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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
4:17 PM 17th August 2015
arts

Review: Spandau Ballet At Doncaster Racecourse

 
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
These race meetings followed by a concert seem to be a good idea. Doncaster hosts several of these meetings during the summer and with the right weather they are highly enjoyable.

With everyone smartly dressed as is the dress code for these occasions it was only right that the former New Romantics Spandau Ballet should take to the stage.

Performing in the open air in day light hours was never going to be an easy task for the band but with songs everyone knew they created a great atmosphere and pulled it off.

They all still look good too, lead singer Tony Hadley arrives on stage with his customary drink in his hand while the rest of the group look lean and sun tanned. A few days after the gig the band are appearing in Ibiza at Ibiza Rocks.

The group are not a heritage act, they recorded some new tracks late last year and one of these new tracks opened up the gig - Soul Boys of the Western World. It was not long though before they re visited their past with Highly Strung.

Steve Norman interacted between playing the saxophone, playing guitar and the bongos whilst the Kemp brothers struck many a rock pose.

Dedicating the track To Cut A Long Story Short to Steve Strange who died earlier this year, the cool dresser must have surely had some influence on tonight's crowd both in fashion and music.

The set slowed down mid set with Empty Spaces and I'll Fly For You before the tempo moved up with what is probably their best tracks; Communication, Lifeline and of course, True defined their classic period in the mid 80's.

As they sing True, a flock of birds in true formation flies over the crowd, right on cue, it's just as if nature had been watching on.

The encore includes Through the Barricades and is followed by Gold. The punters were not the only winners tonight, the band won over the fashionable crowd and they are still a force to be reckoned with. Pure Gold indeed.