STEPS are back (again!)

Marking their 20th anniversary, the band have embarked on a 20-date UK arena tour entitled Party on the Dancefloor.

The name of the tour suggested we'd be in for a good night and Steps didn't disappoint.

Claire, Faye, 'H', Lee and Lisa made a dramatic entrance emerging from the depths of the stage, cloaked in red robes to a cathedral backdrop, at Newcastle Arena on Monday night, treating the audience - largely made up of 20 or 30 somethings who must have grown up bopping to Steps, to a mix of 90's nostalgia and new tracks off their latest album 'Tears on the Dancefloor' which Faye was delighted to tell everyone had just gone Gold.

Kicking off with Scared of the Dark, everyone was on their feet from the word go reliving childhoods or cheesy clubbing years.

Other new songs such as Story of a Heart and Neon Blue are classic Steps.

The Newcastle audience were an enthusiastic crowd, building up for the encore of Tragedy, where the stage backdrop turned into a giant wedding cake.

The lack of a backing band meant that the stage could really be used to full effect and there were some stunning lighting displays, none more so than for 5,6,7,8 when we were taken into the Wild West (a song they admitted they avoided singing for years).

Following this sell-out show, Steps are also back at the arena on December 5.

They are also touring next summer, including a show at The Northern Echo Arena in Darlington on Bank Holiday Monday 27 May. Contact 01325 350267 for tickets.

Tracey Dowson