IF ROCK bands were supermarkets, you'd find Status Quo in the 'value' section.

Review: Status Quo, Thetford Forest, June 8.

IF ROCK bands were supermarkets, you'd find Status Quo in the 'value' section.

Ignored in times of plenty but, when needs must, absolutely amazing.

The national institution of no-frills rock, were the first to announce they're appearance at Thetford forest this year - ahead of four other woodland dates around the country - and they were the first to sell out the 6,000 ticket venue.

And no wonder.

Having survived band break-ups, cancer scares, failed court cases and critical maulings, the Quo are now in their fifth decade.

Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, both pushing 60, have been musical partners for 40 years.

The duo's on-stage energy - on this occasion much of the frontman duties going to grey-ponytailed Rossi - made it difficult for even the most slothful picnicker to stay reclined.

Within minutes of them taking to the makeshift woodland stage, the audience was on its feet, headbanging to some of the best, if most formulaic, songs in British rock blues history.

Living on an Island, segued into In the Army following a solar-plexus crushing drum solo from Matthew Letley. Other tracks included upbeat toe-tappers notably Whatever You Want and Rocking All Over the World, as well as songs from their last album the self-mockingly titled In Search of the Fourth Chord.

Watching Parfitt, blond mane flowing and black shirt undone to his waist, rocking alongside the more formally-attired Rossi (who could pass in a darkened glade for Jacques Chirac) it's easy to forget that the band is credited with selling more than 110 million records and notching up 70 UK hits.

The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin might grab the headlines and rejoice in the plaudits, but in these days of credit crunch, we can all do with some honest-rocking Quo.