Still more than good enough

Photo: Neil O'Brien

THEY'RE back . . . Dodgy

I CAN'T believe it's more than 20 years since Dodgy played at Werneth Park, but now, on Saturday, February 25, the massively popular mid-90s chart stars are returning to the borough.

The band ­- frontman Nige Clark, guitarist Andy Miller, drummer Mathew Priest and bassist Stu Thoy ­- will headline Uppermill Civic Hall, supported by two cracking local bands: Smashing Lads and The Maitlands.

Clark is clearly looking forward to reacquainting himself with our town, more than two decades after that glorious Sunday afternoon in Werneth when "Good Enough" was just storming its way towards the top end of the charts.

"It's great that we've got a bit of history in Oldham," said Clark.

"I remember Werneth Park well, it was a really nice day, everyone was so friendly, but just topping it off by putting the radio on was fantastic. 'Good Enough' was just out that week and it got to number four, and we all listened to that being announced live through the speakers.

"We then played it straight away and it was just one of those 'right here, right now' moments."

Dodgy were originally together for six years from 1992, and in that time, released three albums totalling over a million sales worldwide and had 12 Top 40 singles, including "Staying Out For The Summer", "If You're Thinking Of Me" and "Good Enough".

The band's partnership with A&M generated three albums of life-affirming, beautifully crafted songs ­- "The Dodgy Album" (1993), "Homegrown" (1994) and the platinum-selling "Free Peace Sweet" (1996).

In a bittersweet twist of fate, it was the dying wish of close friend and crew member Andy Moore that brought them back together in 2008 when they all agreed that life was too short.

Classy album "Stand Up In A Cool Place" was released on Strikeback Records in February, 2012, followed by "What Are We Fighting For", via Cherry Records, last September.

So what can fans expect from a Dodgy set at the Civic Hall?

Pivotal

"We normally do play a lot of the hits from the 90s, certainly the pivotal ones that we feel are important to the fans and the band," revealed Clark.

"We'll also mix it up with a couple of cover versions, then we'll look at the last two albums we've done over the past few years.

"We are a bit like the Wombles as a band to be honest. We started off underground, then we went off into the charts, and now we've gone underground again."

After the Uppermill gig, Dodgy will hit the festival scene hard again this summer, and are also off touring Holland with Peter Hook and the Light.

Advance tickets (£10 each) for the February 25 show are selling fast. Book yours by clicking the link on the Ginger Pigeon Promotions Facebook page.