Eddy Grant

On Tuesday night I was fortunate enough to have a photo pass to photograph Eddy Grant at The Junction in Cambridge. Touring for the first time in over 20 years, Eddy had warmed up by playing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party and at an intimate venue called Glastonbury. Surprisingly and disappointingly The Junction was about a third full. Still, after putting my camera away, it gave me plenty of room to shake my booty down on the dance floor, and with Eddy chatting away to the audience, it almost felt as if we were at a party round at his place. Looking nothing like his 60 years, Eddy performed songs from the very start of his solo career through the hits of the 80s and onto more recent material. There was a break though, when someone from the audience asked him about Nelson Mandela. "You want to know about Nelson? OK, I'll tell you..." he said, and then eulogised, slowly and quietly about the former President of South Africa. We all listened attentively and gave a spontaneous round of applause when he had finished. For all the serious words though and his songs of protest, Eddy has a sense of humour and joie de vivre which is apparent as he jokes along with his band and the audience.