THOSE familiar guitar and keyboard riffs along with the unmistakeable vocals of Jim Kerr came through load and proud.

And all the big songs of Simple Minds were there ... along with a few surprises.

Jim Kerr along with his fellow musicians Charlie Burchill (guitar) Mel Gaynor (drums), Andy Gillespie (keyboards) and Ged Grimes (bass), plus female vocalist Sarah Brown, pumped out a pulsating and memorable 90-minute set at the July Racecourse, at Newmarket, on Friday, as they kicked off the first of this year’s Adnams Newmarket Nights.

Their fans were in raptures as hit after hit flowed out across the track at one of the most unique concert venues in the region.

Don’t You Forget About Me, Waterfront, Alive and Kicking, Glittering Prize, All The Things She Said, Someone Somewhere In Summertime, Ghost Dancing, Love Song, The American, Let There Be Love, See The Lights, and many more ... they were all there.

Kerr told his hundreds of fans and followers who were either sitting in the stands or stomping and dancing in front of the stage that it was “great to get out into the fresh” air after spending time in the recording studio working on new songs.

A racecourse venue was a first for Simple Minds and they loved the occasion as they celebrate 35 years with new greatest hits collection Celebrate, which includes new tracks Broken Glass Park and Blood Diamonds.

The band, formed back in the late 1970s, have come a come a long way since Glasgow’s small Mars Bar club.

But what hasn’t changed is their mission to be the best live band around.

Their music has stood the test of time and their songs sound just as good as they did back in the day.

Kerr’s voice may have waned a bit but even in his early 50s it still has that familiar familiar ring and tone.

The sound quality of the band was simply stunning with Gaynor and Grimes driving them through the set.

For just four musicians it was a remarkable full, fat reproduction.

And everybody was up on their feet for the finale which inluded Sanctify Yourself sung with gusto by the crowd.

Adnams Newmarket Nights continues on June 28 with Five, Blue and Liberty X; July 19, Madness; July 26, Labrinth and Little Mix; August 2, Kaiser Chiefs; August 9, Keane; and finishes on August 16 with Meat Loaf.