Big Hand plus support @ Cabaret Voltaire

A Big Hand gig is never a let down and on this occasion the support acts prove to be nothing to sneer at either. The night opens with Liverpool's The Flicks (3/5) who bring their very own brand of Celtic rock which goes down exceedingly well with the Cabaret Voltaire crowd. Next up are homegrown talent Unknown Hagana (3/5) whose set pans out as a success and even includes a cameo from Big Hand's trumpet man, Phil Ramsay, on the ska flavored Baltic Connections. As is their form, the headliners themselves certainly do not disappoint as they launch themselves into a cacophony of lush harmony, staple ska riffs and, of course, the aforementioned bouncy trumpet maestro to boot; providing a perfect foil for singer/guitarist Tim Lomas' cool and collected persona. Classics such as their self-titled anthem and Let It Out are given an airing, however it seems that the nomadic collective have much more than this up their sleeves, with an upcoming album release planned for the summer. [Natalie Doyle]