THE relationship between a band and its fans is vital when it comes to live concerts.

An audience totally up for the occasion can sometimes be as important as the group itself – and can make or break a gig.

The Stone Foundation's gig at the O2 Academy 2 in Liverpool proved to be a great example – and what an atmosphere it was. From beginning to end, the audience sang, danced, clapped and laughed - every single one of the 200-or-so fans was carrying a smile.

The soul boys could not have wished for a better start to their 13 date UK tour which moves on to Birmingham on Wednesday. The band, who have famously worked with Paul Weller on their fourth album Street Rituals, looked like they were buzzing off the occasion as well.

They pulled out some real classics for the fans – the funky Get Back into the Game got the crowd bouncing as did Season of Change (sung on the album by world soul star Bettye Lavette).

The wonderful Open Your Heart to the World also went down a treat – but perhaps the highlight of the evening was Limit of a Man, which lead singer Neil Jones wrote with band member Neil Sheasby and Weller himself. If the fans weren't worked up enough already, they burst into voice as Jones gave it his all on the stage alongside a fantastic three-piece brass section.

To me, this is musical heaven - think the Style Council, James Brown and Dexys rolled into one. Jones means it - he sings with his heart and lets all his influences come out in his music.

And the band is strong – horn and string arrangements add glorious colour and light to a new collection of songs that are the group's strongest to date.

If you like soul, funk, jazz, or RnB, do not miss this band!

The Stone Foundation are playing the following dates:

18-Oct-17 Birmingham O2 Academy 3

19-Oct-17 Glasgow Oran Mor

20-Oct-17 Newcastle Riverside

21-Oct-17 Stockton-on-Tees The Georgian Theatre

22-Oct-17 Holmfirth Picturedrome

24-Oct-17 Hull Fruit

25-Oct-17 Nottingham Glee Club

26-Oct-17 Cardiff The Globe

27-Oct-17 London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

01-Nov-17 Witney fat Lil's

02-Nov-17 Bournemouth Mr Kyps

03-Nov-17 Southend Chinnerys