For a group which rarely looked to past achievements, the 30th anniversary tour was a unique occasion. The band were in two minds about the concept: Jim remarked that it wasn't a big deal if you considered Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart; nor did they want to draw attention to the band's age? But they went ahead.

Celebrating over 30 years of playing live (the "official" date taken as the appearance at Satellite City on the 17th January 1978), the band scored another "first", by performing New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) in its entirety for the first time.

The group's most acclaimed album was sandwiched into the setlist by a collection of perennial favourites. Whilst it was strictly a "Best Of" set, the die-hards could enjoy Mel taking on lead vocals on Chelsea Girl and the dusting down of some lesser known tracks from almost the entire catalogue.

The rumour mill ground furiously during the weeks leading up to the concerts, with fans speculating with various combinations of musicians, drawn from the band’s considerable ranks. In the end, the "second classic" line-up performed the honours, with Jim, Charlie, Mel and Eddie joined by Andy.

The short arena tour (limited to just the UK) was backed up by magnificent lighting, video screens and the best merchandising for years. And despite being a celebration of the past, it heightened expectations for the next tour, which was just a few months away.

Although tempted to road-test songs from the forthcoming Graffit Soul album, the band stuck to the idea of celebrating their past.

"We had a great tour through the UK - fantastic audiences." - Jim

The colour 32 page tour programme was packed with interviews, archival live pictures and memorabilia shots. The 30 Years Live Intro was made available in the Welcome Gift Pack download.

MEN Arena, Manchester, UK 27th November, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / Speed Your Love To Me / Mandela Day / Love Song / Factory / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / All The Things She Said / Belfast Child Encore: Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking Both The American and Ghostdancing were planned for the encore but had to be dropped; the show started late due to technical issues and the MEN have a strict 11PM curfew. NEC, Birmingham, UK 28th November, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / Speed Your Love To Me / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / All The Things She Said / Belfast Child Encore: Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking Wembley Arena, Wembley, UK 29th November, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / Speed Your Love To Me / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: She's A River / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking There were a few sound problems when Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) started as Charlie's guitar couldn't be heard. Jim restarted the song: "Can we do it again? We need Charlie's guitar for this." Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, UK 1st December, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / Speed Your Love To Me / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: She's A River / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking International Arena, Cardiff, UK 2nd December, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / I Travel / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: She's A River / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, UK 3rd December, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / I Travel / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: She's A River / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking SECC, Glasgow, UK 4th December, 2008 Support: The Alarm Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / I Travel / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: Home / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking Odyssey Arena, Belfast, UK 6th December, 2008 Support: Deacon Blue Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / I Travel / Mandela Day / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Chelsea Girl / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / Somebody Up There Likes You / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hunter and The Hunted / Glittering Prize / King Is White And In The Crowd / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child Encore: Home / Let There Be Love / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking Cash For Kids, ABC1, Glasgow, UK 7th December, 2008 Main Set: Intro / Waterfront / Home / I Travel / Premonition / Love Song / The American / See The Lights / Factory / Chelsea Girl / Ghostdancing - Gloria / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Promised You A Miracle / Big Sleep / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Glittering Prize / Hypnotised / Up On The Catwalk / Don't You (Forget About Me) Encore: She's A River / Let There Be Love / Sanctify Yourself / Alive And Kicking

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