REM at the Rose Bowl, Southampton

Yes, REM, dear readers! A band you will have heard of ;-)
We were very excited to get tickets for REM as they don't tour the UK that often and there are very few venues that can accommodate them. We did have to pay somewhat over the odds on Seatwave to get them but REM were amazing and it was well worth the money to see them.
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire's cricket ground which is actually in Hedge End, was an ideal venue but with a few transport problems. The car parks all seemed to be reserved when we got there, so we parked in a housing estate maybe half a mile away and walked back to the ground. There were plenty of food stalls, bars and loos in the brand new stadium, and we found seats quite easily as most people were standing on the plastic mats which protected the pitch.
The support acts were The Guillemots whom we missed, then The Editors, who have been reasonably successful though I'd never heard of them. Quite similar in style to REM but their songs got a bit samey towards the end.
When REM came on we stood, though could still only see Michael Stipe as a speck in the distance. There were huge displays either side of the stage and behind it so we could still see images of the band performing. The atmosphere was electrolytic! They played a well pitched set, including a few songs from their latest album which is quite punk-rocky, like their earlier stuff. Patrick was pleased that they opened with Bad Day, it's one of his favourites. And of course they played Orange Crush, Losing My Religion, Electrolyte, The One I Love, Imitation of Life, What's the Frequency Kenneth, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Nightswimming, Animal before finishing with Man on the Moon.
Can't wait till they come back to the UK again - and will definitely get their new album asap!