MAD DOG MCREA

CITY HALL, SALISBURY CITY

Hall Three hit the floor running with Mad Dog Mcrea supported by The Midnight Flyers.

From the moment we entered the newly formatted space it felt like we were at a late night festival club.

First up, The Midnight Flyers.

They go from strength to strength and would be easily at home on the festival circuit next summer. Great original songs and some great covers; the half hour set was far too short.

Highlights were Gunga Din and the atmospheric Mexico led by Steve Collinson. Suddenly a heaving cauldron of dancing bodies filled the floor as Mad Dog Macrea took the stage.

A huge following of fans lived every moment of every song.

Missing their fiddle player the band, stormed their way through a banjo driven two hours plus of hot, sweaty and pulsating tunes fronted by the charismatic Irishman Michael Mathieson.

Young and old alike bounced to the infectious rhythms and joined in with the heartfelt, honest lyrics of each song.

It felt as if they could have played all night long and the audience would have danced the entire time.

City Hall Three should become one of the area's top smaller venues and if this gig was anything to go by then I cannot wait for the next one.

THOM BELK