The six-strong band work their way through an energetic set to a full arena.

A lot has changed since we last saw Madness live: they’ve released two full albums – 2016’s Can’t Touch Us Now and their latest, Theatre of the Absurd presents C’est La Vie – and have upgraded their touring to arena status. Back when we first saw them, they played to a fair few people at Silverstone’s outdoor stage, where the sound escaped us but the atmosphere made up for it. Now, to see them eight years later in a full-to-the-brim Utilita Arena in the centre of Birmingham, brings a sense of pride. 

I’ve been a fan of Madness since they began and have been there since, well, the very beginning, back when word-of-mouth made the Ska legends the band of the moment and I was a young, impressionable kid. As most of us discovering music in that period, we became intoxicated by the band’s ever-present dress sense and carefully crafted aesthetic, dressing ourselves in similar get-ups: Doc Martens with white tube socks, Harrington jackets, Bomber jackets, stay press trousers and anything we could get our hands on that had a black and white checked pattern. 

Drafting in a new sound engineer and his right-hand man, the lighting engineer, the band enhanced their show to a whole new level of entertainment, with considerable thought put into the light display that left the arena in awe. As implied by the name of the latest album, the entire show was pure theatre through and through, with notable actor (and Madness superfan) Martin Freeman kicking things off with his prologue.

Speaking to Lauren Laverne back in 2019 on his episode of Desert Island Discs about his love for Madness, namely Baggy Trousers, Freeman said, “This was one of the records that changed my life. Even though I was eight (and) I didn’t have much of a life to change… It was like something that was mine and without sounding too grand about it, I think it helped set me on a path for the rest of my life.” 

Notably, the band met the The Hobbit actor when he was waiting in line at a meet and greet and the band’s manager plucked him from the crowd, and now his voice is lent to the band’s 13th album as running dialogue throughout. 

Kicking off, we got a taste of the new album with opening track Theatre of the Absurd, before moving swiftly onto The Prince that, unsurprisingly, the band performed as high-energy as always. 

Performing a mixture of new tracks from the Number One album, plus going back in time for some brilliant classic hits from 40 odd years ago, they performed a thrilling and engaging set to make everyone happy. Kicking off, we got a taste of the new album with opening track Theatre of the Absurd, before moving swiftly onto The Prince that, unsurprisingly, the band performed as high-energy as always. We witnessed Madness at their very best, playing with ease and like pros, much like they owned the stage. 

Frontman Suggs was very vocal about the chart placement of their album, telling the crowd they’d just gotten the top spot, plus telling Taylor Swift and Drake where to go, having beat them to the golden spot. 

Going through an array of songs from their back catalogue, including One Step Beyond and the lovestruck It Must Be Love, they got the crowd on their feet and brought the whole venue together, feeling the massive arena with ease. If you’ve been to a Madness show, you’ll be wise to their audience engaging manners, as halfway through the show, Lee and Suggs produced a couple of t-shirt guns and started shooting Madness shirts toward a very joyful crowd, making it a night to remember for those lucky enough to receive one. 

Getting nearer to the close of the night, the band said their thanks to the crowd, making all in the Birmingham arena scream out for an encore in unison until their demands were met. Nobody was left disappointed as the band came back for three more tracks and a very special rendition of Friday Night by Birmingham’s own The Specials, after the band had promised to celebrate an act from B-Town. 

See Madness live: