Outside their own songs, much of Curst Sons' repertoire, bowdlerised and prettied up for the pop charts, was made popular by Lonnie Donegan in the late-Fifties.

However, the band have returned the songs to their dark origins and it is unsettling to hear moody classics such as Railroad Bill, Jesse James and Tom Dooley sung in such a threatening mood but to a foot-stomping good-time beat.

I didn't know they normally play as an electric band. The battered guitars with gaffer-taped pick-ups fit well into the ramshackle image of skiffle/ jug bands.

However, it is likely the sound balance problems were not part of the act.

Some excellent banjo-picking and lead guitar from Dave Simner appeared to go mostly unheard whereas Tim Dunkerley's slide guitar and mandolin and Willi Kerr's washboard were well to the fore, even overcoming the vocals a lot of the time.

The capacity audience were invited to dance several times but there simply wasn't room, although a group of ladies managed a spirited hand-jive and one lucky girl managed to find space to dance halfway up the stairs.

I guess the sound throughout the pub wasn't all that good either as, whenever they played quietly, a hubbub of conversation could be heard from the back of the room.

Why would people pay to hear a band then talk over them? This show didn't deserve it. I look forward to catching their electric set soon.