Jack Daniels' Birthday

Talk about special occasions! The entertainment never drops at the Tennessee Comes To Town gig to celebrate Jack Daniel’s birthday; from the lone guitarist in the corner belting out some cosy country tunes before the show, to the nostalgic film projected on a screen in front of the stage in between acts.
First up is Ellie Goulding, who, admittedly made me go “Really?” when I heard she would be playing alongside tonight’s acts. As much as I was looking forward to seeing an interesting collaboration between Goulding and the others, she began by tearing into a set of her own songs including ‘The Writer’ and ‘Under The Sheets’ before launching into a cover of ‘Roscoe’ by Midlake. Goulding whipped her hair about the place and pounded on a bass drum and crash cymbal with great ferocity, before finishing up with ‘Starry Eyed’.
After a short interval, Tennessee guitar legend Duane Eddy appeared, unveiling classics like ‘Movin’ N Groovin’’ and ‘First Love, First Tears’. Eddy’s echoing guitar pulsated through the Grand, a venue reminiscent of the Olympia, as a sea of Jack Daniel’s stetsons bobbed along to the music. Richard Hawley soon joined Eddy for ‘Still Is The Night’ and ‘Girl On Death Row’.
Following the severe toe-tapping during Duane Eddy’s performance, Hawley remained onstage, assuaging the audience with ‘Tonight The Streets Are Ours’ and ‘Open Up Your Door’ amongst others. Final headliner Jarvis Cocker then emerged to the lone cry of an audience member – “Jarvis, I love you!” – to which the former Pulp frontman replied “you don’t even know me, how could you love me?”. Nonetheless, he had the grace to thank his admirer. Cocker slithered across the stage with Hawley and Eddy intently playing guitar in the background, seducing the audience during a rendition of Elvis Presley classic ‘One Night’. Cocker also treated us to ‘Something Changed’, and a cover of the Everly Brothers’ ‘I Wonder If I Cared As Much’. Ballroom classic ‘Tennessee Waltz’ was also on the setlist, ensuring we were transported back to Mr. Daniel’s hometown.
Next, Ellie Goulding reappeared to join Eddy for a version of Lee Hazlewood’s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’’, closing out the evening in true Jack Daniel’s style.