Wash-out weather might have dampened the traditional high spirits of Mad Sunday but up at the Peel Bay Festival, two knockout concerts washed away everybody's cares and took festival fever to new heights.

It was the line-up everybody had been talking about: ace punk veterans The Stranglers followed by Madness - one of the best loved bands of all times. With roughly 8,500 tickets pre-sold, it was always going to be a lively night. By early
evening, however, it became apparent just how lively, as hundreds more flocked to the ticket office, encouraged by the growing buzz surrounding the festival and a day of relentlessly dreary, wet weather.

With all the seats removed from the arena and a swelling crowd sharing their excitement, a proper 'festival feel' was palpable. For the first time, too, the day's rain had made a muddy mulch of the ground around the marquee - another
authentic festival experience! Along with a considerable biker contingent, the crowd was a true cross-section of music fans young and old. There was everyone from young children waving their first festival glow-sticks to tribal groups of Madness fans sporting fezzes, trilbies and Arab headdresses!

Before they could come face to face with the Nutty Boys, however, there was a blistering set from The Stranglers which made the ground beneath the stage rumble. The 'Meninblack' have seen their line-up change over the years - original vocalist Hugh Cornwell left in 1990 and his replacement, Paul Roberts, moved on last year; their guitarist of six years' standing, Baz Warne, now shares vocal duties with bassist Jean Jacques Burnel. There was also an unexpected face on the night - drummer Jet Black, who has been suffering with heart trouble in the last year, felt too unwell to play and was heroically replaced by the band's roadie Ian! None of this could detract from a no-nonsense set which showed that the band have lost none of their moody fire or thrilling sense of menace. 'Golden Brown' naturally got the biggest cheer of the night but hot on its heels was the moment when Burnel dedicated his self-penned new song 'I Hate You' to George Bush. He also won a roar of applause when he described coming to the Isle of Man for TT as "the ambition of a lifetime."

After the show, he shared his thoughts about the night and the festival: "It was good; I thought we were on it. It was awkward playing just before Madness because they're complete good-time music and we're portrayed as 'serious artists' - I don't know where that places us! It's party time and that's how it should be. It's a shame it's such a cold, wet, dreary day but at least everyone had to be in the tent! I think it's a great event. Everything's been fine and people are really friendly here. I wish them the very best of luck. And it's a great idea to do it in TT week."

Back under the marquee, his sentiments were echoing around from many lips. The night was clearly a hit with TT visitors as well as having the strongest support so far from locals. Rebecca of Port St Mary said: "I think this is a credit to the Isle of Man. I honestly can't fault it. I think it's wonderful what the organisers have done and everyone I've spoken to feels the same."

Meanwhile, over in the VIP tent, sponsors of the night Steam Packet were also glowing in their praise. Communications Officer Laura Howland said: "It's brilliant to be here tonight - and we have some avid fans among the staff. It's a fantastic event to be involved in and we have enjoyed all the preparation and run up to it." Director of
Marketing, Rupert Trevelyan agreed: "We are delighted to be associated with the Peel Bay Festival and it looks like its going to be a really great show."

Treasury Minister Alan Bell was one of the guests in attendance and not for the first time: revealing that it had been "great to revisit" The Who as he'd first seen them on the Island in the Sixties, he went on to say: "The organisation and the whole structure of the evening couldn't have gone better."

Some guests decided to take the feel-good factor one step further: Joanne and Chris, who are getting married in September, were given a bottle of celebratory champagne during the interval by the Steam Packet. Friends had bought them tickets to Madness as a wedding present - a very good move! Chris, explaining that Joanne is blind, commented: "Everyone has been extremely helpful...The crowds have been very considerate and the facilities have been fantastic."
When Madness took to the stage, the crowd went cheerily berserk. Never mind the music: the cheer that greeted the band could be heard a good mile away.

Led by the seemingly ageless Suggs, Madness deserved every ounce of that applause and more. With their trademark bounce and energy, they romped through their classic hits and had a delighted audience dancing helplessly and grinning from ear to ear.

Madness has always projected an image that was more gang than band - a loveable gang who just can't help having a good time. Their magic - the gift they give to the audience - is to pass on that feeling to the people watching them. The atmosphere in the marquee was truly joyous, infectiously fun and friendly. From strangers to friends, everywhere you turned there were people linking arms, bear-hugging, high-stepping and mashing up the wet ground in a dance fever.

Even though Madness played for a generous two hours, it was all over too soon. "I've never enjoyed myself so much in all my life" cried one girl as she came out of the tent, speaking for the thousands who came tripping out into the
open air.

A delighted Jonathan Irving commented at the end of the night: "The good thing was that we had a high proportion of bikers as well. I've always been concerned as to whether we'd actually get many bikers coming in but tonight it was tremendous - just looking back over all those faces - they were obviously enjoying it and I know the band did. I spoke to Suggs when he came off stage and he said it was absolutely brilliant."

Perhaps the best aspect of the night was the fact that thousands of loyal TT fans, who had spent the day looking for something to do under wet, miserable skies, ended up having the party of their lives in a marquee in Peel. It will doubtless be one of the best memories they take home from the Isle of Man and with luck, they'll be clamouring for more of the same next year!