FRIENDS

This eccentric live show from the 2007 Marillion Weekend sees the band putting together a decidedly off-beat setlist. They usually try their best to make sure the Weekend shows are special, and for this one they hit on the idea of producing a "covers and rarities" show - wheeling out some old songs which don't often see the light of day at gigs any more, and combining them with some of their favourite songs to cover live. The decent live versions of songs like Number One and The Bell In the Sea will already make this a tempting prospect for Marillion fans looking for a rather different live set to their usual approach, whilst the selection of covers is fascinating.

Some pieces, such as Keane's Bedshaped, fit Marillion's sound perfectly, whereas others come out of left field: did you ever think you'd hear the band covering Britney Spears, for instance? Either way, the truly bizarre show recorded here makes Friends an intriguing listen even for those who already have a fairly extensive collection of live Marillion.