It is often said music has a healing power. And nowhere was that more in need than as the sun set over a large crowd in Margate last night.

Because many of those filing into Dreamland to pick their spot before the venue’s Scenic Stage amphitheatre had just witnessed a thoroughly miserable display by England which did much to dispel the theory this team could actually win the Euros.

Not, it should be said, that those providing that necessary tonic probably gave two hoots. Because both acts hitting the stage on Thursday night as part of the Margate Summer Series of big-name shows were proud Scots. Who, as we all know, have a far better approach when it comes to expectation levels of their national team.

But if there’s anyone to make a crowd sway their arms, forget their troubles and indulge in a damn good sing-a-long, then it is surely those former stadium fillers and perennial tourers Simple Minds.

The show is not, apparently, a sell-out but the place is packed and you’d be hard-pushed not to think it was at least close to capacity.

Seagulls swoop and dive above the heads of the crowds – like the pterodactyls in Jurassic Park – in the hope of a stray chip.

The weather is also kind – the early evening is all sun and blue skies. There will be no Bryan Adams wash-out here as witnessed the week before.

Support is from Del Amitri – who, like the headliners, have their roots in Glasgow. They’ve shifted six million albums during their career, and their 45-minute set contains plenty of familiar tunes to those of us of a certain age.

They kick-off with Always The Last To Know and include Kiss This Thing Goodbye and Roll To Me before finishing on a note-perfect and moving Nothing Ever Happens. That song still packs a punch.

Singer Justin Currie – who earlier this year announced he had Parkinson’s disease (he’s only 59) has retained his voice and they are a perfect starter. That he has admitted his days of performing will be curtailed far earlier than he had foreseen, due to his condition, adds an additional emotional kick. They are top notch and the crowd respond accordingly.

Then it’s the main course.

As singer Jim Kerr bounds onto the stage he declares how “it’s great to be back in sunny Margate” before declaring the band had previously played the town at “the Winterlands”. Well, it’s the Winter Gardens, but let’s not pick up on his forgetfulness. It was close enough (and, in truth, he’d remembered the name perfectly well when I’d interviewed him in the run-up to the show).

Forty years on from their commercial peak, he still throws the same on-stage shapes as those who remember him in his 1980s heyday. And, it’s fair to say, the majority of the crowd clearly do. At 51, I feel positively young at times. But it’s a decent blend of young and old.

Waterfront starts things off, swiftly followed by the title track of their multi-million selling 1985 album Once Upon A Time.

After a handful of songs he pauses to chat to the crowd before saying “if you’re wondering why I’m doing all this talking it’s because I’m already f-ing knackered”. Well, he is now 64.

As Kerr prowls the stage – with powerful backing vocals from Sarah Brown – we get the likes of All The Things She Said, Promised You A Miracle, Sanctity Yourself and New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84).

His voice is, if truth be told, showing a few signs of age – it’s not quite the agile beast it once was. And it’s most evident on the lilting Belfast Child (their sole UK number one single) which has hint of karaoke about it before being saved by its rousing finale.

But then we head into the big sing-a-longs.

First it is Don’t You (Forget About Me) which would raise the spirits of anyone – however down in the dumps they may have been at England’s dire display.

Everyone sings along to the intro – so much so that they do it again so he can all do our ‘hey hey hey heys’ and ‘ooo-ooo-ooohhhhhs’.

Again, Kerr’s vocals don’t quite replicate what we’re used to, but then his enthusiasm for singing it may have waned having sung it about a million times over the years.

Regardless, it remains what the kids of today call ‘a tune’ and the crowd are lapping it up.

After skipping off stage, they return for the final songs, the last of which is, of course, the stadium anthem to beat all stadium anthems – Alive and Kicking.

Which is as fabulous as you hope it will be and everyone’s swaying their arms and clapping along. Kerr’s voice drowned out only by everyone else singing along to the chorus.

And then they’re off. A job well done, a crowd well-pleased.

As for Dreamland? It looked resplendent in the good weather and the sound was excellent. Long may it continue.

You can find a full list of Dreamland’s upcoming summer concerts here and, if you are seeing any live music at the venue over the coming months, you can find our guide to parking, train timetables and more here.

You can also find ticket and venue information on the Dreamland website.