Let's Go Round Again: Curiosity Killed The Cat, Go West and Nick HeywardRegent, Ipswich, last nightTHERE are those that dismiss eighties pop music as merely the first fruits of Pete Waterman's labour and then there are those that relish in what it truly had to offer.

Let's Go Round Again: Curiosity Killed The Cat, Go West and Nick Heyward

Regent, Ipswich, last night

THERE are those that dismiss eighties pop music as merely the first fruits of Pete Waterman's labour and then there are those that relish in what it truly had to offer.

It was the latter contingent – though disappointingly small in number – who ventured to Ipswich Regent last night for a trip down memory lane.

It was time to be immersed in some great music often forgotten in today's world of disposable pop.

First up was former Woolverstone Hall schoolboy Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, the man who gave Curiosity Killed The Cat a voice.

Looking like a dishevelled Michael Stipe, but with the trademark hat still well placed on his head, he sang and danced his way through the hits that made Curiosity's name – Misfit, Ordinary Day and Name and Number – tracks that seemed delightfully funkier than remembered.

And as he launched into Down To Earth, he lived up to the name Mr Smooth given to him by the voice that had introduced him, jumping off stage to join the women in the front row before slowly grooving his way up and down the aisles.

Judging by the speed in which the audience jumped to its feet when Go West took to the stage, it was clear this was the duo many had been waiting for.

Peter Cox and Richard Drummie effortlessly made their way through past hits including Call Me, SOS, We Close Our Eyes and The King of Wishful Thinking. It was impressive enough but they lacked the rapport with the audience that their tour mates achieved.

Clearly they should have taken some tips from Nick Heyward who interspersed his songs with jokes about John Major and Edwina Currie putting him off his Marmite on toast.

And as he chatted in between the songs he released as a solo artist and member of Haircut 100 – Blue Hat For A Blue Day and Fantastic Day (of which he gave two renditions) to name just two – he even found time to create a new song called Errr based around the buzz from his electric guitar.

With a combination of stunning music and amusing conversation Nick brought the show to a wonderful close.

The night had been a great journey back to a much-maligned decade and no doubt left many wanting to cry "Let's go round again!"

Jo Macdonald