Going down to Sheffield - U2?

Vanessa and I are off to see U2 (and Elbow) tonight in Sheffield, and I am now quite excited.

In another sign of growing age, I've spent the last few days thinking more about the likely traffic problems and bad weather than the opportunity to witness what is said to be the band's best show yet.

I've seen U2 twice before, in 1987 and 1997, both times in Belfast. And they were memorable events for different reasons.

The '87 King's Hall gig, part of their Joshua Tree Tour, is still talked about because of a potentially serious incident at the front of the crowd which, to his credit, was diffused by Big Head Bono. In short, one group of fans was waving a Union Flag whilst another was waving an Irish Tricolour and tensions were starting to rise - and I know because I was right in the middle. Seeing the possible danger, Bono stopped the gig, asked both groups to put the flags down - adding forcibly, "we're sick of flags" - and the room swiftly came together. The night was pretty special after that.

The '97 Popmart Tour gig was nowhere near as good musically but it was certainly bizarre. U2 had no plans to come to Belfast that year but ran into problems with the local council in Dublin and shifted the whole shebang North to the Botanic Gardens as a means of sticking two fingers up at the authorities in their home city. It was all organised in a very short space of time and, before we knew it, Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam were stepping out of their spinning lemon in front of me and many of my Ulster friends.

Tonight's show comes towards the end of the UK leg of the band's 360 Tour which takes its name from the fact that fans can supposedly see the band from all angles (Bono must hate that). Vanessa and I are actually sitting "behind" the stage (if that makes sense), which cost £20 million and is more than 50 metres high.

We'll try our best to enjoy ourselves..(WOO HOO!!!)