Steve Hackett / The Unique Family Affair At Trading Boundaries

January 23, 2024

For the past decade, the esteemed Steve Hackett has been playing one weekend of intimate candlelit acoustic shows at Trading Boundaries. This has become an institution and, unsurprisingly, always sells out well in advance of the concerts. This weekend was no different.

Steve Hackett

Trading Boundaries, Fletching, East Sussex – 21 January 2024

Words And Photography: Adrian Stonley

For those not in the know, Trading Boundaries is a small venue based deep in the heart of the Sussex countryside. Yet, despite their bijoux appearance, they have established an overwhelming reputation for high-quality intimate concerts involving the cream of the progressive rock world. One sure highlight was in August 2023, when they held the John Wetton Tribute Concert, which was beamed worldwide.

So, tonight is no different. A packed venue, with bated breath, awaited Steve Hackett, who was more than ably assisted by his brother John on Flutes and regular band members Rob Townsend (on woodwind) and Roger King (on keyboards). Sadly, Amanda Lehmann had to pull out at the last minute due to ill health.

These shows are a complete diversion from the usual Steve Hackett live experience, allowing him and the band to showcase the softer side of his music. There is a wider repertoire of material on show. This is not your standard rock ‘n’ roll show or a bombastic Genesis set. It is less formulaic and certainly allows for banter between Steve and the band, as well as the audience, who are actively encouraged to join in.

There is an intimacy around these concerts. It shows Steve musically stripped bare and possibly at his most vulnerable. There is a delicate ambience to proceedings and an appreciative audience who remain silent during all pieces yet meet with tumultuous applause and response at the close of each song.

It must also be recognised that the band in John, Rob and Roger are just as key to the proceedings as Steve himself, with the woodwind and keys enhancing proceedings and adding to the magic of the evening. This may be a Steve Hackett show, but it is not all about one man.

These concerts are very special, and those fortunate enough to obtain tickets are very lucky indeed.

There is an unabashed joy in the performance tonight with pieces covering the entire repertoire of Steve’s musical heritage. The concert is split into two sets. The first starts with Jacuzzi from the Defector album. This is rapidly followed by a trilogy of excerpts from Genesis, an acoustic greatest hits comprising the gentler moments from Suppers Ready, After The Ordeal and Hairless Heart.

Yet, the band are feeling clearly at home this evening and are not uncomfortable in putting together small improvised pieces which enable them all to highlight their individual musical prowess.

A brief dive into the Sketches Of Satie album sees the two brothers playing Gnossienne No. 1, which highlights not only their own individual musical characteristics but also the close family bond between them. The first set closes with Jazz On A Summers Night from The Night Siren and allows the band to stretch out with individual performances dancing around the main theme played by Steve.

The second set starts with House Of The Faun from the Under A Mediterranean Sky album. The first visit of the night to the Bay Of Kings album in the form of Second Chance. This a piece that also featured on his Cured album and was the theme to the 1981 TV show of the same name featuring Ralph Bates and Susannah York.

With the acoustic albums coming more to the fore, it was unsurprising that Steve would dip into Guitar Noir with the mesmeric Walking Away From Rainbows before stepping away and allowing his brother John and Rob Townsend to step up and perform a phenomenal woodwind duet taken from Poulenc’s flute Sonata.

As this closed, Steve and Roger King returned, and the band, now clearly fully fired up, partook in a tongue-in-cheek improvisation before slipping into the soft and melancholic tones of The Red Flower Of Tachai Blooms Everywhere from the Spectral Mornings album.

This in itself signalled the descent towards the end of the main show and the introduction of a number of long-time favourites. This included Hands Of The Priestess and an unstoppable Ace Of Wands, both taken from Steve’s first solo outing, the Voyage Of The Acolyte.

The encore which followed did not actually see the band depart from the stage, but it was clear where we stood. The gentle The Journey from the Bay Of Kings album was preceded by a humorous tale relating to a family member and a bottle of port. Steve introduced it as a relaxing piece, commenting it was music for siestas.

The night closed with the jaunty Bacchus, a firm fan favourite, yet Steve could not help but insert a small rendition of Firth Of Fifth into this.

So, another quite remarkable and triumphant evening over for another year. Yet we know there will be another visitation. For those there, “see you same time next year.”

For those who have yet to witness this side of Steve, I highly recommend you keep your eyes and ears open for next year’s announcement. These tickets fly out of the door.