CELEBRATING half a century of proper British R'n'B were five acts in a proper package with not a lot of filler and a fairly authentic 60s feel.

The very congested nature of the beast meant that sets were a bit truncated, but that didn't really matter in an evening that delighted with its very friendly feel.

The Zombies deservedly headlined. The current Rod Argent/Colin Blunstone five-piece is so well settled as to almost run on auto-pilot – pity no one had switched on the power when they started!

That aside and notwithstanding an alarming tendency to veer towards prog at times, this was the usual excellence from the keyboard wizard and the breathy singer in a concoction of Zombies, Argent and solo hits.

Time Of The Season, Hold Your Head Up and I Don't Believe In Miracles stood out.

The Yardbirds' tradition of unearthing top guitarists (Clapton, Beck, Page) continues with youngster Ben King absolutely owning the stage with his solos.

Stalwart drummer Jim McCarty and the returned original Top Topham surround themselves with youngsters for their heavy blues sound.

Shapes Of Things, Boom Boom, For Your Love and Dazed And Confused rocked the auditorium.

The first half featured Animals and Friends, with original drummer John Steel, dapper Blockhead Mickey Gallagher (who was in the band in 1965), guitarist Danny Handley and rotund, barefoot frontman Pete Barton now making up the band.

It started slowly, in a sort of tribute band style, but warmed up with Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and culminated with a stonking We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place and, of course, House Of The Rising Sun.

The excellent veteran blues shouter Maggie Bell and Dave Berry, stand-in for the ill Spencer Davis, completed the line-up with short sets backed by Steel and Co.