IT’S more than 30 years since they last troubled the charts but the Beat remain at the forefront of the Ska movement - both of them.

And at least one half of the ska sensations will be heading to Galashiels next month.

After bursting onto the 2-tone music scene from their native Birmingham in 1979, Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton and Lionel ‘Saxa’ Martin enjoyed four years of world-wide success with a string of hits including Too Nice to Talk to, Mirror in the Bathroom, Hands off She’s Mine, Save it for Later, and Can’t Get Used to Losing You.

Three albums - I Just Can’t Stop It, Wha’ppen? and Special Beat Service - as well as major tours of America and Australia led to a huge mainstream following as well as loyalty from their ska roots. It’s all been a bit chequered (get it?) since those days of Top of the Pops and sell-out arena shows.

After the band’s break-up in 1983 Wakeling and Roger teamed up several times for other less successful collaborations, including General Public, while Cox and Steele went on to form Fine Young Cannibals with Roland Gift.

But it was the Beat’s legacy which appeared to have the longer legs with many Holywood films featuring the band’s songs on their soundtracks and groups like Pearl Jam and the Wonder Stuff later releasing cover versions of their songs.

Wakeling and Roger brought the original Beat back together for a one-off show in 2003 at the Royal Festival Hall.

But ever since the Beat have been performing in two guises. Ranking Roger’s The Beat have regularly enjoyed sell-out tours across the UK while Dave Wakeling’s English Beat have enjoyed mirrored success on the other side of the Atlantic.

They even recorded two new songs last year for an episode of Scooby-Doo which features a zombie ska group called Rude Boys and the Ska-Tastics.

While it is unlikely there will be a zombie invasion at the Volunteer Hall on Tuesday, March 18, Galashiels can expect a nostalgic night of ska classics as Wakeling and The English Beat make a rare return to these shores.

Maria Philippou from PT Promoters told us: “It will be Dave’s first UK tour, after several years living in the USA. He is the singer, songwriter and guitarist behind one of the biggest 1980s 2-Tone bands, and he’ll be performing all the hits of The Beat, General Public and his new songs.” The English Beat will play shows at O2 Academies in Liverpool, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Bristol and Dave’s hometown of Birmingham during the March tour.

But they have found a space to bring that famous ska sound to the Borders for the very first time.

Edinburgh bands BombSkare and Big Fat Panda will support the English Beat at the Galashiels show on March 15.

Tickets are available online from Ticketmaster and Border Events, or over the counter from Music Station, Galashiels, Clovenfords Country Inn, Ripping Records in Edinburgh and Teviot Dental, Hawick.