As one reunified Manchester four-piece hogged the headlines with their plans to “shake up the world” it was left to a little-known reformed Cumbrian quartet to shake up one corner of the city last night.

The Sale Waterside witnessed a band not only reunited but one evolving nicely as It Bites wooed nostalgic neo-prog fans with an inspirational intimate gig.

Formed in 1982, the group flirted with the charts with singles like 1986’s Calling all the Heroes before disbanding in 1990 following the departure of frontman Francis Dunnery.

However a 2006 reunion with a replacement in the form of prolific progressive guitarist John Mitchell saw one of the era’s most underrated outfits return to the live arena.

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive before the performance. Reunions 20 years down the line can lose some of the spark with the original line-up intact let alone without the services of virtuoso singer-songwriter like Dunnery. My trepidation had been somewhat eased by a listen to The Tall Ships, the band’s 2008 comeback album, but it wasn’t until this occasion that I was convinced the future is bright.

Filling the shoes of Dunnery is no mean feat – metaphorically and literally. Although Mitchell doesn’t quite measure up to the big man in stature he certainly is a match in terms of musicianship; his playing bears an uncanny resemblance to that of his predecessor, so much so that the likes of Screaming on the Beaches and the ten minute masterpiece that is Old Man and the Angel were remarkably true to the album versions.

The 300-strong crowd were treated to four virtuoso performances. Just as you can tell Bob Dalton obviously hasn’t spent too much time away from the kit – as tight as the Treasury with a series of complex drum patterns and precision drum rolls – it was plain to see the other founding member John Beck is still as energetic as ever with his mesmerising keyboard playing and immaculate vocal harmonies. Newest recruit Lee Pomeroy also put in a faultless performance and showed he can come up basslines as driving and as distinctive as predecessor Dick Nolan.

By the time third track Underneath Your Pillow was performed it was obvious something special was happening. Other old favourites were revived with real aplomb included Kiss Like Judas and an encore of Calling All the Heroes which whipped the crowd into a state of euphoria.

Mitchell is the right man to take the criminally-underrated outfit forward if the material piloted last night was anything to go by. Opening with brand new single Wallflower – an aggressive number containing many of the hallmarks of a great It Bites track including mind-boggling time signatures and tempo changes, the fantastic four were clearly enjoying themselves. Map of the Past, the title track and lead single from the band’s forthcoming album, was a mellower meandering number but equally infectious. Oh my God and The Wind That Shakes the Barley – two of the more anthemic offerings from The Tall Ships – deservedly received an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

Aside from the supreme musicianship what I always loved about It Bites’ music was that it was utterly unique. Judging by that won’t be changing any time soon.

Today the music world was shook by the best news it has received in a long time… Kanye West and Jay-Z are being sued for unpermitted sampling. Oh and The Stone Roses are reforming.

The seminal Manchester quartet confirmed at a jovial press conference today that they are reuniting, with frontman Ian Brown claiming they are going to “shake up the world” with a global tour beginning in Manchester at Heaton Park next June.

Brown sat next to long-time arch nemesis John Squire, who claimed a rapprochement with his ex-best friend began at when the band members attended bassist Mani’s mother’s funeral. The possibility of a reunion has been unequivocally denied by the singer and the guitarist, who forged careers in music and art respectively after the group dissolved in 1996, on a number of occasions over the years.

The band soak up the atmosphere ate the eagerly anticipated press conference

However the announcement, which comes 22 years after the band’s eponymous debut was released, has been widely anticipated in recent weeks after rumours started circulating and tabloid reports suggested a money spinning series of comeback gigs was on the cards due to the singer’s expensive divorce.

Band reunions are not as exciting as they used to be; musical reformations seem to come more frequently than musical formations these days. But this one is a bit special — as excited as I am that Lee Latchford-Evans and ‘H’ from Steps have put their differences aside. The Roses were the most talented band to emerge from the Madchester scene by some distance and have far more in their locker than the likes of Oasis and The Charlatans despite their relatively short tenure the first time round. I always thought it criminal that a band so obviously talented, so in sync, so musically mature despite its relative youth could be prevented from fulfilling its potential due to contractual wrangling and internal strife.

Thankfully the group also admitted that they have been experimenting with new material and seem open to having a crack at another album so it seems like more than just a lucrative farewell tour. Now let’s hope King Monkey’s alimony doesn’t drive up the ticket prices.