BRITISH ska pioneers the Beat head to Chinnery’s, in Southend, on Friday for an evening of two-tone nostalgia, writes Charlie Foster.

The band exploded out of industrial Birmingham in the late Seventies during a period of mass unemployment and social turmoil.

Alongside the Specials and Madness, they became one of the most influential groups of the UK ska movement.

Combining aspects of punk, soul, reggae and pop to create a catchy dance rhythm, the Beat earned themselves support slots with bands such as REM, the Clash, David Bowie and the Police.

The boys scored four Top Ten hits including Mirror in the Bathroom, Too Nice to Talk To, and the Smokey Robinson cover Tears of a Clown.

They also released three studio albums, two of which – I Just Can’t Stop It and Wh’appen – made it to number three in the UK album chart.

The Beat originally consisted of Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Ranking Roger on vocals, Saxa on saxophone, bass player David Steele, guitarist Andy Cox, drummer Everett Morton and Dave Wright on keys, before they split in 1983.

After a hugely successful one-off reunion gig in early 2003, Roger, Saxa, Wakeling, Wright and Everett decided to reform.

They are joined on the tour by new recruits Mark “Chico” Hamilton, who replaces the now retired Saxa, and Roger’s son Matthew Murphy, of ska band the Ordinary Boys, will be accompanying his father on vocals. A new album, the first since 1982’s Special Beat Service, is also on the way, and is currently being mixed by Adrian Sherwood.

Doors for the gig at the venue in Marine Parade open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12. Support comes from the Goodtimes. Call 01702 467305.