Live In The Limelight EP was recorded at the legendary Limelight 2 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Limelight 2 was originally the Limelight was opened in 1987 and has hosted a wide variety of acts from David Gray, Snow Patrol to Blur. Most notably, Oasis played the venue on the night their record hit number one in 1994. With such a rich history, the band knew that they wanted to mark their performance in the venue with something special.
Recorded on the 26th November 2023 while the band were supporting US artist Sunny Sweeney. The EP is captured as an ‘official bootleg’ – directly from the sound desk with no post production or studio trickery. The EP showcases The Rising stripped back to an acoustic duo. Back to the very bare bones of the songs.
When people think of an acoustic or unplugged performance the initial thought is of an act playing down-tempo songs that require the audience to sit in quiet reverence. But The Rising like to turn this on its head. Their unique approach to playing acoustic is to get the audience involved as early as possible and fill the stage with lots of energy. The idea is to let the audience in and let them feel like they are part of the show, instead of being sung to. This approach is showcased on the track ‘Endless Summer’. Featuring a sing-along chant that has become a feature of the bands shows, both acoustic and also full band.
The five tracks contained on the Live In The Limelight EP are a cross-section of the bands music. From the upbeat yet cheeky lyrics of ‘I Want You’ through to the darker ‘2AM Call’ which recounts a real story experienced in another legendary Belfast bar called ‘The Parlour’. The EP closes with the rocky/punky ‘Highway To The Lost & Found” which recounts the tale of travelling musicians the world over.
For a support show the band have to try harder to get the audience on side. The result is a document of a gig that goes from a quiet listening room style audience to an engaged audience singing along in full voice.