You could be forgiven for thinking that a band celebrating its 50th anniversary could be somewhat going through the motions but not 10cc.

The creators of some of rock music’s most richly crafted hits certainly weren’t dialling it in during their Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour concert at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre on Saturday October 8 but instead were achieving new heights of inventiveness.

The show opened with a kaleidoscopic attack to the senses courtesy of a psychedelic backdrop film.

This was the first of a series of pleasant surprises and made it clear to the audience from the outset that that while they would feast on nostalgia, they would also be enjoying something new.

This incarnation of 10CC comprising founder member Graham Gouldman, long serving members Rick Fenn and Paul Burgess, Keith Hayman and Iain Hornal were more interested in challenging themselves and still had something to say.

The band launched into their set with the stunning Second Sitting For The Last Supper followed by the explosive Art For Art’s Sake.

Hit followed hit from the Stockport band’s superlative back catalogue.

These included classics The Things We Do For Love, Wall Street Shuffle, Dreadlock Holiday and Good Morning Judge.

The majestic Feel The Benefit and effervescent Silly Love, both demonstrated Hornal’s formidable vocal range while the feelgood Life Is A Minestrone was evidence of the skill of these musicians and an illustration of the immense fun they were still having.

The second surprise of the night was the inclusion of a splendid new song Floating In Heaven written by Gouldman and featuring Queen legend Brian May on guitar which went down well with fans.

The third and most striking surprise of the night saw the band perform once more alongside original member Kevin Godley.

Other highlights included the rip roaring The Dean And I, a magisterial version of I’m Mandy Fly Me and an otherworldliness performance of I’m Not In Love, whose choral harmonies and synth flourishes were accompanied by understated white lighting resulting in a spine-tingling moment.

The show’s encore saw another surprise in the shape of a sumptuous close harmony a capella version of 10cc's debut single Donna earning the band rapturous applause.

With the audience on their feet and under instruction from Gouldman to ‘rock out’ the band launched into their final track of the night a rollicking rendition of Rubber Bullets which served to remind us how creative and beloved these purveyors of art rock are among music fans.