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Travis put on special show at The Leas Cliff Hall

Travis turned back the clock with a captivating display of The Man Who album at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone last night.

The Scottish four-piece played the album that shot them to fame 19 years ago from start to finish, including hidden track Blue Flashing Light along with other hits from their repertoire in a high-energy performance.

I'd last seen the band perform in 2008 at a festival and was worried they might have lost some of their spark. I shouldn't have been.

Travis released The Man Who in 1999
Travis released The Man Who in 1999

Frontman Fran Healy was as charismatic as ever, bouncing around the stage, belting out hit after hit, backed up by fellow band members Dougie Payne (bass), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar) and Neil Primrose (drums).

The packed crowd were warmed up by special guests Turn Brakes, a band best known for their 2003 album Ether Song including hit single, Painkiller (Summer Rain).

Travis hit the stage with their first single released from the album Writing to Reach You.

Healy's vocals rang out around the fitting venue with the crowd in full voice too, as the band performed hit after hit including: Driftwood, Turn and Why Does It Always Rain on Me? which really got the fans going.

The Man Who album cover
The Man Who album cover

It was the first time I'd heard the record all the way through for many years and it reminded me how special it was, taking me back to my late teenage years and when I first saw the band at a Radio 1 Roadshow in Newquay.

Healy's anecdotes about particular songs along the way also added to the occasion including how his ingenious plan to release Why Does It Always Rain on Me? ahead of Wimbledon backfired, when two weeks of sunshine scuppered his hopes that the song would be played when rain stopped play.

His story of how the song Luv made Liam Gallagher cry when he played it to the hard-as-nails frontman in a caravan while touring with Oasis was particularly amusing.

A special mention must also go to Dunlop on lead guitar who managed to play a solo one handed while downing a bottle of beer.

After a quick break they were back with other singles from throughout their career including Good Feeling, Side and Flowers in the Window before rounding off the performance with the brilliant Sing.

The demand for ‘more’ saw them return to the stage for a rousing rendition of their first ever single All I Want to Do Is Rock before exiting the stage to a well-deserved rapturous applause.

Travis' UK tour continues so if you would like to catch them live for yourself, visit their website travisonline.com for dates and tickets.

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