When I started writing gig reviews, I decided that I wouldn’t write about the same act more than once. One gig review per artist. That’s it. So writing about EXTC again after reviewing their gig back in Spring 2025 is a bit of an oddity. But there is a particular reason as to why this review exists. A Dave Gregory-shaped reason.
But before we get to that, this isn’t just about a live performance on stage. If you were in Swindon on 18 July 2026, and you are an XTC fan, no doubt you found yourself toddling along to Queen’s Park that morning to see the unveiling of the crowdfunded XTC tribute/thank-you/sandwich, (there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on what to call it), organised by two local fans, Mike Smith and Graham Carter.
The unveiling was well-attended (Dave Gregory turned up to watch but kept a low profile) and it was lovely to catch up with a bunch of people I first met in the town during last year’s fan festival. Mike Smith said a few words, as did the mayor of Swindon and local MP Heidi Alexander, before the black shroud was removed to show the two-sided permanent tribute.
The EXTC gig was taking place at the Town Gardens Bowl. This venue may be familiar to some XTC fans as it featured on the 1984 documentary, XTC Play at Home, where Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory performed acoustically on the Bowl’s stage in front of Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers. In fact, it was fifty years to the day since the band played the Bowl… which also happened to be Terry’s 21st birthday. So half a century later, he was back with his new band, celebrating turning 71 by playing the XTC classics there.
It was a day-long mini-festival featuring other artists, leading up the headline gig. The audience were encouraged to bring picnics, chairs and soft drinks (there was a bar and food available, too). First up were jazz guitar duo, Chris Cobbson & Roi Geyari, and then Colin Moulding’s son, Lee, took to the stage on drums to play with a folk-rock band called Mickelson. Lastly was a solo performer, Jim Blair, on slide guitar.
EXTC came on around 8:30pm and launched into the glorious This Is Pop, Statue of Liberty, and several other songs that got everyone singing and moving to the music. This was the second time I’d seen this line up of Terry Chambers (drums), Terry Lines (bass, vocals), Karl Lonie (keyboards, guitar, vocals), and Nigel Whiteley (guitar, vocals). But it was near the end that the highlight of the entire day happened.
It was a bit of an open secret that a special guest would be joining the band on stage at some point. I’d been told by a few locals in the know that it was definitely happening, and who the special guest was…
But when the band introduced Dave Gregory on stage, it was still an amazing moment! 44 years since Dave and Terry last shared a stage performing XTC songs! Since myself and the people I was with were at the front, I managed to get a good look at Dave and it was clear he was absolutely in his element. Singing along, playing perfectly, and looking like it had been no time at all since he’d performed these songs live with his old band mate. He stayed for the last four songs of the set – Senses Working Overtime, Towers of London, Real By Reel, and Life Begins At The Hop. He was beaming when they took a bow at the end – I think everyone was, band and audience.
I’ve subsequently put together the photos and footage I took that day, which you can view below!
So, were you there? Were you taken aback when Dave appeared on stage? Have you attended a gig where band mates played together for the first time in decades? Leave a comment below!
