Artist: Madness / Squeeze

Venue: The Brighton Centre

Town: Brighton

Date: 14.12.25

Squeeze

Brighton was the lucky host to witness a pair of bands steeped in Englishness, with contrasting musical styles but with intrinsic connection to London and the music that was permeating through the streets of the sixties and seventies. You can hear the effect of “Pub Rock” and “Music Hall” in both their lyrical and sonic outputs.

 So it was a pleasure to be at The Brighton Centre to see Squeeze and Madness conjoined for this Tour. Where better than on the seafront with seagulls chasing people for chips and opportunists selling Fez Hats for a fiver outside the venue?

Chris Difford

Glenn Tilbrook

A full house packed in early to catch the Squeeze set at 7:30 and they were not disappointed. All the kitchen sink drama of those songs was laid bare with the highly efficient band that Squeeze now is. The original two remaining members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook still relish performing and as mentioned have gathered an amazing backing band who clearly enjoy being a part of the Squeeze story.

Stephen Large

Owen Biddle

Starting with “Pulling mussels from the shell” still a picture provoking masterpiece within a catalogue of masterpieces they were then straight into “Is that Love” followed by fans singalong favourite “Up the Junction”, a song that is named after a film but is like another film script as a lyric put to music, with many of Difford and Tilbrook’s creations they can evoke so much depth to quite seemingly mundane day to day situations. 

Glenn Tilbrook

Tilbrook introduced 3 songs that are on their upcoming album, originally written in 1974 but now finally having been recorded and getting their first airing on this Tour. The album is called Trixies and is released on March 6, 2026.

Chris Difford

Keyboardist Stephen Large demonstrated his "chopping" playing style on "Slap and Tickle", he has taken on the role of the slightly goofy character that Jools Holland originally held. Large has for many years made the piano stool position his in his own right. "Cool for cats" has everyone mouthing the words "The Sweeney's doing ninety 'cause they've got the word to go," before Squeeze finish with the fantastic "Take me I'm yours" originally released in 1978... priceless!

Suggs

Where Squeeze grew up in South London, Madness originated from the North London "buzzing" location of Camden where they soaked up the sounds of import music easily available and popular in the seventies. So it was the Ska and Blue Beat that became their sound demonstrated by the first song of the night, their cover of "One Step Beyond" originally by the highly influential Prince Buster.

Lee Thompson

Madness

This Pre Christmas UK Tour coincides with a New Greatest Hits release called "Hit Parade" with most of the songs played in Brighton coming from their extensive chart smashes leaving tough decisions for anyone tasked with getting refreshments as to which song to miss during the 23 song set.

Madness

Madness had already played a matinee to a packed audience that afternoon, something they have done before including many years ago at the same venue. Their rapport with their devoted following has been built on the band's caring, sharing attitude with a matinee a prime example. Though it must of been physically demanding it did sound like Suggs voice was in a slightly lower register but no surprise really!

Suggs

The eighties originals such as "Embarrassment", "My Girl", "Grey Day" and "Baggy Trousers" with their observational view points are complimented by equally delicious vignettes of day to day life from Madness's later catalogue with "NW5", "lovestruck" and "Mr. Apples" all enriched by the everyday timeless world.

Suggs

Madness

Suggs is also an excellent raconteur with the breaks between numbers a chance to let the crowd into stories behind the songs or just something that amuses him and is better shared. He tells us before "The sun and Rain" of having just returned from Dubai - "A strange F**king place, like a block of flats in a desert", what more is there to say?

Lee Thompson

Suggs

Being that it is the festive time of year, Madness throw in a version of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" which did the trick to up the ante and get the fez's bouncing higher than before. Finishing the show with another Prince Buster classic in "Madness" and last but definitely not least "Night Boat to Cairo". All in all unbeatable music performed by a band who know a good time is just what the Doctor ordered to prepare all inside for the Christmas break.

Suggs

Suggs

Squeeze - website

Madness - website

Review and photographs by Dan Reddick for Return To Sound