This should have been the first gig of the tour for renowned rockers The Darkness, but their return to their home county sold out so quickly that Ipswich Regent was blessed with two nights. The venue was packed on both nights with an eager crowd. With their new album Dreams On Toast out at the end of the month, there was plenty of new music to look forward to and expectations were high.
The Darkness @ Ipswich Regent Theatre
Ably supporting were Northern Irish indie-rock legends Ash, in the same slot as they were for the legendary Winternational tour of 2004. Clearly old favourites with the crowd, their set of massive hits like Shinning Light, Girl From Mars and Burn Baby Burn along with newer songs went down a treat. We were also treated to a preview of their upcoming song Jump In The Line, a lively cover of Harry Belafonte’s classic, which is due for release in early April which received rapturous applause – a fitting response to their energy and performance. Supporting acts at a seated venue couldn’t ask for much more, and once in standing ones it will deservedly and massively increase.
The strains of ABBA’s Arrival heralded both the heroes and a wave of fans jumping to their feet. No one could willingly sit through what was to come. Rock And Roll Party Cowboy set the tone for the night – power, speed and energy blasted from the stage right from the first note. A mix of released and unheard material from Dreams On Toast formed the backbone of the set list, which was also studded with fan favourites from several albums – an interesting and varied mix for newcomers and hardcore alike.
There’s a mix of tempo too – drummer Rufus Taylor coming out from behind the kit to perfom his self penned ballad My Only in a voice thats been under a bushel until now. His tribute to his beloved dog The Don is accompanied by big screen photos to warm your heart. He also sings a slow duet with Justin late in the set, tonight augmented with giggles as the frontman kisses him on the cheek half way through – or tried to.
Staples such as 2003 hit single I Believe In A Thing Called Love, Givin’ Up and Love Is Only A Feeling bring everyone together in their adulation, with the Love On The Rocks finale lifting the roof of this fine theatre – because theatrical it was.
Rock overlord Justin Hawkins is on fine form – no catsuit, but suits and sparkly cowboy boots equally striking – revelling in his art forms of guitar and humour, he owns the venue and everyone in it. He continues to delight crowds with what he does and says, whether bantering with his usual nonsense or exhorting the crowd to buy lanyards with tracks, videos and an album preorder embedded within it. For the record, they cost FIVE ENGLISH POUNDS and are available at the MERCH DESK. New chant traditions have been born.
When not selling, the 49-year-old Surrey man is jumping about and whirling like a dervish. Brother Dan Hawkins brings his own intense, skilful playing and rocking out to the Party. Rufus’ newly unveiled vocal talents gives everyone a lot to talk about, but his drumming remains as hard, inventive and precise as The Darkness could ever want or need. Frankie Poullain is as cool as always, basslines driving the crowd to bouncing in their places or down the front, wherever they wanted to be.
If two nights with the audience being in rows and distanced results in this kind of noise and fervour, then the rest of the tour is going to be absolutely mental. As it should be. Rock and Roll deserves to die, but reincarnate it like The Darkness do tonight and we’ll all be rocking till the sun goes down forever.
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Justin Hawkins of The Darkness @ Ipswich Regent Theatre (Emma Shaw)
Live review of The Darkness with Ash at Regent Theatre, Ipswich on 7th March 2025 by Jo Cumming. Photography by Emma Shaw.
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