IT'S always a pleasure to experience Kelly Jones and co. in action.

I've seen Stereophonics live seven or eight times over the last 15 years or so and they're always the same - utterly brilliant.

The chance to see them in such an intimate setting, along with around 2,000 others, is a rare treat these days.

Consummate professionals and without doubt one of the best live acts around, they know exactly what their audience wants.

That's plenty of the old anthems to sing their hearts out to.

Getting the set under way with Indian Summer, hits like Maybe Tomorrow and The Bartender and The Thief went down a storm.

Handbags and Gladrags was a definite omission from the nearly two hour set but a rocking sold out crowd loved every second of Have a Nice Day and A Thousand Trees, clapping, dancing, jumping, singing and even taking over the vocals at times.

Tracks from new album Graffiti on the Train, which has a slower bluesy soul feel, also proved popular.

There were heavy rock moments and an extremely varied set only served to show off the tremendous talent of Jones, whose distinctive voice was pitch perfect as ever.

Closing the main set with an emotionally charged Local Boy In The Photograph, there was a near stampede before the band took to the stage again and performed Mr Writer as part of a stunning finale.

As usual, the night ended with the band's only Number 1 Dakota and a superb guitar versus drums rock off.

With Stereophonics you know what you're going to get - and it's always outstanding.

The band return to the South Coast for an arena date at Bournemouth in November.

And I for one can hardly wait for the next time.

LORELEI REDDIN