27 July 2026
Just a few hours before their heavily anticipated show on the beach, Madness shared a photo across their social channels, captioned “Brighton Beach (Hove actually), 1979 with the Selecter and The Specials”.
It seems pretty unbelievable that, not only have 47 years passed, but the 70s and 80s two-tone ska revival band now revisit the very same beach, still kicking on for the first of two special ‘Madrophenia’ shows at On The Beach.
Taking to the stage shortly after 8:30pm, frontman Suggs takes centre stage accompanied by the expansive live band of Madness, the iconic saxophones of ‘One Step Beyond’ pulsating a wave of nostalgia and excitement across the fifteen thousand strong crowd.
The audience is as diverse as you’d expect; it’s obvious that for many, however, this isn’t their first Madness rodeo, with pork pie and fez hats as well as shades discoverable at every glance. Perhaps an opportunity to tickle the nostalgic highlights of their younger years when the band first came through – a trip down memory lane I suppose? And, for the younger demographic in the crowd, a short window into a prestigious era of live music and culture.
Still as sharp as ever, the Nutty Boys ensure their live power is projected, blending early two-tone staples such as ‘The Prince’ with the melancholic brilliance of ‘Grey Day’ and confident grooves of ‘Mr Apples’.
It’s the final stretch that ultimately brings the house down (pardon the pun), with ‘House of Fun’, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘Our House’ projecting euphoria amongst the crowd, tangibly felt and appreciated as arms then flair and nestle around one another for ‘It Must Be Love’.
Returning for the encore, they bring it full circle with their namesake track, ‘Madness’, before signing off with the customary, joyous mayhem of ‘Night Boat to Cairo’. It’s another brilliant night at Brighton’s On the Beach, highlighting the city’s incredible energy and knack for putting on a show.
Decades into their career, Madness prove they are still in top form, as does Brighton when it comes to throwing a party.