JAMES: USHER HALL, EDINBURGH

James have just released their new double album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary. Be Opened by the Wonderful is out on 9 June.

It’s a collection of some of James’ most loved and rare tracks, reimagined with a 22 piece orchestra and eight piece choir, written and recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra, led by Andra Vornicu, and featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir directed by Wayne Ellington.

James have taken the album and the orchestra out on tour and Edinburgh’s Usher Hall played host to band and their extended entourage for a sold out show that lacked none of the energy of their normal live shows with lead singer Tim Booth taking several excursions out into the audience.

Stuart Stott was there to capture the evening for RESOUND.