TWENTY years on from their heyday, Madness could easily be written off as a bunch of middle-aged blokes wearing shades and old suits, who let their little daughters dance on stage.

But their appeal still remains strong and provided visitors to Dalby Forest last night with an excellent alternative to the annual mud-fest at Glastonbury.

Fez-wearing 50-year-olds bounced up and down with their equally enthusiastic offspring while Suggs look-alikes played inflatable saxophones alongside a new generation of teenage nutty boys.

It might have been a vastly different crowd to the gathering Madness would have attracted in their 1982 pomp when House Of Fun provided their only number one hit and, also a contrast from those at Finsbury Park's Madstock reunion a decade later, but the whole experience is still unique.

In a decade that style forgot, Madness spent more weeks in the UK singles charts than any other band in the 1980s and, unlike most, their fan base has remained loyal and continues to swell.

Suggs and co did not arrive on stage until 9.30pm, but the constant drizzle failed to dampen spirits and One Step Beyond immediately made the wait worthwhile.

Embarrassment and Just Another Day were highlights along the way to a spectacular four-song finale of House Of Fun, Wings Of A Dove, Baggy Trousers and It Must Be Love, the latter of which would surely be a hit in any era.

An encore, concluding with Last Boat To Cairo, then sent the nutty boys, girls, grandads and grandmas home with their favourite tunes still ringing in their ears.

Updated: 12:05 Saturday, June 25, 2005