Live Review: Al Stewart @ Fairfield Halls.

by | Oct 25, 2013

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

It is always nice to photograph your heroes and Al Stewart is one of mine. The people at Fairfield Halls in Croydon made it all possible with their bend over backwards care, thought and great customer service.

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

Al has been around since the mid 1960’s when he got his first break appearing on a BBC TV folk music show, back in the day when the UK had only one TV channel. His early records made him more than a folk icon and he found himself cast as a historical balladeer.

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

This style set him apart from his contemporaries, Cat Stevens, Roy Harper and even Paul Simon with whom he once shared a flat. His set at the Fairfield Halls was a low key affair, the night before at the Royal Albert Hall he had a big band and played a strict set list, here he played what he wanted in an all acoustic fashion mixing Time Passages and On The Border with not oft performed early songs like You Should Have Listened To Al.

Al Stewart live and acoustic. Fairfield Halls, Croydon. (Simon Jay Price)

Al went on to enlarge his sound and add more and more players to his band which helped give him the big FM radio hits in the USA with songs like Time Passages, Year of the Cat and Song On The Radio.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000r1l404AmFyI” g_name=”Al-Stewart” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Rocky Rockshot. 24th October 2013. Croydon.

NOTHING (Luke Ivanovich)

NOTHING Unveil New Single ‘Toothless Coal’ And Announce UK & Ireland Tour Dates

Philadelphia shoegaze heavyweights NOTHING have kicked off 2026 with the release of their new single toothless coal, the latest track to be taken from their forthcoming fifth studio album a short history of decay, due out on 27th February.

Converge (Jason Zucco)

Converge Announce New Album ‘Love Is Not Enough’ And Share Stark New Single ‘We Were Never The Same’

Converge have shared a powerful new single, We Were Never The Same, offering another stark glimpse into their forthcoming album Love Is Not Enough, due for release on 13th February.

Mika @ Latitude Festival 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

MIKA Announces Intimate UK Stripped-Back Shows To Celebrate New Album ‘Hyperlove’

MIKA has announced a special run of intimate, stripped-back performances and in-store talks across the UK to celebrate...
Matt Cardle (Martin Wagdin) expanded

Matt Cardle Returns With New Single ‘Fading Lights’ And Announces First Album In Seven Years

Matt Cardle kicks off 2026 with renewed purpose as he unveils his brand new single Fading Lights, marking the beginning of a bold new chapter for the multi-platinum artist. The track is the latest preview of Cardle’s forthcoming album The Great Escape, due for release on 10th April and set to be his first full-length record in seven years.

Zach Bryan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Jennifer McCord)

Zach Bryan Releases Expansive New Album ‘With Heaven On Top’ And Announces Global Stadium Tour

Oologah, Oklahoma-hailing Country singer Zach Bryan has unveiled his long-awaited sixth studio album, With Heaven On...
Angel Du$t (Nat Wood)

Angel Du$t Return With New Single ‘I’m The Outside’ Ahead of Upcoming Album ‘COLD 2 THE TOUCH’

Angel Du$t are showing no signs of slowing down as they share I’m The Outside, a new single and video taken from their...
The Wildhearts @ O2 Academy Islington (Louise Phillips)

The Wildhearts vs. Meryl Streek Ignite London’s O2 Academy Islington

Tonight is The Wildhearts’ traditional December London show, a dual celebration of Christmas and Ginger Wildheart’s birthday — he turns 61 on 17th December. This year the festivities take place at North London’s O2 Academy Islington, with Meryl Streek as the sole support act.

Spike And The Gimme Gimmes @ O2 Forum Kentish Town (Nick Allan)

Here’s Another Cover: Spike And The Gimme Gimmes Turn Christmas Into A Punk Rock Singalong Riot

Spike And The Gimme Gimmes don’t just play shows – they turn rooms into shared experiences, where sweat, nostalgia, and punk energy collide at full volume. On this night, at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, that collision came wrapped in Christmas lights, tinsel, and unapologetic festive excess.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing