What a birthday party that was!

Blue-eyed soul band Man Made Sole returned to the venue where they have played some of their best gigs to celebrate 20 years on the road.

During that time the 12-piece band from Rossendale have had some 33 members and only three of the original line-up trumpet player Alan Wilson, bassist Mike Williamson and one of the trio of girl singers Debs Wilson still remain.

But the personnel changeover has gone seamless and the band has a solid tight and together sound that puts many other bands in the shade.

Man Made Sole aren’t just locked into the 60s and 70s soul classics they also covered Amy Winehouse’s Valerie and Duffy’s Mercy and Cee Lo Green amongst others.

And the impressive thing was they managed to put their own stamp on every song they belted out. With the help of the classy brass section they sort of Stax-ed up all of the material.

It meant from the opening Pick Up The Pieces through an array of 36 soul, funk, disco and dance tunes they had the audience not only on the edge of their seats but from the third number on on the dancefloor in their dozens.

The three girl singers and lead singer Glen worked their butts off for the entire set.

And the reception and applause they received throughout showed the band’s early decision to switch from being a jump jive band to a soul band after seeing The Commitments film was a stroke of genius.

Roll on the next 20 years of Man Made Sole keeping soul alive in the north west.