IT was never going to be a night of bums on seats.

That was obvious from the third song when husky voiced, raven haired colleen - correction diva - Karen Coleman made the entire audience stand up.

They did, without a whisper but for the next hour and a half proceeded to blast the roof off as the Commitments belted out the hits from the famous 90s Alan Parker film classic about a struggling Irish band of young musicians.

The nine piece band led by the very able Karen and lead singer Joe Walsh, the little man - built like the proverbial mini brick outhouse - with a big voice, gave us all the film's hits, "Try a Little Tenderness" to the footstomping "Mustang Sally".

Karen thrilled with a bluesy version of Carole King's "Natural Woman" and all in all it was a brilliant night.

Okay so I only recognised one of the original cast from the film - Ken McCluskey the guitarist. And Joe perhaps did not have the raw power of the original Andrew Strong, and the other girl singer Madeleine Pritchard's voice was drowned out in a few numbers, but what the hell! The music was good, the cheeky Irish banter was better and it was like one big family party with some excellent craic. And a show that can get my better half on his feet, dancing, singing AND applauding, must be good.

They are due back next year with their popular Christmas tour - don't miss them.

Just one tiny criticism. I'm glad I didn't have to sit down - the Albert Hall seats are might uncomfortable.