Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

Review by Richard Wigington
Another superb performance by Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood but was it all over the garden fence? Steve is a superb musician, great guitar player so it would have been ideal to have heard more guitar playing by Mr. Winwood at last night’s show. Steve’s Surf Green Fender Strat fitted with Fender Gold Lace Sensor pickups and into the Fender Twin Reverb black face amplifier is such a superb guitar / amp choice that to steal the guitar away at the beginning after one song was disappointing enough but then for it not to re-emerge for nearly two hours was a bitter blow. Instead, Steve was neatly tucked away behind the Organ and Piano narrowly coming short of a Rick Wakeman moment engulfed in blocks of timber construction to Eric’s centre stage presence. Perhaps this had more to do with the actual stage size than anything else.

I am not complaining but this really made the show feel less like a Clapton / Winwood gig and more of a Clapton gig with Steve Winwood on keys and guest vocals. Perhaps that was the intention. Last year’s Clapton / Winwood gig at Wembley Arena was a dual shared experience with pretty much the whole night split 50/50.

Talking of guitars though it was cool EC switched to a Black Strat for Voodoo Chile and correct me if I’m wrong but it did sound as though he borrowed SW Fender Twin for amplification rather than his own Tweed amp. I was near the back but the reverb of this track was notable.

A great night and a packed Royal Albert Hall on a Bank Holiday Monday!

Review by Paolo Baiotti / Torino, Italy
We flew from Italy to see Eric and Steve play two shows at the legendary Royal Albert Hall. What a great theater! First night (29 May) we were in the stalls, next night (30 May) in the gallery standing places. Anyway both nights were very good, even if sometimes it seems that the “surprise” factor of the first New York shows has vanished, replaced by a feeling of routine. The sensation I have is that sometimes Eric doesn’t give all he could give, while the setlist of the New York shows was stronger than some of today’s choices. I didn’t like the arrangement of some tracks like Hoochie Coochie Man and Key To the Highway, both too fast and with useless backing vocals and there was no slow blues (like Double Trouble or Ramblin’ on my Mind on the live album). But the shows were great with magnificent acoustic sets. The first night Still Got The Blues was a nice surprise, That’s No Way was excellent and Layla superb. Next night a wonderful Driftin’ and a moving Can’t Find My Way Home were the highlights with the terrific Voodoo Chile and the Mr. Fantasy encore. Steve voice was superb on Georgia On My Mind while Pearly Queen and the Glad/Well Alright medley were other great moments. Steve and Eric are born to play together, they blend perfectly even when they play both guitar and the sound of the hammond organ is still unmatched. Thanks for playing together!

Review by Julia Farrington
It was amazing. No other word for it. Electrifying is another though come to think of it. So polished. I was so happy that he played his electric guitars most of the time and the acoustics were plugged in. Winwood’s voice was so wonderful. I was a Spencer Davis and Traffic fan. The combination was so wonderful. Eric allowed Stevie to sort of steal the show for a while which was great with Clapton there as well. It was two or more hours of polished superb electric guitar. I felt transported into another world. Unadulterated bliss! The RAH is such a great venue for rock concerts. Thank you Eric and Stevie. I felt truly privileged to be present at the concert and to hear Clapton’s amazing guitar playing.

Review by Szilvia Fazekas / Holland
I bought my concert ticket, booked flight and hotel 7 month ago. I did not know what to expect but I read the book of EC. I love rhythm & blues so I left Holland on the 30th of May to be sure that I deffinitely be on time.
I have never, ever enjoyed music in my life so much as I did enjoy this evening.This was a life time experience, thank you very much for the music. This was pure music, this was not an show to entertain people this was music on the highest level. I don’t know if I ever get a chance to see him again but I save this evening as a life time experience.