Badness Tribute

Badness are back at the Key West Bar and Grill on Saturday 3 October, returning to the end of Bournemouth Pier for what they're calling a bit of autumnal fun. It's a return they've been looking forward to: their last show here sold out, so this one is a proper follow-up for anyone who missed out last time.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, they're a Madness tribute and a Ska/2Tone revival band, and they've been at it since July 1994. They're a six-piece — guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, keyboards and vocals — which is exactly the kind of line-up you need to get the Madness sound right. Over the years they've built up a bit of a cult following, and Stage Magazine once described them as fantastic and a benchmark for other tributes.

The set is built around the Madness songs everyone knows: Our House, It Must Be Love, Baggy Trousers and House Of Fun are all on the list. It's a tribute show, so that's the whole point — they're playing the hits rather than venturing off into new territory.

As for the venue, the Key West Bar and Grill sits right at the end of Bournemouth Pier in Dorset, with panoramic sea views and its own terrace. It's a good spot for a Saturday night, especially if you're already heading down the pier. The show is on Saturday 3 October, and since it's a return to the same stage that sold out last time, it's worth getting your tickets sorted early.