Simple Minds say "we'll be back" after blistering Eisteddfod concert

* Simple Minds on stage at the Pavilion.

Simple Minds are another top band to be blown away by Llangollen Pavilion’s rebirth as a serious rock stadium.

Because before departing the stage at the end of last night’s concert lead singer Jim Kerr loudly declared: “We’ll be back!”  

He and the legendary Scottish outfit were presenting the second of a string of eight headline concerts jointly produced by Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and their partners the agents Cuffe & Taylor.

And this was the second time in a couple of days that a massive standing-only crowd had crammed into the famous big tent to pay homage to their heroes.

On first were Del Amitri who paraded some of their best 80s-based numbers including Always the Last to Know, Not Where It's At, Missing Person and Roll to Me, best known from a number of TV and film themes.  

Simple Minds, who notched up a multitude of hits back in the 80s and haven’t stopped partying since, hit the ground rocking with their biggie Waterfront which became the launch pad for many more numbers fondly recalled and lapped up by the crowd, the majority of whom would have remembered them the first time around.

Declaring that it was a pleasure to be back with his "Celtic brothers and sisters," Kerr presided over Once Upon a Time, the particularly rumbustious Street Fighting – he admitted it had been a few years since they last did it – Everything She Said, Shine a Light on Me, Promised You a Miracle and lots of others which came tumbling out in rapid succession, each igniting and delighting the audience.  

It was Sanctify Yourself which sparked off the first significant round of dancing in what are usually the aisles. But things calmed down considerably when Kerr, now with sweat glistening on his face,  presented us with the poignant, liltingly Irish Belfast Child, his beautiful homage to those who have suffered in that troubled city.      

The accelerator pedal was back to the floor shortly afterwards when drummer Cherisse Osei hammered out a magical rock solo so blisteringly fast that her arms seemed to be moving quicker than a hummingbird’s wings.    

The 80s were back in full swing after that and our attention was eventually drawn to the year 1985 by the band’s unforgettable Don’t You (Forget About Me), the la, la, la, la’s echoing through the swaying, dancing multitude.

That might have been a suitable point to draw things to a conclusion but, of course, it wasn’t because there were a couple more encore pieces, including the chant-worthy Alive and Kicking, before it all came to an end.

* Next of the headline concerts is Paloma Faith this Friday, Manic Street Preachers and Suede are on June 28, Kaiser Chiefs on June 29, Nile Rodgers and CHIC on July 11, Jess Glynne on July 12 and Madness on July 13.

In addition, a concert from Welsh legend Tom Jones will open the Core Week of the Eisteddfod, which runs from July 2 to July 7 and will also include shows from Gregory Porter and Katherine Jenkins. 

* For more information and to secure final tickets head to llangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk