Mike + The Mechanics’ concert at the Grand Opera House was one of the highlights in a strong concert season at the Cumberland Street venue.

It showcased the band’s seventh album, and introduced audiences to new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar, taking the place of Paul Carrack and the late Sad Café frontman Paul Young.

The Road is a well constructed set of real songs that are contemporary yet still infused with Eighties’ influences reminiscent of Boston, Dire Straits and guitarist Mike Rutherford’s other band, Genesis.

Although there is nothing as profound as The Living Years on The Road, there is still much to enjoy, and nothing here that would be out of place on Take That’s multi-million selling Progress.