Two of the finest exponents of the Two-Tone movement arrived at the o2 Academy in Leeds as part of the Dance Crazed Tour. The movement, which originated in Coventry during the late seventies and early eighties, became a musical phenomenon. With its roots in ska music, added with the youthful exuberance of acts like The Specials and Madness they ruled the pop charts.

The Selecter led by the irreplicable Pauline Black was more than just a warm act on the tour – now aged seventy-two, Black still had the voice and energy that made the act such an attractive proposition almost fifty years ago. Naturally, it was On My Radio and Too Much Pressure which reminded the audience how powerful the band was – and still is.

Few bands have soundtracked the spirit of British pop quite like The Beat. Fusing infectious ska rhythms with sharp-edged pop hooks and a socially conscious streak, their music remains as irresistible today as it was during the band’s late-1970s and early-1980s heyday. With frontman Dave Wakeling at the helm, the group brought that distinctive sound roaring back to life, proving that some songs never lose their ability to get a crowd moving.

From the first skanking rhythms, the atmosphere is charged with nostalgia, but the experience is far more than a trip down memory lane. The Beat’s music has always been built for the live arena, its punchy basslines, buoyant guitar work, and horn-driven arrangements providing the perfect soundtrack for a night of collective celebration. Wakeling remains the guiding presence, his distinctive vocal delivery lending familiar songs their unmistakable character.

The current version of The Beat consists mainly of Americans, with only Wakeling and Antonee First Class bringing up the British contingent, with original members saxophonist Sax, drummer Everett Morton and vocalist and toaster Ranking Roger having passed away.

The band were known for their cover versions; tonight was no exception, with The Tears of A Clown and Can’t Get Used To Losing You being good cases in point, though it was on the band’s own compositions such as Hands Off. She’s Mine and Mirror In The Bathroom were they really impressed.

Rhoda Dakar, the evening's DJ and former member of The Bodysnatchers, gave a surprise performance of Let's Do Rock Steady on a buoyant version of the track on a night where the beat and spirit of the Two Tone lived on in fine style.