The sharp-suited Kid Creole is back in Sunderland this June, and, yep, he’s got his trusty Coconuts in tow.

Kid Creole and the Coconuts lit up the 1980s with some of the best singles of that decade including infectious tracks such as ‘Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy’, ‘Stool Pigeon’, ‘I’m A Wonderful Thing, Baby’, ‘There’s Something Wrong In Paradise’ and ‘Endicott’. The band really stood out with their utterly infectious melting pot of different styles that took in New York disco, Latin American, Caribbean and Cab Calloway flavours. Fronted up by the larger than life, zoot suited August Darnell, they remain knock-out performers and tracks such as ‘Me No Pop I’ sound incredible in the live arena. The Kid has threatened retirement before, but the lure of the spotlight keeps him coming back, so while this is billed as ‘The Creolian Bye Bye Birdy’ tour, he’s not committing himself to anything. But what he will say is: “I can guarantee two things: We’re going to have a funky good time. And you’re gonna find out who Annie’s daddy really is.” JL

Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Friday 27 June, The Fire Station, Sunderland, 7pm, £46, thefirestation.org.uk