With a hectic summer of dates underway, James brought their headline show to the scenic Lincoln Castle. Backed by The K’s and Tom A. Smith - both seasoned tour mates of the Manchester icons - the night was a perfect blend of history, atmosphere, and exceptional live music.
Tom A. Smith has been on the music scene since he was eight, and with each passing year, both his following and sound continue to grow. Now backed by a full band, his set was brief but undeniably sweet, featuring two of his most anthemic tracks - I Don’t Want You To Have To Remember Me For Longer Than You Ever Knew Me and Little Bits. A talented songwriter and confident frontman, Tom’s strengths truly shone - especially during the new song Fashion, fuelled by Katie Anderson’s gritty bass and highlighted by him dancing freely around the stage without his guitar. If one thing’s clear, it’s that Tom A. Smith is on to great things - and he absolutely adores what he does.
With their second album Pretty On The Internet just a couple of weeks away from release, you’d have expected The K’s to lean heavily on the new material. But aside from the opening track Gravestone, their set stuck entirely to songs from their debut, I Wonder If The World Knows - including fan favourites, Chancer and Sarajevo. The Earlestown band’s set felt less like a preview of what’s to come and more like a victory lap of where they’ve been - loud, fast, and unapologetically confident.
A setting as stunning as Lincoln Castle deserved an equally beautiful opening - and James delivered just that with a spellbinding rendition of Five-O. The extended intro, led by bassist Jim Glennie and multi-instrumentalist Saul Davies, showcased the band’s remarkable chemistry, each member feeding off the other in a moment of quiet brilliance. It was such a powerful start that it left the crowd wondering how they’d follow it. They answered with the soaring Seven, which was a welcome surprise - especially as until a show just days earlier, it hadn’t been performed live since 2023.
Next up was She’s A Star, the third and final track allotted for the photographers’ moment in the spotlight. They were clearly hoping Tim would make his usual trip to the barrier but having injured his ankle during the band’s recent Plymouth show, he was understandably more restrained. Still, Tim didn’t hold back - bringing his trademark energy in bursts, dancing from his swivel chair and moving around the stage as much as his injury allowed. With a gentle acoustic start from Saul, Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) soon exploded into a powerful, infectious performance. Though Tim frequently crowd surfs during the song, tonight he stayed at the front of the stage, delivering his vocals with such fervour that its emotional punch hit just as hard.
Still riding high from the success of their number one album Yummy, James moved into two of its standout tracks - Stay and Better With You. The former, a poignant exploration of perseverance and mental health, stood out with its infectious groove and understated emotional pull. The latter, an apocalyptic love song, saw Tim and Chloe Alper share vocals face to face, their connection on stage adding a striking intimacy to the moment. More than a year on from the album’s release, the songs continue to evolve and shine.
Even while confined to the stage, Tim effortlessly broke down the barrier between band and audience - a quality that sets James apart. Nowhere was this more evident than during Just Like Fred Astaire, as he took a seat at the front of the stage, drawing the crowd in with quiet vulnerability. Chloe joined him for the deeply emotional Moving On, accompanied by its poignant music video - by BAFTA-winning animator Ainslie Henderson - which was projected on the screen behind them. Dedicated to anyone who has lost someone, the performance created a palpable sense of shared experience. For those few minutes, the vast outdoor space felt strikingly intimate, united in reflection and connection.
On a typical Saturday night, most bands would steer clear of slower, more introspective songs - but James aren’t most bands. Their willingness to take risks is a big part of what makes them such a compelling live force. Attention proved that point beautifully, creating one of the night’s most immersive moments. With Mark Hunter steering the keyboard and synth, the track unfolded with quiet intensity, highlighting both the band’s range and their ability to hold a crowd in the palm of their hand, no matter the tempo.
Shadow Of A Giant came next, with Tim taking a seat on the drum riser, shifting the spotlight to Chloe's ethereal vocals and Saul Davies’ hauntingly beautiful violin work. The atmosphere hung in stillness until the first verse unfolded, joined by David Baynton-Power’s steady drumbeat and a soaring trumpet line from Andy Diagram, building the track into something quietly powerful. In stark contrast, the band launched into the raucous Heads - all pounding drums and snarling vocals. A visceral response to the political climate in the United States, it also underscored just how captivating the band’s visuals have been lately.
In a surprise moment, as the shimmering synths of Leviathan kicked in, Tim carefully made his way down to the barrier, leaning on his crutch as he moved along the walkway, singing and interacting warmly with fans. He joked that, having come all that way, he had no plans to head back just yet - choosing to stay at the front for heartfelt renditions of Say Something and Tomorrow. The joy on the band’s faces was unmistakable, mirrored by the crowd’s enthusiasm. After Say Something, Tim noted that he usually searches the audience for someone who fits the mood of the lyrics, but tonight, everyone just looked far too happy.
At a James show, it’s not just the setlist that keeps you guessing - it’s the version of each song too. Sit Down has taken many forms over the years, and this time, the band kicked it off with a thunderous drum intro that sent the entire crowd bouncing. Chloe and percussionist Debbie Knox-Hewson joined the energy, making their way to the barrier for the song’s duration. The momentum didn’t dip as Beautiful Beaches followed, keeping the energy sky-high and closing with a thrilling drum battle between the powerhouse pairing of David and Debbie - now a much-anticipated highlight of the band’s live shows.
Reaching the point in the night where the band would typically leave the stage before the encore, Tim explained they’d be skipping the formalities to save time. What followed was a humorous moment of onstage debate as the band openly discussed what to play next. Saul lobbied for the underrated B-side All Good Boys, only to admit he’d been outvoted. Much to his delight, cheers for the track erupted from the crowd, prompting him to rally fans to help persuade Tim in the future. Ultimately, the band launched into the rousing Born Of Frustration, with Tim’s iconic vocal yelps sending the crowd into a frenzy.
They followed with Sometimes, a track that effortlessly blurs the line between band and audience - from Adrian Oxaal’s mesmerising guitar solo, so captivating that the rest of the band gathered around him in quiet awe, to the anthemic chorus that erupted into a euphoric, crowd-led singalong. With just minutes left, the band were told they had time for one last song - and it turned out to be Laid, sparking one final, ecstatic burst of energy from the crowd to close the night.
Even with an injury keeping him off his feet, Tim delivered a performance full of energy, humour, and heart - never once letting it hold him back. If anything, the limitation brought a new layer of vulnerability to the show, adding a fragile beauty that made the night feel even more special. James didn’t just put on a concert at Lincoln Castle - they created a moment: rich with emotion, full of surprises, and a testament to the band’s enduring ability to connect, uplift, and transform a live setting into something unforgettable.
James' official website can be found here. They are on Facebook and Twitter. Some of the band - Tim, Andy and Dave - are also on Twitter.
We also run the One Of The Three James archive, the most detailed resource for information about the band, and the site also has a Facebook and Twitter page.
TimBoothLyricADay, whose posts often lead to Tim explaining his thought processes behind the lyrics, can be found on Twitter and Facebook
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