Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2008.

Despite playing a smaller venue than usual and not having their full lighting and screen show, Marillion thrilled a capacity crowd with their word imagery, subtle atmospheric mood changes and emotive music.

Opening quietly with Dreamy Street and the cathartic This Train Is My Life, the band gave a lesson in music appreciation to possibly rock’s most loyal fans.

They are promoting their new double album Happiness Is The Road but still delved into the wealth of older material, including Quartz and the excellent Afraid Of Sunlight, which showcased Steve Rothery’s sterling guitar work.

The guys also showed they have none of their quirky humour, by playing the amazing The Man From The Planet Marzipan, or their political edge with Asylum Satellite One, before finishing the main set with the epic The Invisible Man.

Marillion rounded off a tremendous evening with encores of Neverland, 3 Minute Boy and Happiness Is The Road.

Ian D. Hall