Holmfirth Picturedrome is fast gaining a reputation as a venue for big-name acts.

Over the past year or so, acts such as Terrorvision, Ocean Colour Scene, Hugh Cornwell from The Stranglers, Blue Oyster Cult and former Marillion frontman Fish have appeared there.

Southside Johnny and Jefferson Starship are billed for this summer.

From next month, The Beat can be added to the list. Hailing from working-class, industrial Birmingham, the band hit the music scene in 1979, calming the waters of social and political unrest with their simple messages of love and unity set to a great dance beat.

The Beat were all about inclusion, rather than exclusion, and this was reflected in their line-up and music influences. The six-piece band was comprised of Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, Everett Morton on drums, Rankin’ Roger on vocals and toasting, and first-wave ska legend Saxa on saxophone.

Shortly after the release of their debut album, Dave Wright, aka Blockhead, joined the band and there followed a fluid cross-over between soul, reggae, pop and punk. From these disparate pieces came an infectious dance rhythm.

Along with their contemporaries The Specials, Selecter and Madness, The Beat became one of the most popular, influential bands of the British ska movement.

By Christmas 1979, they were riding high in the UK charts with their first single, a smoking version of the Smokey Robinson classic Tears Of A Clown.

Over the next five years The Beat released three albums, I Just Can’t Stop It, Wh’appen and Special Beat Service, and toured with the likes of David Bowie, The Police, REM, The Clash, Talking Heads and The Pretenders.

The Beat’s hits include Mirror In The Bathroom, Save It For Later, Stand Down Margaret and their serene cover of Andy Williams’s Can’t Get Used To Losing You.

Throughout the 1980s Everett, Saxa and Rankin’ Roger worked on other projects. Rankin’ Roger, along with Dave Wakeling, formed General Public with former Dexy’s Midnight Runners keyboardist Micky Billingham. In 1988 Rankin’ Roger released solo album Radical Departure and went on to form Special Beat with Neville Staple from The Specials.

In 1988, Everett and Saxa became part of the International Beat along with Neil Deathridge, with regular guest appearances by Rankin’ Roger and Micky Billingham. Then came the band Twist And Crawl, featuring Rankin’ Roger, Everett, Saxa, Neil, Tony O’Donnell and Andy Pearson.

In 2003, The Beat staged a reunion gig took at the Royal Festival Hall. The success of the gig encouraged Rankin’ Roger to resurrect The Beat, with his son Murphy accompanying Roger on vocals in place of Dave Wakeling. Murphy also performs with The Ordinary Boys.

The Beat have had continued success, touring the UK, Ireland, Europe and Australia, and has recorded their first album since the early 1980s.

  • The Beat are at Holmfirth Picturedrome on July 5. For tickets ring (01484) 689759.