It was quite an announcement to hear Marillion are going to play in the ancient Pompei amphitheater. Obvious decision: I was going to be there because Italy, Marillion and history make for an unmissable combination. Add to that Vesuvio and the Amalfi coast and take me there. So I planned my Summer holiday around this event.

A short stop in Roma, a train ride to Napoli, and my first surprise was seeing Vesuvio as the train was drawing close to Napoli Centrale. Seeing it outside the accommodation balcony was even better. Climbing it and looking into the crater was a dream come true. Thank you to history and to Tom and Jerry for making me curious. But while sightseeing was a bonus in this trip, the main event was drawing closer and closer. But not before spending a few hours in the ruins of Pompei and photographing all cats in the compound. Finally, the Italian Summer warmth calmed down and it was time to head to the venue for the concert. I only attended the first night because we were asked to allow others to join the second one, and because I am not as rich nor as excited to see the same setlist twice in a row. The noticeable difference between the two nights was the addition of Wave, Mad and The Great Escape to the encore, and the removal of Afraid of Sunlight from the body of the concert, as well as the replacement of Kayleigh with Sugar Mice. 

As a first impression I have to say that it still is a lovely feeling to be in the same place as so many other Marillion fans. However, we did underestimate the organisers and had to battle a long queue for entering the venue and the only restrooms available for all of us. So the show started with a small delay, as all of us were allowed to enter and take our seats. The excitement was in the air, and not long after 21:20 the gig started with the first notes of Splintering Heart. What I like about this song is the clear and strong voice h has, and the explosion of sound when the band join in. What I didn’t like this time was the somehow too long intro and people filming it. The Moon, the stars and the magic of the place gave me goosebumps.

Fantastic Place is one of my favourite songs from Marillion but somehow live I do not enjoy it as much. But yes, we were in a fantastic place so maybe its presence in the setlist was justified. You’re Gone, another favorite of mine, a joy when played live and a sing-along gem sounded in my head as a cacophony of percussion. After, we were introduced to a song from the long awaited new album: Ribbons and Lace. The excitement of listening to a new piece was in the air. 

I got into singing along to Kayleigh, as it is almost impossible for any Marillion fan not to know the lyrics to this one. One after the other, the songs kept coming the same way the darkness crawled over our heads, turning the stars in the sky brighter and brighter. 

I was certain the band would have The Flowing Chords with them, so I was waiting for some real gems. And they delivered. Easter, Living in Fear and Go! were my favorites. Hearing Living in Fear (F.E.A.R. is one of my favorite albums from Marillion) was such a joy. Go! was wonderful and so was Man of a Thousand Faces at the encore. Lucky Man I could have done without but since I am not the one making the setlist, I just went along with it. Though I know it is a band and fan favorite, l’ve heard The Crow and the Nightingale too many times. With the choir I have to say it makes a different impression but, for me, it’s time to have it replaced in the setlist. 

The encore seemed rushed though but by now the Moon and the stars were fully visible, and the location seemed to have reached its full potential. I’ve never seen an open-air Marillion concert before, and I understood that even for the band and crew, such a location is quite a challenge – see Steve R’s issues with his guitar gadgets, probably caused by the heat during the day. Mark had some issues with the keys too. Don’t know the reason why, but the encore seemed to be cut short and the band didn’t even say goodbye to the audience properly on the first night. I can understand their disappointment with the tech glitches and venue restrictions but they are a band that sold out two gigs in a row, and that must not be forgotten. I’ve seen them live quite a few times and I know that they want to deliver only the best. I’ve seen flawless gigs that peaked perfection and went beyond it but this was not one of them. Was it the emotion of playing in such an amazing place? Was it the outdoor environment or the heat? Maybe the crew missed something? I cannot answer that but as a member of the audience who breathes their live gigs like air I can only say that it did seem to me a bit overproduced. I don’t understand the presence of the percussionist, I have 0 comprehension on the technicality of the music but for the first time it seemed too much of everything. H has a beautiful, warm voice. It strikes chords in listeners and live, either on solo gigs or with the band, it makes a statement. He is a wonderful frontman. Steve R. is a magician. Mark Kelly is a music nerd, technical and focused on buttons and perfection. Pete is such a lovely presence on stage, a piece of the band’s soul maintaining rhythm and contact with all other members. The least visible, Mr President, Ian Mosley, we all know he’s there though we barely see him. I, like many others, travel far and wide to see them live and I would do that again and again as much as my schedule and bank account allow me to do so. 

Walking back to the accommodation got me thinking that the intensity of the holiday would now decrease, as the focus point of the trip has passed. But there was still so much to be seen, from the beautiful coast to more history and another gig in the beautiful ruins of Pompei. For me the Marillion Summer story was over, but I was still listing in my head the songs I’d like to, one day, hear live.