FRONTMAN Roy Stride said Scouting For Girls’ concert at York Racecourse would be all about dancing around and crowd participation, and he was right.

The thousands of racegoers packed in front of the stage – ranging from hardcore teenage fans (known as “wolfcubs”) and families with young children to beery blokes in crumpled suits and clucking hen parties with regulation sashes and bunny ears – did indeed sing, clap, cheer and dance along to the indie pop band’s upbeat and catchy singalong choruses.

Of course, many in the audience had been loosened up by a drink or six during an afternoon of scouting for winning horses on the racecourse prior to the concert, but Roy’s infectious enthusiasm and good-natured showmanship would probably have had a party of retired cub leaders clapping politely by the end of an 80-minute gig that included all the band’s hits, such as She’s So Lovely, This Ain’t a Lovesong and Elvis Ain’t Dead.

Only when Roy’s acoustic guitar started playing up and had to be replaced did the smile leave his face for a moment.

The Knavesmire setting for Saturday afternoon’s music showcase concert was magnificent, particularly after the sun emerged from behind the clouds.

There were 43,000 at the racecourse – all a big contrast with the first time Scouting for Girls played in York, when 18 people turned up to see the unknown band play at Fibbers.