THE BAGHDADDIES
Arac Promotions
Bridport Arts Centre
Review by: Holly Robinson


FESTIVAL favourites The Baghdaddies made a welcome trip to Bridport on Friday night.

Music lovers had faced a tough choice what with The Kills also on stage the same evening at the Electric Palace, but in the end both venues were well suppported.

While the Kills drew a large crowd of youngsters and with a few parents thrown in - including dads keen to set eyes on a real life supermodel (Kate Moss's boyfriend Jamie Hince is one half of the duo) - the Baghdaddies had everyone from knee high youngsters to grandads bopping along.

Fusing rhythms and melodies from around the world with their own funky twist, the band produce upbeat, jump up and down music in an Eastern European style.

Imagine European gypsy music with a Middle Eastern spin, plenty of rhythm, trumpet and sax - all groove and attitude. It's what you might think such music to be, but from a band hailing from Newcastle. A neat idea given that many will not have experienced the genuine article.

Song topics include ditties based on clever but run of the mill ideas like washing up and cheap red wine, that are not taken too seriously to give a hip and happening vibe.

Even non-dancers found themselves tapping their toes and bobbing along to the infectious rhythms from drums, guitar, bass and brass.

This is definitely a band for dancing to. The audience responded as soon as the first notes were played, warming up quickly and with any style of dance going from jumping up and down on the spot to groovy moves.

The crowd was a good mix from families to music aficionados and hard core Baghdaddies fans at the front, some having travelled miles to get there.

And there is no denying The Baghdaddies are supremely good. Slick and well rehearsed, they give a finely honed show but one that is perhaps a little too spot on for those who like some rough edges.

Accessible and fun, but exhausting, they are definitely worth seeing live, but remember to put on your dancing shoes.

Support came in the shape of the trusty Dr Funk and his record collection.