I THINK these mixed genre nights are a great idea, but attendance does vary quite dramatically. Maybe some types of music go better with others?

This night kicked off with the talented, theatrical rockers (pop-punk to you) from Alton called Sweet FA. They played quite a variety of material themselves, the two males and two females swapping round instruments a bit and even roping in a mysterious masked drummer to help out. An interesting opening to the night.

Next up and from Liphook, were Alzir, a three-piece hard-rock outfit and the fancy finger work on the guitar during the sound check seemed to herald great things to come. However, once they got started, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Full marks for technical ability and I guess that for anyone happy to watch endless finger-picking laid over a plodding beat they were a gift. I felt it was too slow and too self-indulgent. I thought this brand of rock had gone out with the dinosaurs.

They were followed by Sinuism from Haslemere. This was a younger, more modern style of metal and the contrast could not have been more striking. The guys were mixing with the crowd on the dance floor, the music was much, much faster and full of energy. For sure, it lacked some of the finesse, but what it lacked in Guitar Hero points, it made up for in unrestrained aggression. It was music that you felt, not just listened to. It got the crowd going very nicely indeed, too.

The headline band from Alton were called Big Red and they are what I believe is called circus ska. I have never heard of that one myself, but there were a huge number of band members playing umpteen different instruments. The crowd had really packed the place out now. The band are obviously very popular and I can see why. They had the speed, the musical skill, the excitement and plenty of good-natured banter with the crowd to whip things up to a frenzy. They are a must-see and for anyone who thinks of themselves as a ska fan.

-Neil Duncan, ISSUEPUNKZINE