Nev Clay opened the night with a superb set of self-penned, funny songs. The lyrics may not be quite Lennon McCartney, but they really are very funny and about every day life from beggars in the Haymarket to women sick of their husbands. Excellent!

Lindisfarne at the Newcastle Opera House, on Saturday 6th April 2002 Lindisfarne played a sold-out show at the Newcastle Opera House on Saturday 6th April. So what's new, its their home town, they always do don't they? No, is the surprise answer. Its been well over a decade since the Geordie rockers managed to fill the City Hall. The decline in numbers was underway in the early 90's as fans preferred two hours of Fog On The Tyne rather than the new tunes.

This decline was further compounded by the untimely death of leading light and the band's main songwriter Alan Hull in 1995. The new line-up suffered from a definite credibility gap as even the loyalty of local supporters waned. But this concert at the Opera House would seem to mark a new era in the history of this enduring bunch.

Whilst a full house is a wonderful achievement, its the content of the show that counts if you are going to bring them back. Although the current incarnation has been together for over five years, many in the audience viewed them as new boys with a mountain to climb if acceptance was the goal.

Although nerves were jangling, the first number, Anyway The Wind Blows was enough to settle everyone down. The crowd knew they hadn't wasted their money and the band seemed visibly lifted by the ecstatic response. This is a new Lindisfarne with originals Ray Laidlaw laying down the power on drums and Rod Clements exerting a highly acceptable blues influence both with the song writing and some superb slide guitar work.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Mitchell is clearly a rocker at heart and probably had the biggest climb of the night. But climb he did and took us all with him with strong vocals that hit the right note and every corner of the house. This was matched by Ian Thomson's brilliant drive on the bass and Dave Hull-Denholm who also showed some masterful singing and guitar work.

This was a clear demonstration of five quality musicians playing as one unit, happily ticking along like the finest Swiss watch, but with the excitement of Alan Shearer scoring the winning goal. The audience not only loved it, they even went nuts over the new stuff off the latest album, Promenade which was released in March. Songs such as This Guitar Never Lies, This Too Will Pass, Coming Good and Rock 'N' Roll Phone all drew loud and genuine appreciation.

Of course they did Fog On The Tyne and finished the set with the classic Run For Home, but we wanted more. With a supercharged crowd on their feet, we were treated to a barn storming finish. More Lindisfarne anthems, Lady Eleanor and Clear White Light were trumped by the raunchy Devil Of The North which rocked the walls and rattled the roof.

This does seem to be the concert when the Geordie faithful finally allowed their heroes to move into the 21st century, knowing that the new stuff is highly acceptable and the old memories are in safe hands.