The Skatalites looked glad to be alive and made you feel the same way within about twenty seconds of them walking on stage.

Introduced as "the Studio One house band", they showed themselves worthy of the company - Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley - they used to keep in the Sixties.

Only a couple of founder members remain but they are still one of the greatest party bands the world has ever seen.

There's only one way to move to ska and it's not a dignified one but the likes of Eastern Standard Time, Guns Of Navarone and their take on the James Bond theme could not be resisted.

At one point they even managed to get a bunch of devout heathens to shout "amen" to the heavens.

After at least the six "last" songs, including a magnificent Phoenix City, they received a frenzied ovation.

An unremittingly brilliant night.