Alabama 3 + Bosscaine + Sunshine Brothers + Recent Future + 21st Urban Bluesman - BRIXTON JAMM, LONDON

One of York's finest, the much-loved and well-known musical collective that is Bosscaine took a day out in the big city of London, the deep south, also known as Brixton. They were playing at the venue Brixton Jamm, one of the areas newest projects and it was thanks to local boys and girl Alabama 3 who put together a night of acid house, country and western and club fusion.

With five bands on the bill Bosscaine made it to second and ended up playing at the extremely late hour of 12am. This of course gave everyone plenty of time to get steadily drunk before hand and watch some surprisingly good and some not so good emerging talent. Although we missed the first two bands, due to the cheap pub round the corner, we did manage to get ourselves in gear and finally head over to catch the incredibly funky ska/reggae outfit the Sunshine Brothers. They played a hedonistic style of fresh, soulful and feel good dub/reggae with added husky vocals. Although the venue was only about a 3rd full at this stage the whole room took a liking to these guys resulting in every form of head shaking, leg moving ska dancing you could think of.

A few more drinks later and our very own country boys Bosscaine began their half hour set to a fuller, slightly drunken and very talkative crowd, many of which had made the journey from York with them. Giving it there all, they kept the set pretty up beat and for the lively crowd this was probably wise. Their blend of acoustic country bluegrass and thoughtful lyrics definitely won over a few new fans and considering they were playing to a rather large amount of balding south London blokes was quite an achievement.

Main-man Mr Turbo's gruffly laid-back drawl together with their effortless cool really brings out their uniqueness and individuality. Their charisma on stage is impossible to ignore, although due to them playing so late to a pretty half cut crowd a few of the bleak angst ridden slower tracks were lost amid the noisy chatter. This wasn't so much of a bad point however, but more of a disappointment.

Ignoring this though and they still get it right on stage. Perhaps they don't need to try so hard, because when you've got great songs that's half the battle already won. What felt like a short time later the set was over and chants of more circulated the room, Bosscaine really did provide the perfect atmosphere for what came next, the sweet country acid house of Brixton natives Alabama 3. At this point the room had transformed into one big party. The Alabama 3 returned the favour by playing an enticing and quite simply electrifying semi acoustic set. As always these guys have the crowd eating out of their palms. 'You Don't Dance To Techno' provokes a mass sing a long interspersed with Mr Larry Love's unintelligible ramblings. It was quite simply a perfect end to a perfect night.   

  emma dolby