WE ARRIVED with mixed feelings, for while we were familiar with the Madness classics, neither of us had experienced the new material off The Liberty Of Norton Folgate in any depth.

The rest of the crowd didn’t seem to share our feelings as there was a real sense of anticipation and excitement at the chance to hear the old and the new from the first Madness studio album in ten years.

The Camden band were greeted in true Yorkshire style by the buoyant crowd and reciprocated the welcome by breaking into the classic hit One Step Beyond.

Suggs was quick to slip back into the old routine by working the crowd just like he did 20-something years ago.

He even bravely went solo when briefly covering The Beatles’ Help.

This led nicely into newer material such as their recent single NW5, which was very well received.

The band then continued on a plateau by performing new songs such as Idiot Child before bringing the crowd back to life with their version of Out Of Space, originally by The Prodigy.

They picked up the pace still more with a lively finale featuring some of their greatest hits such as Baggy Trousers and Our House.

They finished in true Madness style by encouraging a room full of burly men to sing It Must Be Love. All in all they produced a solid performance that suggested they may well be back.

Nutty Boys Chris Chelin and David Hodsdon