Peggy Sue are full of surprises.

The first of the evening came when the band appeared on stage. Founders Rosa Slade and Katy Young were both present, as one would expect, as was drummer Olly Joyce who joined the band for their debut album Fossils And Other Phantoms. But standing stage left was a new face, referred to as “our new bassist Ben... he’s a keeper”. Peggy Sue, it would seem, have got themselves a full rhythm section.

The second surprise hit home about three songs in, as it became apparent the band meant business. Up until then, the front three rows were comprised of audience members sitting down or casually propped on one elbow. As new song There Always Was started up in earnest, the penny dropped that Slade, Young et al were no longer the harmonising folksters they once were, and people shuffled to their feet.

The interweaving vocals may still be the same, but now their tales of lost love and raw honesty pack some serious clout. One need look no further than the tribal thunder of Funeral Beat or the raging roar of Cut My Teeth – both taken from new album Acrobats - to see that. Even fan favourites February Snow and Watchman sounded fuller and more rounded than ever before.

They may have moved to London but this was still, in their eyes, a homecoming gig of sorts. Introducing I Read It In The Paper as being “written just down the road”, it’s clear Brighton still holds a personal resonance for the band – Slade even suggested a return to the South Coast might be on the cards before launching into their encore of Shadows.

Now that would be a nice surprise.