Storming onto the stage with Green River and celebrating the album of the same name, the crowd assembled for this UK-based Creedence Clearwater revival tribute band were instantly transported back to 1969 – Into the hedonistic, carefree era of Woodstock, embodying the ideals of peace, love, and music. Creedence Clearwater Review certainly took us on a nostalgic journey playing live in Cardiff, encompassing everything magical about that formative era.

Showcasing the blues, country and folk influences of CCR’s era, with classics such as Night Time Is The Right Time and the gritty bass on I Heard It Through The Grapevine, you can certainly appreciate the talent and skill of this band. Audience participation and energy were high throughout the two-hour performance, not to mention a level of authenticity right down to lead vocalist and guitarist Dale Taylor replicating the facial expressions of the original John Fogerty.

Wrapping up with CCR’s most enduring and timeless hit, Have You Ever Seen the Rain? sent everyone from this diverse audience to their feet. A moment of praise too for tonight’s venue, the Earl Haig in Cardiff’s Whitchurch district: a perfect room for showcasing live music, and one with an impressive lineup for the forthcoming months.

Creedence Clearwater Review, Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff, Friday 9 Aug

words and photos ANNA BRYL