New Groove Formation, Dummy Run, Weightloss, Left Engine.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 30th June 2006.

Reviewed by Martin Stapleton / Pictures by Suzy Cook.

Tonight's show was conceived and organised by gig stalwarts Rosa and Mr Craven to celebrate their joint birthday. They selected the bands playing tonight and I thought the mix was just perfect.

Hertfordshire based LEFT ENGINE open with an impressive Esquires debut. This four piece delivered delicate yet potent indie-pop anthems with some fantastically executed idea which veered from sub-Franz Ferdinand to almost Latin-American samba rythms deep in the heart and soul of a song at it's embryonic stage.

WEIGHTLOSS probably gave Level II a first tonight as their guitarist had a transvestite moment and decided to appear for their whole set bizarrely attired as a Nun, complete with habit. With a heady mix of brass and guitar forged with meaty vocals, it makes them such a great live band. The vocalist gulps when he reflects during a quieter interlude that the band have now been going for four years. Here's to the next four...!

Upbeat Skate-Punkers DUMMY RUN are quite simply Flitwick's finest. They could consider themselves veterans of the Esquires stage and the respect they have gleaned over the years is immense. Opening with the rousing rally call of 'Strength in Numbers' with it's infectious chorus of 'Wake Up, Wake Up', they throw in a few new songs and the odd cock-up! Their whole set is enjoyable and received well - it's the old Dummy Run we have come to love and adore and the boys dedicate a cover of Rancid's 'Timebomb' to birthday boy Paul.

So to Rosa's headliners, the Ampthill Collective 'NEW GROOVE FORMATION'. A veritable motley crue of musicians, they seem to increase and decrease in numbers at any given gig. New Groove Formation are quite simply a World Music Party for hire. With duel vocalists who subtly contrast each other - one is a rapping MC, the other sings with a deep lush rootsy passion (although tonight he is hampered somewhat by his broken foot). With a healthy horn contingent and a didgeridoo exponent in tow, this is how music should be performed, with plenty of fun on stage and dancing in the crowd.