LIKE a baby girl named after their biggest mid-Eighties hit, Marillion have changed over past 30 years. Kayleigh’s not here tonight, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the loyal fanbase.

Without their crowdsourcing support, lead singer Steve Hogarth notes later that the band might now be “a really good pub band”. Instead, they’re at York Barbican on the final night of a sold-out ten-date British tour.

Support act Roxanne de Bastion kicks off the evening with some gorgeous harmonies and story-telling songs. Then Marillion’s warm-up man appears to perform a short lecture on the use of mobile phones. It’s effective: hardly any screens are seen in the auditorium during their performance.

There’s limited room for nostalgia in the 150-minute set, much of it drawn from acclaimed 2016 album F.E.A.R. This includes the opener, the five-part El Dorado, which takes a full 20 minutes but on conclusion meets with rapturous applause.

Earlier songs such as Power and 1989’s Seasons End showcase why seeing Marillion live captures the raw energy that an album may not and demonstrates the incredible quality of sound and lighting design.

An audience request, of which there are many, allows a deviation from the plan for White Paper. Hogarth almost forgets to mention that it’s the last night of the tour, there’s so much to pack in. But if Marillion can’t get the very best from their loyal audience, then no-one can.

The main set concludes with another five-part epic from F.E.A.R, The Leavers. Encores play to the energised crowd, with the trio of Easter, Sugar Mice and Garden Party bringing this highly polished evening to a close.