A special day today and a momentous night for any Rush fan. Here we are at La Belle Angele in Edinburgh on 21/12/24, celebrating 2112 day, the legendary album released by Rush in 1976. Tonight, we are treated to 2112 on 21/12 at 21:12. Grown men may cry tonight.
There’s no band for this event, with the show split into three sets. As the iconic sounds of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” play, the band take to the stage to a tremendous roar from the packed crowd, diving straight into “Dreamline” from 1991’s Roll the Bones. The audience is bouncing; what a start to the evening. Close your eyes, and it feels like Rush are on stage.
The familiar chords of “Limelight” follow, drawing rapturous applause. The set only gets better with gems like “By-Tor & The Snow Dog,” one of my all-time favourite early Rush tracks, delivered as a phenomenal eight-minute version. Other highlights from the first set include “Subdivisions,” a stunning rendition of “The Garden” from Clockwork Angels, and “Jacob’s Ladder” from Permanent Waves, the album that got me into Rush back in 1980. The first set concludes with the sublime “Losing It” from Signals. It’s been a round of the highest order, and the crowd are loving every moment, singing along as the band leave the stage for a short break before round two.
Set two kicks off with one of Rush’s biggest hits, “The Spirit of Radio.” This set also includes two fantastic instrumentals: “La Villa Strangiato” and “YYZ,” featuring a stunning drum solo by Jamie Dunleavey, whose skill on the kit is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Steve Brown delivers outstanding guitar work, while Eóin de Paor impresses on bass and keyboards (and vocals… and violin!).
Highlights from this set include “Roll the Bones,” one of my personal favourites, and a perfect rendition of “The Trees” from Hemispheres. The set concludes with “The Analog Kid,” another Signals track, providing a fast-paced and fabulous end to the second round.
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During the intermission, the band hold a raffle, drawing for two bottles of “The Professor Single Malt Scotch Whisky” (bottles #21 and #12), signed by Betty Peart and Hugh Syme. The whisky labels and packaging were designed in collaboration with award-winning graphic artist Hugh Syme, a long-time confidant of Neil Peart. The raffle raised over £2,500 for Brain Tumour Research, with the lucky winner being Dan Vande Lune from Texas, USA.
After another short break, the band return for the pièce de résistance: 2112 Acts I-VII, the entire first side of 2112, performed in kimonos. Jamie even sports one of the 300 moustaches handed out to the crowd upon entry, paying homage to Neil Peart as featured on the album’s back cover.
There are albums, and then there’s 2112 – a breakthrough record for Rush in 1976. Hearing the first side performed live in full was a transcendent experience, from its unmistakable intro through its peaks and crescendos to its climactic finale. Words cannot do justice to how stunning this performance was. The musicianship was impeccable, and the band executed every note to perfection.
Set three concludes with “Xanadu” from A Farewell to Kings, another personal favourite, before the band bring the night to a close with an encore of “The Sphere.” This was a musical triumph by musicians at the top of their game, clearly enjoying themselves as much as the packed crowd at La Belle Angele.
The band promise the same again next year on 21/12/25, this time playing the full 2112 album. They now have four weeks off before hitting the road again, starting with shows in Kinross and Aberdeen. With 52 gigs already lined up for 2025, including the legendary Massey Hall in Toronto in August, it’s going to be an incredible year. For all tour details, visit www.MovingPicturesUK.com.
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Photos by Gary Cooper
Set One
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Dreamline
Limelight
By-Tor & the Snow Dog
Between the Wheels
Driven
Subdivisions
The Garden
Jacob’s Ladder
Show Don’t Tell
Losing It
Set Two
The Spirit of Radio
Red Barchetta
YYZ
A age to Bangkok
Closer to the Heart
Beneath, Between & Behind
Freewill
Tom Sawyer
La Villa Strangiato
Broon’s Bane
The Trees
Roll the Bones
The Analog Kid
Set Three
2112 (Parts 1–7)
Xanadu
Encore
The Sphere
