band, Massive Attack.
More than 19,000 music fans packed into the city's historic square to see the Bristol-based outfit perform in front of an ecstatic crowd. It was their first gig in Bristol since 1998 and the band were the driving force behind the outdoor concert to say a thank-you to their home-based supporters. Their set was the climax to a day which had begun eight hours earlier at 1pm, when the first revellers began drifting to the square to enjoy the late afternoon Bank Holiday sunshine. An hour later the streets around Queen Square were filled with music fans - eager to find their spot for one of the biggest outdoor concerts to be staged in Bristol for years. The open-air event was the first to be organised in Bristol's most famous square, and in the lead-up to the concert every effort was put into ensuring it went smoothly. Prior to the event, a ring of steel was put up around the site to prevent people without tickets from getting in. Police and security staff were also drafted in to make sure everything went without a hitch. A total of 22 officers patrolled inside and outside during the concert. Sgt David Leyden said the event had been well organised. He said: "Security staff have done a good job. There have been no arrests and it's been very well humoured." Massive Attack, which came to prominence in the 1990s with melodic hits such as Unfinished Sympathy and Teardrop, were not the only draw at the event.
The Streets, Goldfrapp and former Tricky collaborator Martina Topley Bird played support. Hotly tipped Isle of Wight band the Bees and Lupine Howl, which features former members of Indie band Spiritualised, also entertained the crowd. Organisers have said the concert, which was licensed by Bristol City Council, could pave the way for more inner-city gigs in future.
On the night it seems the planning by the organisers had paid off, although there were complaints that there were not enough beer tents.
The band played a one-hour 45-minute set, finishing at 10.45pm.