Live music in MK this February

Posted 23rd January 2025

‘I’ll be a tribute to myself if it pays more!’

Rock stalwarts Stray make their Craufurd Arms return later this month.
It’s early in the year, but frontman Del Bromham promises that 2025 will deliver ‘much of the same’ for the quintet – which means plenty more stage action.

“We already have some festival appearances in the UK and Europe booked for over the summer… the Stray never ending tour continues!” Del told Pulse’s Sammy Jones.

The Milton Keynes-based players are also hopeful they’ll be able to swell fans’ collections with the filmed release of their last date at The Stables, played back in November.

“The venue was ideal for us to feature a couple of semi acoustic songs, so it was a slightly different show than the ones that we usually deliver.”

With a stellar body of work tucked under their collective belt, there is no shortage of material to figure in any performance, but that brings its own issues.

“When you have been on the road and written and recorded so many songs over the years, it becomes difficult to decide which to play and which ones to leave out. It was a problem which arose following the release of the last album, About Time.

“Ideally we would like to play all of the songs, but there is never enough time,” he grinned, “You see what I did there?”
Their Wolverton return sees the band swapping the seated venue for the standing one: “The Craufurd allows us to play a more energetic rock show. The venue is ideally suited for that kind of performance,” and after more than 50 years in the game, Stray knows how to move a crowd.
They are undisputed masters of their craft. Anyone who has seen ’em live knows that much.

“I did an interview recently and something came up which I’d never really considered much before. As we were talking I had this realisation that Stray, like many acts these days has become a brand as well as a band,” Del explains, “What I mean is, the songs are more important than any individual. I think that is why tribute acts are popular. People want to hear the music.

“I saw the theatre impresario Cameron Macintosh being interviewed on TV and he was saying that his West End shows don’t need a well-known artist to headline, because they sell on their own merits.

“The funny thing is, a while ago I arrived at a venue and the promoter came into the dressing room to tell me he had received a phone call from someone asking if it was really Stray playing, or was it a tribute? I’ll be a tribute to myself if it pays more!” Del laughed.
“Stray, the real thing, will see you at The Craufurd on February 28.”

To book tickets to the show, visit thecraufurdarms.com

What’s on the setlist?

Black Sun
What would happen to our planet if the sun would no longer shine. In time our planet would cease to exist as we know it.

Living the dream
A pretty upbeat song, the title of which is a line that people often say to me (‘Oh’ you must be living the dream’) about being a musician and playing shows. People’s misconception of how glamorous it must be when quite the reverse is the reality.

After the storm
First appeared on the album titled Saturday Morning Pictures. This song has a bluesy/jazzy feel to it. It has been covered by a couple of other bands and appears to get a lot of plays on YouTube.

I believe it
A song originally on the album titled Mudanzas and I think it was the first song that Stray used an orchestra on. This one has steadily become an audience favourite. I think it is quite dramatic and has a very catchy chorus even if I say so myself.

All in your mind
We will close the show with this one taken from our first album, and I suspect there would be trouble from the fans if we didn’t play this one! Much has been written about this song. Most notably was covered by Iron Maiden and gained STRAY a new following.

To book tickets to the show, visit thecraufurdarms.com