"What about the debacle at The Tunnel," I pondered, peering at the poster on the tree and skipping lightly through the drizzle that fell upon both us and St. Margaret's Hospital as we attempted to find the nurse's recreation hall. The inclement conditions prompt my travelling companions to don swimming hats somewhat early ("I'll get my hair wet...").

We finally manage to locate a sign directing us to the 'Summer Of Love Festival 1988'. Stepping inside, a sign above the doorway invites us to 'Turn on, tune in, drop out', which has a somewhat familiar ring to it, tinkling in the farthest recesses of my mind. We arrive mid-way through support band Stax's soundcheck and - who's that guy singing? Anyway...

A quick scout around reveals that all the usual crew are here, variously amusing themselves, some even helping with the proceedings. The atmosphere is one of expectancy which builds gradually as the evening goes on.

The Stax finish their soundcheck and promise to be back very shortly. The promise is kept and they burst back onstage with "Can't Turn You Loose". The set is tight, energetic and even manages to get the crowd dancing. But who IS that guy??

It soon becomes apparent that tonight's crowd is going to be a good one. Will the bevs last? Will the show live up to it?

The curtains part, the crowd surges forward - it can only mean one thing: The Amazing Mr. Turl takes to the stage along with his collection of saws and accompanying pianist to a roaring reception. Two numbers go down amazingly, prompting calls for an encore. Although he professes never to have rehearsed with his current companions, they pull it together superbly and leave the stage to shouts of "more!"

Expectations rise, the hall fills, the whole place is at fever pitch.

Time passes. It's mighty close to showtime and the punters are still rolling in ("'scuse me, where are the drugs?"). Curtains part revealing not a lot except a dense fog which hangs for a few seconds and then drifts out from the stage. Cue "The Death Of Rock" intro tape. Time passes again. (Apparently the curtains were supposed to remain closed until the end of the track, but Andy was getting nervous and fidgety.)

The three figures outlined by the backlight are joined by a fourth and they burst into a thrilling "Meet Me (In A Godforsaken Place)". With guitars lunging after catharsis, the song that has become the live favourite in such a short time is given a classic, best-ever airing and the fans packed into the cramped space up front appear visibly awed by the power of the performance. This is followed by another recognisable number (literally!): "3-0-0-1", again superbly executed.

All the familiar tunes roar out into the seething mass of (perhaps twenty?) bodies. The rest of the crowd who possibly haven't experienced the Acolytes in the flesh before attempt to remain a respectful distance and affect an interested, curious posture, but space is at a premium tonight and the fray regularly spills over into the packed crowd of onlookers.

A curious sight to behold is the two gentlemen standing in front of the P.A., garbed in regulation Pixie swimming hats and Acolytes T-shirts, standing unmoving, taking it all in. Their comment, at a later moment: "Better than Zeppelin at Knebworth in '79".

The three demo tracks stand out with a mass sing-a-long and the band's confidence just sky-rockets. "Crazy Horses" gets cocked-up halfway through as someone puts a note wrong somewhere to send everyone off in different directions. Amazingly, they somehow manage to hold it together and all get back on track. Admirable stuff.

Eventually we reach the long-haul ending of "San Francisco", which builds to a frantic manic-moshing ending - with those who have not partaken of it previously counting themselves fortunate to be excluded.

1. The inclusion of an entertaining "Devil Woman",
2. The lack of an encore, due to beer being spilt on the mixing console (bummer of an ending),
3. The exclusion of "The King Of California", due, as Alastair later revealed, to him forgetting to write it on the set list and everyone else forgetting to remind him about it.

As the crowd - sweating buckets by now - bay for more, Andy returns to inform us of the accident with the mixing desk, to be met with disappointed boos.

Afterwards, everyone realises that the confetti was left in the bags, but no one really cares as there's enough to clear up anyway.

Set: Meet Me (In A Godforsaken Place), 3-0-0-1, Get Down To Lovin', Devil Woman, Newboid's, Crazy Horses, Trans European Excess, Death Train To San Francisco