LIVE REVIEW: Hope & Social @ Village Hall, Hutton Rudby (15.09.24)

Image by Dawn Storey

The Ride is the name of Hope & Social’s latest album – which couldn’t be more fitting for the rollercoaster of emotions that their Hutton Rudby gig brings to the fore. It was 2021 when the boys (and girl) in blue last visited the North East, their touring cruelly halted when frontman Simon was treated for a rare form of Leukemia. But he’s back on his feet, so what better excuse to get back on the road than to celebrate the joy of being alive through the medium of life-affirming songs boosted by a three-piece brass section?

There’s no support act – just two glorious sets from the main band comprising a total of 20 songs and a lot of jubilant crowd singalongs. Revered for their self-deprecating humour as much as for their music, it’s easy to forget that behind the onstage charm and chaos is a superb collection of multi-instrumentalists with at least five brilliant voices between them. While Simon’s distinctive Northern vowels are very much the heart of the band, it’s wonderful to hear guitarist Rich and trumpet player James’ vocals given chance to shine, in moving new song Sweetheart and in their excellent segue into Sometimes by James at the end of Ripples Rock My Boat.

The new material fits seamlessly alongside the old favourites and adds to their already vast collection of lines to live by (“soak yourself in people and drench yourself in life” is emblazoned in the album sleeve) but tonight it’s some of their older words of wisdom which really strike a chord – “we’ll count our blessings and lucky stars” in the aforementioned Ripples Rock My Boat, and Lucky Soul’s “all you’ll need is here”. Hope & Social are a band who make your heart happy and tonight, for those lucky enough to be in a crowded village hall in North Yorkshire, their lyrics couldn’t be more true.