The Dunwells

Leeds Town Hall

Expectation was in the air when local band The Dunwells prepared for their biggest ever show in their home city of Leeds.

Playing a show at the magnificent Leeds Town Hall fulfilled an ambition for band members who have worked hard honing their skills on the road in both America and the UK.

Long, gruelling hours of travel, especially in the States, with the odd incentive thrown in such as appearing at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago and Hop Farm, Bingley Live, Cornbury and Triumph Live in the UK culminated in a much anticipated show at the awe-inspiring Leeds Town Hall.

This was going to be a homecoming to remember. The Dunwells’ team had worked hard to stage this show and for months posters have adorned the approved lamppost and street cylinder spaces all around Leeds.

Appearances on Radio Leeds and in all the regional media heralded the staging of the band’s biggest ever show in their home city.

Their sound engineer and tour manager Sean Murphy-Wells had brought together a big team from his Subfrantic organisation to cope with the challenging demands of providing sound and lighting in the cavernous venue.

The lighting in the show was spectacular, highlighting every nook and crannie in this splendid building.

The audience enjoyed sets from Leeds singer/songwriter Hannah Trigwell and Bradford band Man Can’t Fly before Pudsey brothers Dave and Joe Dunwell and Yeadon cousins Jonny Lamb and Rob Clayton took to the stage.

The audience got everything they had hoped for and more – much, much more.

In a slick and highly professional performance they were taken on an hour long journey which showcased this band’s sublime talents.

They rocked it with anthemic numbers such as ‘I Could Be A King’, ‘So Beautiful’ and ‘Hand That Feeds’; they drew every last drop of emotion from tracks such as ‘Oh Lord’ and showcased tracks from their upcoming second album with ‘Sleepless Nights’, ‘Light Up The Skies’ and ‘Communicate’.

They switched between the thunderous anthemic tracks and the hauntingly beautiful solo offering ‘I Want To Be’ with Joe Dunwell left standing alone in a spotlight on the huge Town Hall stage.

Drummer Jonny Lamb showed off his vocal talents as the band re-emphasied the fact that they have three major vocal talents within this band, each with a different but appealing tone.

Their final song “The Best Is Yet To Come’ proved prophetic as the encore included a stunning version of the Imogen Heap song ‘Hide And Seek’.

They ended a memorable show with the stomping ‘Follow The Road’ which had the audience dancing in the aisles.

Rachel O’Connor