Status QuoThetford ForestAnd so they packed in yet another full house. And so they gave yet another faultless 100-minute performance of non-stop entertainment.

Status Quo

Thetford Forest

And so they packed in yet another full house. And so they gave yet another faultless 100-minute performance of non-stop entertainment. And yet again they got people aged from five to probably 65 bouncing madly in a damp clearing in the forest.

Welcome to the enduring world of Status Quo.

Will Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and Co ever stop being able to turn it on for the masses?

They are half way through their 40th anniversary year since their first chart hit and many of the 6,000 concertgoers who lapped up every minute of the show had not even been born when Quo's musical journey started.

Yes, there were a few ponytails, leather jackets and ageing rockers in the arena - but the crowd was surprisingly diverse, showing the breadth of their appeal.

Caroline kicked off the set and by the time the encore was completed - including Rockin' All Over the World and Bye Bye Johnny - it was hard to see anyone standing still.

In between the band mixed favourites from down the decades with up to date numbers and the 20-odd song set included Wanderer, Rain, Hold Your Back, Paper Plane, What You're Proposing and Roll Over Lay Down.

Rossi's rapport with the audience was as sparkling as ever and his choice of witty gags ranged from the inevitable mention of the “summer” weather to Jelly Babies.

In the next 50 days they have 18 concerts in 11 countries as well as a host more forest gigs in England.

You sense they still quite enjoy rocking.

IAN CLARKE

The remaining three Thetford Forest gigs are Crowded House (July 10), McFly (July 11) and Katherine Jenkins (July 12). Information is available from www.forestry.gov.uk/music or by ringing 01842 814612.