And the Bury band were on blistering form at the 02 Academy in Newcastle last night as they opened their breathtaking set with Starlings off their now multi award winning third album.

Where other bands would rely on gimmicks and visual effects, Elbow let the beauty and intensity of their songs speak for themselves.

Guy Garvey's voice was so clear that the audience hung on his every note, happily singing along to old and new songs from the band's long career.

Audience favourite Grounds for Divorce is debatably one of the best songs around, and the crowd went crazy for it, making it one of the best songs of the night.

Guy Garvey has an extraordinary talent, and continues to create thought-provoking and beautiful songs in an otherwise reality tv driven music world.

It's nice to see a band so pure, do so well.

Unassuming Garvey draws heavily on the band's latest and greatest album The Seldom Seen Kid, with Mirrorball, Weather To Fly (where they huddled together in a circle and downed shots), and the excellent Bones of You, but also choses a selection of the older classics like thetoe-tapping Leaders of The Free World, love song Newborn, The Stops, the spine-tingling Any Day Now, and Switching Off.

Garvey and his audience were seemingly both in awe of each other, and he constantly checked with the audience that they were having a good night, and explained the meaning and inspiration behind some of the tunes.

The highlight of the night has to be the extended version of the classic, heartfelt song, One Day Like This, which rounded off an incredible set.

This is possibly one of the greatest songs of all time - no matter how many times you hear it, it never loses the magic - and hearing it live was an incredible joy.

Anyone who missed out should make sure they get tickets for the next time Elbow are in town.

Click here to read the review of support group The Acorn