You know it’s a good gig when even the security guards are merrily singing along while they’re dragging crowd-surfers from the top of the audience.

With EastbourneFestival Live opening its doors to 14-year-olds, it wasn’t surprising there was an excitable buzz at the Winter Garden on Friday.

But second headliners Friendly Fires were more than able to match it. Despite a slightly wobbly start, thanks to a malfunctioning microphone, Ed Macfarlane got stuck into Jump In The Pool, and the band proceeded to rip through their hits at breakneck speed.

A brass section helped with the first half of the set, including a well-received version of Skeleton Boy and, towards the end, the rhythm section was given a helping hand by Macfarlane enthusiastically tapping the top of his head with the microphone.

By the time headliners The Maccabees took the stage, the audience were at fever pitch.

Within moments of the band kicking off with No Kind Words one young girl had to be dragged out from the crowd somewhat the worse for wear, although she soon recovered.

Meanwhile, the Brighton band charmed Eastbourne with hit after hit from their first album, including a jaunty version of their best-known song Toothpaste Kisses.

Towards the end more new songs surfaced, including a sombre version of military-tinged track Young Lions, with Weeks thanking the audience for bearing with them through the new material.

But the apology was not needed and, as the band came to a triumphant close with latest single Love You Better, they had even won over the younger teenagers’ chaperones.