Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
St George’s Hall

“THEY’D be brilliant at a wedding” - possibly the biggest understatement of the year.

The tongue-in-cheek comment - from my hugely-impressed father - came as the extraordinary Jools and his orchestra tore the roof off St George’s Hall last night.

Put simply, if they can rip the roof off the famous Bradford venue, they would send a wedding into orbit.

Vibrant, energetic, full of verve and, above all, musically perfect, the show had the packed hall bouncing even before special guest Marc Almond - of Soft Cell fame - had the audience dancing frantically in the aisles with raucous renditions of Stop (In The Name Of Love) and Tainted Love.

The whole atmosphere was about fun and enjoyment. You got the sense that these world-class musicians would be as happy performing in a grubby working men’s club as at the Royal Albert Hall - just as long as they were playing music and entertaining someone.