http://www.selbytimes.co.uk/lifestyle/group-bookings-soar-as-madness-returns-to-doncaster-1-4529944

ONE OF Yorkshire’s biggest outdoor gigs looks set to be a sell-out, with limited availability for many of the concert packages, as hundreds rush to secure tickets and hospitality places at the Madness concert taking place at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday, June 30.

The iconic London band, fronted by charismatic cockney Suggs, are set to return to the Town Moor course for a second time, having performed at Doncaster Racecourse in 2008. Known globally for their 21 top twenty singles over seven years – including It Must Be Love, House of Fun and Our House – the band, which shot to fame in the late seventies, will take to the stage after a late afternoon of racing, at the Construction Index live music night.

Mark Spincer, managing director of Doncaster Racecourse, said: “Madness performed at Town Moor four years ago and thrilled the crowd with an outstanding show, so we’re absolutely delighted that they’re coming back to the course.

“The response since the tickets went on sale has been phenomenal and based on our pre-bookings, their return visit is going to be a massive success. Hospitality tickets are already very limited, so we’re urging any Madness fans that haven’t already, to book soon to avoid disappointment. County and Grandstand tickets are flying out, so we expect it will be a full-house on June 30.”

Mr Spincer added: “We have put together some great value packages. Hundreds of groups and corporate clients have decided to upgrade their race day and concert experience with hospitality and restaurant packages to the extent that we now only have a few spaces available. Our group discount of 20 per cent off bookings for 10 or more Grandstand Enclosure tickets, are also proving popular for this event.”

Madness said: “We’re over the moon to be returning to Doncaster Racecourse. Our last gig at Doncaster Racecourse was in 2008 and we remember the massive crowd and the great reception they gave us fondly.

“Four years on, we hear the people of Yorkshire want us back. We’re working on our tenth studio album at the moment, which will be out later this year – so the Doncaster Racecourse crowd can expect all the favourites plus some new stuff too.”

For more information about the racecourse, or to book tickets for the concert, visit Doncaster Racecourse or call 01302 304200.

Each Each month we get one of our favourite Londoners to tell us about their experiences of living in the capital. This month it’s the turn of Madness frontman and all-round nice geezer Suggs, who’s launching a spanking new app with a guide to Camden Town’s music venues.

Where did you grow up?

I moved around a lot when I was a kid. I lived in Fulham for a while, hence the fact that I’m a Chelsea fan, and then we lived above a carpet shop, Maples, on the corner of Tottenham Court Road. It was a great place to be as a teen because it was walking distance from the centre of Camden Town and walking distance from the West End. When I was 16 I’d walk down to The Roxy club as punk was just starting, so it was an amazing spot to be in.

It was a funny place, Camden. I didn’t see a girl here since 1979, but there were a lot of Irish pubs which would normally have music on a Friday and Saturday nights. So for a young person with not a lot of money it was a great place to be.

What’s your favourite area now?

Soho. My mum still lives in Soho and it’s where I spend a lot of my time. And like lots of bits of London it is still kinda like a village, there’s lots of people who lead ordinary lives and run shops. Bar Italia is like the Post Office there, it’s one of my favourite spots, sitting outside watching the world go by. You always bump into someone. My wife doesn’t believe me but I get a lot of work done when I’m there.

What’s your favourite pub?

It’d have to be The French House. I’ve been going there since I was a kid as my mum worked in there for a bit. Between 2 and 4 in the afternoon is the best time, before it gets too busy. That’s when you get a lot of out-of-work actors and painters, a lot of interesting characters hanging around at that time.

Do you have a favourite shop?

Simons. They do a lot of Ivy League stuff, ’50s and ’60s American stuff, they always have really great things in there. And even if you ain’t got the money to buy it’s just an interesting place to look around. They’ve been going since the ’50s, so they’ve got some really amazing vintage stuff. They were the first people to bring back those Baracuta harringtons and Bass Weejun loafers and all those lovely things.

How do you spend a chilled Sunday afternoon.

What I like to do is go to the New North Road and go down to the canal, and you can walk all the way down to the Thames from there. It goes through Islington and then through Hackney through Victoria Park. You can stop at Broadway Market for a coffee, then there’s a great Chinese at Canary Wharf, the Royal China, then get the river ferry back to the West End and get the bus home.

Name something that was better about London when you were young.

Chesse and onion sandwiches. In pubs that’s all you could get – great big slices of white bread with cheddar cheese and raw onion. Man’s food.

And something that’s better now.

I suppose that you can eat something more than cheese and onion sandwiches in pubs! There are so many great pubs serving great food – the Good Pub Guide, fucking hell what an amazing thing that is.

Your favourite music venue?

Kentish Town Forum. It’s great having played really small gigs and really massive ones, you get a different feeling from all of them. Playing at the O2 is brilliant for the feeling of enormity, amazing vibes, and then playing the Dublin Castle to 100 people is amazing. But I think the Forum is the perfect size.

Favourite London building?

I suppose St Paul’s Cathedral because it’s so iconic and has been in so many old movies that I like, like Oliver. And the scale of it, you feel it standing on the steps. And I suppose it sums up London in some rather twee way.

Where did you buy your records from in your younger days?

Rock On in Camden Town. I used to buy them and indeed borrow them on occasion – some of them I’ve still got to give back. But the owner used to like us and we used to get away with a little bit of that sort of thing. Really great record shop. The great joy in those days was finding records – you’d have to order them, sometimes you’d get them and sometimes you wouldn’t.

Your last London meal?

I’d have an Indian from the Holloway Indian Takeaway. It’s just a great restaurant that’s been there a very long time. You know, other ones pop up and you try them, but I always go back to the Holloway Indian Takeaway – it does what it says on the tin.

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