Rochester's Castle Concerts end a four-night run tonight with a show of classical music and fireworks.

The scene will hardly be more different to last night's 80s-themed show. We went along to soak up the atmosphere.

Castle Concerts: 80s Night

Review by Dan Bloom

Boy, did I forget to dress up for 80s Night. Rochester Castle was surrounded by Day Glo string vests and I saw at least one Frankie Says Relax t-shirt.

“Who’s here to relive their youth?” joked Martin Fry, the green-suit-wearing singer in support act ABC. “You should all be tucked up in bed!”

The star of this show? Tony Hadley, who once led Spandau Ballet to stardom. A beam across his face, the 53-year-old strode on stage in a simple suit jacket and open shirt, jesting with the crowds in his cockney accent.

In another world he could have been a karaoke singer. But then he opened his mouth and a stunning, rich, soulful voice sprang seemingly from nowhere.

My first thought was to wonder where all the Spandau Ballet songs had gone. Hadley’s set was peppered with covers from Duran Duran’s Rio and U2’s With or Without You (good) to the Killers’ Somebody Told Me and Stereophonics’ Dakota (not so good).

The sell-out crowd, however, seemed to love it. And when mega-hits True and Gold made their appearance, everyone was in raptures.

Avant-garde or musically inventive it wasn’t, but a fun night with scotch eggs and beer it was.