AMIDST a packed-out audience of fans, the Moody Blues open their set with John Lodge's trademark pumping bass lines, which serve to compliment the harmonic delicacy of vocalist Justin Hayward's scintillating guitar licks. After a pacy start, Graeme Edge, longest serving member of the Moody Blues steps away from the drums to put forth his own vocal efforts on a manic and stomping performance of Higher and Higher.

It is clear that the Moody Blues are not getting any younger, with Edge alluding to his now white hair, as pictures of the band in their heyday on a screen behind betray their age. But the sound is still there.

Hayward's vocals still lie perfectly amongst a strong rhythm section, albeit now combined with the musical works of a backing flautist and multi instrumentalist. Indeed, rather than detract from the efforts of the original band, the extra musicians elevate the beefiness of the Moodies' showmanship. Tuesday Afternoon and Say it with love, both classics that benefited from the added musical boost, with Hayward and Lodge both baying for the audience to interact which drew considerable praise and applause from an adoring crowd.

The set draws to a close with one of my favourite songs, Nights in White Satin, which succeeded in raising hairs on the back of my neck with its surreal and lamentous smoothness and pronounced sense of vastness with Graeme Edge's poem, originally read at the beginning of the track on album, recreated on stage, to which the audience instantly awaited a classic.