This was an exceptional night of ska at its very best.

The Meow Meows were hot; ChainSka Brassica were even hotter; The Skatalites were off the gauge.

For three solid hours the Concorde 2 shook with skanking feet.

All the bands were eight-pieces with full brass sections that packed a punch.

If the supports cooked the crowd then the mighty Skatalites were the feast to follow.

Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and with founder member Lester 'Mr Versatile' Stirling on alto sax, The Skats pumped out 90 minutes of irrestible beats including the James Bond Theme, El Pussycat, and Phoenix City.

Val Douglas, The Bass Man, sat sedately while he shook the room with meaty rhythmns.

Uninvited the crowd hijacked the vocal on Bob Marley's Three Little Birds. Keyboard player Ken Stewart stepped forward to execute his nutty dance hall steps while Simmer Down had totally the opposite effect. Then the first lady of ska, Doreen Shaffer, gave us My Boy Lollipop.

All the while the band took solos to take the breath, with Andrae Murchison on trombone exceptional. And then they fired The Guns Of Navarone.

The audience thought they had been shot, died, and gone to ska heaven.