Nouvelle Vague @ The Liquid Room, 8 Aug

The Second Hand Marching Band (**) are an easy way to warm up the evening. The eleven piece ensemble play an astonishing assortment of instruments from accordions to trombones and while their ability to gel is impressive, although their ease translates onstage to a sedate apathy, eventually losing the crowd's interest.

"Bon soir," singer Nadeah purrs to the packed Liquid Room. "Comment'allez vous?" Oozing Gallic charm as they work their way through their second night of sexy Bossa Nova'd 1980s hits, Nouvelle Vague's (***) Nadeah and fellow chanteuse Melanie Pain display their vocal prowess and choreography skills during Falling in Love and Blue Monday. But the band isn't the only thing smoking in the building. Halfway through Making Plans for Nigel we're evacuated due to a fire in the restaurant upstairs. Outside, Nadeah attempts to rally the crowd filling Victoria Street into a sing-along, but she's upstaged by the drama of the fire brigade. Perhaps two nights of uninterrupted rapture is just too much to expect? Quel dommage. [Marta Nelson]