WHO would have thought that Marillion, late 70s Genesis-soundalikes, would not only still be around in 2017, but thriving, with a loyal core of fans and on a creative high?

Well, that’s the case and having played at the Sage earlier this month, they ended their successful UK tour with a sold out show at York Barbican, writes Dave Lawrence.

Fish has long gone of course, and his replacement of some 28 years now, Steve Hogarth, is a first class frontman, full of smiles and passion for his lyrics. He was never still – playing keyboards, wrapping himself round the mic stand, or playing his innovative cricket bat synth.

2016’s excellent ‘F E A R’ album was the kind of political broadside that many bands steer well clear of – it was topical and pulled no punches. Over half its songs were performed on the night, the two five month movement pieces ‘El Dorado’ and ‘The Leavers’, along with ‘Living In F E A R’ and ‘White Paper’.

It wasn’t all new material though – older songs like ‘Sugar Mice’, ‘Easter’ and ‘Season’s End’ all received ovations, and they dipped back into their first album, 1983’s ‘Script for a Jester’s Tear’ and ‘Garden Party’ to end the show, and the tour.

The light show and sound quality was first class and it was nice to see most fans abide by the pre-show request not to sit there videoing the show on their phones but to live in the moment rather than through their screens.