Music / Reviews
Review: Hawkwind, Bristol Beacon
You can always tell a Hawkwind fan’s dedication by asking when they first saw the band live. My answer (Oct 28, 1978, at the long-vanished Paignton Festival Theatre, with the late, great Bob Calvert on vocals) always seemed hopelessly inadequate next to those who’d experienced them at some free festival in a muddy field during the early ‘70s. But – holy crap! – that was nearly half a century ago, when I was a pimply schoolboy.
Hawkwind were in their theatrical pomp back then – albeit in Hawklords guise, apparently for legal reasons – and have been through many incarnations over the years, reaching their nadir during the ravey-davey years, when Dave Brock’s guitar was all but inaudible. But those of us who kept the faith have been rewarded for our patience with a return to rockin’ on recent albums.
Before that, however, we get a slide show from the DogLost charity showcasing missing mutts, accompanied by the classic sounds of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (geddit?). This occasionally leads to some odd juxtapositions, such as sad-eyed hounds being soundtracked by Viv Stanshall’s fruity tones on Death Cab For Cutie and Jollity Farm, but the sentiment is commendable and it’s an excellent way of filling that dead space before the headliners come on.
According to Setlist FM, Hawkwind have played this venue 14 times before tonight, albeit in its former guise as the Hall That Dare Not Speak its Name, which must be some kind of record. But thanks to local promoters Extra Terrestrial Promotions and Velvet Echoes, this is the veteran space rockers’ first time at the Beacon. Better still, those of us who’ve been bellowing for years for them to turn the bloody guitars up have finally been heeded. The current keyboard player, who goes by the name Thighpaulsandra and has previously played with Coil and Julian Cope, contents himself with subtle embellishments.
As usual, the band members are dwarfed by banks of lasers and projections, but there’s a big difference in terms of sound quality. We’ve become used to fairly a muddy live sound from Hawkwind, with inaudible stage announcements and banter, but tonight it’s splendidly clear, taking full advantage of the new hall’s improved acoustics. It all adds up to the best local Hawkwind show in years.
The setlist is also well judged, being frontloaded with more recent stuff and rarities such as Mask of the Morning, broken up with a crowd-pleasing Levitation, before dipping back to Warrior on the Edge of Time for The Golden Void and the Longfellow-quoting Assault and Battery. A welcome Rocky Paths from Sonic Attack gives guitarist Magnus Martin a chance to shine and prove that he amply fills the shoes of the late Huw Lloyd-Langton. Founder Dave Brock is on fine voice throughout and seems less inclined to hide himself away behind mountains of gear, as he has on previous tours, though he uses cheat sheets for the more wordy lyrics, which he blames on his advancing years.
But you’ve got to feel sorry for drummer Richard Chadwick. Heart issues mean he can’t take his rightful place behind the kit, which means a young chap called Dylan gets to show that he’s more than equal to the challenge, even if he probably couldn’t get served at the bar. Richard has to content himself with playing bongos and occasional tambourine, which is evidently frustrating.
An extended Steppenwolf from the great Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music album proves a real highlight, underlining the importance of the Calvert years to Hawkwind’s canon. They finish by stepping back to 1972 for a magnificent Born to Go.
But Hawkwind aren’t doe yet. Brock teases Spirit of the Age if we all promise to sing along, as if we needed any encouragement. Then it’s back to his busking years in the ‘60s for a rarely played treat in the form of Hawkwind’s very first single, the distinctive singalong Hurry On Sundown. For a while back then, it seemed as though we wouldn’t see Hawkwind again. But if they stay on this form, it looks as though they could be enjoying a fourth or possibly fifth, er, wind.
Read more: Bristol’s month in Metal & Prog: June 2026
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