I'm not very good at writing reviews as I can never remember the set lists but here goes.Drove up to Granada from Marbella (about 2.5 hours) arrived at Atarfe bullring to pick the tickets up at around 11am to find no ticket office,the stage was being errected so we had a walk round ,chatted to some of the crew and commiserated with them having to set up in over 40+C.Eventually found out they dont set the box office up until 2 hours before the show,Saxon were due on at 10-30 pm.Now the Atarfe Bullring is a new building,so new it wasnt really finished,the car park and roads to it hadnt been made yet ,the Saxon/Purple gig was the first for the venue,their was no posters or anything to say the gig was going to take place at all,so at this stage, as we drove out on a dirt track at the back of the Ring,we were a bit apprehensive as to what we were going to see or if anyone would turn up.Their was much conjecture as to how Ian Gillan at 60yrs old would cope with the stifling heat,we werent expecting a long concert.As it turned out we shouldnt have been so pessimistic.
I should say that our group consisted of my brother ,a spritely 49 yr old,my wife 'I'm not standing up for hours at my age',19yr nephew and my two sons 17 and 15yrs 'Who is the promoter,SAGA', oh the sarcasm of youth.Anyway,spent the day in Granada at the Alhambra,recommended,and headed back out to Atarfe at 8-30pm.Arrived to find the place absolutely packed,cars parked all over the place,chaos reigned in the 'carpark' but we got parked and in to the Bullring after getting the tickets from 'the box office',a desk in what looked like a store room.The setting was surreal,the stage took up about a third of the ring ,we sat facing the stage on the third tier of seats,because it designed as a Bullring this meant we were up above the stage but right on top of it,a great view.The atmosphere was special,the Spanish fans were really up for it,I'd say there was about 4 to 5000 packed into the Ring as the mighty Saxon hit the stage.Biff appeared taken aback by the reception,but what a performance from the best frontman in rock.I apologise for not remembering the set list but it included the standards,20,000ft,Motorcycleman,Wheels of Steel etc.They did a version of Ride like the Wind which Biff said they only play in Spain and Mexico.The crowd chanted Saxon between each song,and bizarrely Ole,Ole ,0le,Ole well we were in a bullring.I have to say its a long time since I saw Saxon but the guys were awesome,it was over too quickly,they played for just over an hour as they were the supporting act but it was worth the trip just to see Biff and Quinney ripping it up in Spain,the cowd was amazing.A word about Deep Purple,a band I first saw in 1972 and have seen about 10 times since in various forms.They played for nearly 2 hours ,we shouldnt have questioned Gillans fitness,very impressive,all the favourites,Steve Morse excelled on guitar but again the crowd made the show,what a reception they gave both bands,a night to remember
I should say that our group consisted of my brother ,a spritely 49 yr old,my wife 'I'm not standing up for hours at my age',19yr nephew and my two sons 17 and 15yrs 'Who is the promoter,SAGA', oh the sarcasm of youth.Anyway,spent the day in Granada at the Alhambra,recommended,and headed back out to Atarfe at 8-30pm.Arrived to find the place absolutely packed,cars parked all over the place,chaos reigned in the 'carpark' but we got parked and in to the Bullring after getting the tickets from 'the box office',a desk in what looked like a store room.The setting was surreal,the stage took up about a third of the ring ,we sat facing the stage on the third tier of seats,because it designed as a Bullring this meant we were up above the stage but right on top of it,a great view.The atmosphere was special,the Spanish fans were really up for it,I'd say there was about 4 to 5000 packed into the Ring as the mighty Saxon hit the stage.Biff appeared taken aback by the reception,but what a performance from the best frontman in rock.I apologise for not remembering the set list but it included the standards,20,000ft,Motorcycleman,Wheels of Steel etc.They did a version of Ride like the Wind which Biff said they only play in Spain and Mexico.The crowd chanted Saxon between each song,and bizarrely Ole,Ole ,0le,Ole well we were in a bullring.I have to say its a long time since I saw Saxon but the guys were awesome,it was over too quickly,they played for just over an hour as they were the supporting act but it was worth the trip just to see Biff and Quinney ripping it up in Spain,the cowd was amazing.A word about Deep Purple,a band I first saw in 1972 and have seen about 10 times since in various forms.They played for nearly 2 hours ,we shouldnt have questioned Gillans fitness,very impressive,all the favourites,Steve Morse excelled on guitar but again the crowd made the show,what a reception they gave both bands,a night to remember
