I have just spent an evening in the company of the band that rewrote the rule book from : Section 1,Page 1 How to Play Loud , Hard and Proud :- Don't bother you will never better Bad Manners.

Much has been written and spoken about the Ska scene over the years, but for those who were there, in a muddy field in Lincolnshire last weekend the message is simple you either get it or you don't.

These fans have it!

If you have to ask what it is then I'm sorry but you haven't' got it, and probably never will. Fear not though, redemption may be available for those that dare to stray from the Dark Side, but I warn you now, your journey will not be without danger but it will certainly be worthy of the effort.

Only a long course of treatment to cleanse your soul of the parasitic demons that are more commonly known as Bland Music, can help to save you from a terrible soulless death.

This is real music for real people that won't be coming to a cinema near you shortly. Your one chance of redemption is to follow the path of enlightenment and bathe in the waters of sound that flowed from the mountains of Two Tone & Wigan Casino.

But take heed the devil always stalks you, and you are only one breath away from humming a Kylie song.

In a hastily converted cow shed in deepest Lincolnshire, packed so full to capacity that people were struggling for breath, but for altogether different reasons than the buildings previous occupants.

An absolutely riotous crowd of devotees that have never lost the sight of the true path, were treated to an evening of jaw dropping, bottle testing entertainment.

As the warriors stoked the fires in the Mosh pit at the front of the stage, All Mod Cons were hammering out classics from The Jam's back catalogue with such ear shattering passion that even an eaves-dropping Mr. Weller & Mr Foxton may have paused for thought about past decisions.

The atmosphere was absolutely intense and I tried to cut out a piece between sets to see if I could see reality, but to no avail, reality had caught a cab home and wasn't coming back for anybody.

Backstage the message was conveyed " 2 more tracks from the DJ and then he's on" . Before the last few chords of music had begun to fade, the famous chant grew from a murmur to a roar in seconds.

The darkness cleared and there he stood anointing the converted with an energy that can only have come from a greater place than mere mortals can comprehend.

A view from the stage

All bystanders in the vicinity were duly warned, and with the promise from Buster that he was in a " VERY good mood tonight" The band were cleared for take off and this place flew .As the temperature rose and the condensation dripped from the roof beams, the brass section kicked started the engine and we rode into the night.

I fail to see anyone, anywhere who can even hold a candle to Bad Manners in their current form . Go see them, and go see them now, this is history in the making, and with bands such as Howie and the Cubans not so patiently waiting in the wings with their own material the future looks good too.

There can't be many bands who can lay claim to having played Stonehenge, but from their 1st gig there, converting hippies in 1976, Bad Manners and their Messiah Buster Bloodvessel have changed the course of Music history in the UK and beyond. Long may it continue and remember: Never Stop Believing.