Gerry Brooke looks back on performances by Dexey's Midnight Runners and Siouxsie and The Banshees

The band to see this November week in 1985 had to be Kevin Rowland and his (numerous) Dexys Midnight Runners on stage at the Colston Hall.

In case you need reminding Rowland’s band had reached the top of the charts a few years earlier with Come On Eileeen (1982) and Gino – a tribute to their ram-jam band hero, Gino Washington.

“The greatest achievement of the “Runners” is bringing together such a cosmopolitan collection of musicians,” wrote the Post’s John FitzPatrick the next day.

“Rowland’s collection of nine men and one woman produced a chasm of sound that wasn’t enhanced one little bit by the Colston Hall’s awful acoustics.

“Despite a few hundred empty seats the band played for two hours – and gave three encores – as the sensitive Rowland warmed to the faithful.

“But the fans that cried out for “Gino” – the number one song that had put the band where they are today – were to be disappointed.

“They did, however, play their other big hit, “Eileen.”

“Although Dexey’s image and line up appears more changeable than the weather their music has remained fairly staid.

“Rowland’s strutting and posturing bore a striking resemblance to David Byrne of Talking Heads while Bristol based fiddler Helen O’Hara cut a ridiculous figure dressed like a prim librarian with the antics of a dancing dervish.

“The fans, however, enjoyed themselves.”

The Hippodrome, meanwhile, was providing an unlikely stage for punk rockers Siouxsie and the Banshees.

“There was a touch of Mastermind as a solitary black chair stood centre stage awaiting the arrival of Siouxsie and the injured leg which has forced her to rethink her act” wrote the Post’s Nigel Summerley.

“When she arrived in the spotlight it became clear that her specialist subject was the act of soldiering on in the face of adversity.

“Siouxxsie, though disabled, turned her forced immobility into a dramatic stance of great effect.

“She has taken the sprit of punk in the mid 1980s producing music that knows no compromise.

“ The titanic drumming of Budgie and the wailing of Siouxsie could almost stand alone – without any accompaniment.

“The nagging guitar and bass seemed at times little more that a sideshow.

“Played with less volume and less conviction the Banshees simple songs would struggle to impress.

“But their commitment and their impact made this gig come alive.

If neither of these band were your cup of tea then how about Newcastle band Prefab Sprout at the Bristol Studio in Frogmore Street.

Paddy McAloon, the band’s frontman, has been hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of his era.

Failing that, then how about going to see that all round entertainer Roy Castle at Clifton’s Bodyworks Centre, showing people how to tap dance.

Just the previous week Roy had set up a world record of one million taps in 24 hours.

Meanwhile naturalist David Attenborough was opening Avon Wildlife Trust’s new HQ at the old police station on Brandon