The Kingdom of God is Here: Sancho Panza's Riverside Serenade
The Kingdom of God is Here - Photos by Sam Shaw
As I strolled by the river, preparing to immerse myself in the funk rock vibes of Sancho Panza at the local amphitheatre, I encountered a man wearing two wooden billboards proclaiming, “The Kingdom of God is here”. Basking in the sunlit riverside, that bold statement seemed to resonate deeply. With fewer local outdoor gigs these days, the anticipation for one at the art deco amphitheatre on the Embankment—a venue with amazing sound quality and cool vintage aesthetics—was particularly high.
Art Deco Amphitheatre on the Embankment - Party At The Bandstand Event
The day was perfect, almost tailor-made for the sunny sounds of Sancho Panza, who masterfully blend hypnotic funk with energetic psychedelic rock. As the band completed their soundcheck, I settled into a sunny spot and bumped into a friend. We concurred that this underappreciated space held immense potential for future events, especially for showcasing local talent.
Sancho Panza, one of Nottingham’s most exciting and productive bands, have a rich history of energising performances. Over the past few years, they've released their debut album, sold out the Bodega multiple times, and toured across the UK and internationally in cities like Paris and Portugal. Regardless of the venue or the composition of their ever-evolving line-up, they consistently deliver electrifying performances that get the crowd moving. Their musical expertise shines as they interchange instruments and improvise on stage, making each show memorable and unique.
Sancho Panza
Their ability to refresh and invigorate their music was evident in their live rendition of "Hydro Hotel", and even more so in the debut of a song written just that morning. This fearless approach to creativity is what sets Sancho Panza apart in my eyes.
They maintain a high energy on stage, focusing on fun and engagement with the audience through organic showmanship, including playful banter and jokes between the tunes—a rarity in today’s scene, which often seems dominated by overly serious performances shadowed by flashy production.
The concert kicked off with frontman Cam’s cheerful remark, "What a lovely day, hey?", setting the tone for a disco inferno ignited by funky guitar riffs reminiscent of Orange Juice and Bummed-era Happy Mondays. The powerful bass lines and soulful drumming synced perfectly, especially in their hit single "Sell It", which encapsulates their unique rock and funk blend. The guitarist, Ryan Baynham, shone particularly bright, delivering a solo that took the song to new heights, while Jacob Paige’s rhythmic guitar powered through "Too Hot For The Dog", a promising new tune.
"Hydro Hotel" remained a highlight, now jazzed up with catchy saxophone melodies by Adam El Bakouri, keeping the growing crowd engaged and even coaxing some to dance. The show concluded with a well-deserved encore, featuring a pair of lively rock tunes that perfectly capped off this brilliant outdoor performance.
Following the show, I caught up with Cameron Harris, the band's charismatic frontman, over coffee at Cured, a local café by the canal. Our conversation revealed not just the experiences and memories of his musical journey but also a glimpse into the soul of a musician deeply embedded in the vibrant Nottingham music scene. From discussing memorable gigs, like their spontaneous night in Paris, to unveiling plans for upcoming singles, Cam shared insights into the evolving dynamics of their band and their enduring passion for live music.
This day by the river, with Sancho Panza's music echoing against the backdrop of the serene waters and the curious message of the man with the billboards, indeed felt like a peek into a divine kingdom—where music, community, and perfect weather converged into a heavenly experience.
Interview with Cam Harris of Sancho Panza
Sam: So, tell me, how does it feel to be part of Sancho Panza? You’ve had a lot of great gigs and good times so far.
Cam: Yeah, it’s been very, very good! So many tales, so many good nights.
Sam: Tell me about one of your favourite gigs.
Cam: One that really stands out is when we recently played in Paris—it was a free entry gig, busy crowd, great night, great party afterwards, you know? For a poor boy from Dudley, watching the sunrise with the Eiffel Tower in view was pretty special!
Sam: What are your future plans?
Cam: We have two new songs coming out. The first one is called "Creatures of the Night," which is out on October 25th—it’s a Halloween-ish sort of funky single. Then there’s "Your Place or Mine," which is coming out on December 13th. I'm actually about to finish recording it today when I get home!
Sam: So, you guys have quite a big line-up. Has it developed over time, or was that something you always wanted?
Cam: In Nottingham, there are so many musicians around and so many people. The core line-up is me, Ryan, Beau, and Laycock, and then around that, anyone can really appear. Like, we’ve got Adam the sax player, and he’s really good.
Sam: So you’re kind of fluid in that way, as in if a drummer can’t make it or whoever, you’ve always got a guy to fill in and make the show happen—it’s a good way to do it.
Cam: Yeah, I’ve always felt very strongly that the show must go on, even if it’s just me turning up with a boombox, then there will be some kind of show.
Sam: It’s like Mark E. Smith said, "Even if it’s me and your nan on bongos, it’s The Fall"!
Cam: Well, it’s just, you know, you spend all your time writing songs and you’re getting gigs, and then if something falls through or someone can’t make it, it feels like what’s the point in not? You’ve spent all this time writing these songs and practicing, and it’s what you want to do, so you’ve got to try and do it in some capacity. I feel like there is obviously the optimum way of doing it, but a lot of the songs are designed almost to be really simple and able to be picked up, and there’s a jam element in there too, I suppose.
Sam: As a musician, how do you find your inspiration? Is there something that consistently helps you with that, or does it change over time?
Cam: It changes. Sometimes, if you have a good song title for a song, then it can all stem back to that concept or idea. A lot of the time, a melody might come, and then you’re hunting for words for a bit. But it can happen in a number of ways—normally if you go see a new band you’ve never seen before or hear some brand-new music, you can think, “Oh right, I’ve never thought about it like that!” and then sort of, rip it off in some way!
Sam: Tell us about the Nottingham music scene. Who’s sticking out for you?
Cam: Of course, Sam Shaw & The Real Eyes. Marvin’s Revenge, Sex Toy Vending Machine. There’s so many! The Nottingham music scene is so good, and everyone knows each other. I think the size of the city promotes such a thing because it’s just like the biggest town in England rather than a city, and everything’s just in the centre, and you end up bumping into all the chancers in town, and it’s just good.
Sam: Yeah, we always end up bumping into each other, don’t we?
Cam: Yeah, exactly, you just bump into people, and then something good can happen.
Sam: You do so well at putting on your own gigs and organising yourselves. Being an independent band, do you find there are any methods you have to bring crowds down to gigs and keep everything running smoothly?
Cam: I’ve had a couple of revelations recently. It’s all about the singles that you put out, and it’s about the songs. Like, you can put on a great live show, and that’s really good, but even... like we had a gig in Winchester, this promoter kept messaging us to play there, and it was a really good gig. We based a tour around that show, and I spoke to the promoter who said, “I really like your song 'Shakedown,' I’ve wanted to put you on for ages,” and this revelation has dawned on me a few times, especially that day. Like when we were in Paris, we sent music off to this guy, and then they said they really want us to play, and it’s only when you’re there, it’s like you realise that—because we made this song, we were given permission to go there, you know what I mean? We have these new singles, which I think objectively are the best songs we’ve done, which hopefully will do a whole lot more, but you need to have the songs to try and unlock something else.
Sam: As you say, they work together.
Cam: If you’ve got good promoters, and hopefully good tunes, then it’ll all happen from there.