Showmanship, humour and great songs for an enthusiastic audience revelling in unashamed nostalgia: this is a lively and informative romp through contemporary music history, using places in the USA as the reference points but starting magnificently and properly with UK’s Canvey Island and Dr Feelgood. Lots of stories – some more shaggy dog than Snoop Dogg – and banter, eye watering suits and shoes, but the real star was the music. From John Lee Hooker’s ‘Boom Boom’ to The Trammps’ ‘Disco Inferno’ the band played a mixture of styles with aplomb. The trombone’s slide seemed to be exploring the stage by itself as the horn section kept things jumping and I learned that Bobby Womack wrote The Rolling Stones’ hit ‘It’s All Over Now’!

theSpace @ Niddry Street, until 12 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers]