On August 7, 2024, Madness brought their ‘C’est La Vie’ summer tour to Belfast’s Custom House Square, transforming the iconic venue into a vibrant stage for their “Theatre of the Absurd” fancy dress theme. Fans embraced the call for outrageous costumes—think glittery wigs, surreal masks, and Victorian-inspired capes—creating a kaleidoscope of absurdity. Photographers captured the wildest outfits, with the best earning prizes and a spot on an official tour poster, a nod to Madness’ flair for fan engagement.

Fresh off their first UK Official Charts No.1 studio album, Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie (released November 2023), the ska-pop legends delivered a setlist blending new tracks with hits from their 45-year career. Songs like the bittersweet Round We Go and the anarchic Run For Your Life pulsed with energy, while classics One Step Beyond and It Must Be Love sparked joyous singalongs. The album, available on double vinyl, CD, and a limited crystal-clear vinyl via HMV and indie stores, was crafted in a Cricklewood industrial unit, embodying the band’s ethos: “let Madness be Madness.” Its 14 tracks, bookended by Suggs’ sharp compositions and featuring Martin Freeman’s spoken prologue, reflected the turbulent years of its creation.

Madness, born in Camden Town’s late-70s ska scene, chronicled their rise in the 2020 AMC docu-series Before We Was We. With 15 UK top ten singles, 10 top ten albums, and accolades like an Ivor Novello, their Belfast show—part of a tour concluding at Galway Airport on August 10, 2024—cemented their legacy as British music royalty, delivering a night of absurd, infectious brilliance.