Fat Freddy's Drop are the ultimate festival band.

Their fusion of deep summer dub, mellow soul and smooth reggae is best soaked up under scarlet sunsets and among rolling hills.

With so many fields and beaches lying empty across Sussex, it felt sad that on this warm June evening, we should have to watch them in a packed and sweaty venue.

True bliss would have been to see the guys playing in the Pavilion Gardens, on the bandstand or the beach.

After all, Fat Freddy's are a band massively in-tune with the sea.

Their studio, The Drop, is only six feet from the waves back on in their homeland of New Zealand. It was within this beachfront headquarters they recorded their platinum-selling and astonishingly original album, Based On A True Story.

Released on their own label, it has made history twice - as the first independent band to hit number one in New Zealand and for the longest-running number one album there, clocking 11 weeks at the top.

Over the past year, the band have enjoyed simmering underground success and have been championed by DJs Gilles Peterson, Charlie Gillett and Brighton's own Russ Dewbury.

Russ first booked Fat Freddy's Drop two years ago when they were relatively unknown. Things have certainly changed since then. This gig sold out several weeks in advance - in fact demand was so intense, Russ is trying to book another gig next month.

Brighton's New Zealand population were out in force to welcome back the Wellington-based collective who played at the Concorde 2 last year.

During a laid-back two-hour set, the guys floated out classic album tracks mixed with delicious doses of unhurried jamming.

The slow, sweet-vocals of striking front man Joe Dukie glided over each song blending the diverse musical styles and making them their own. As unpredictable visually as there are musically, Joe sported a stylish yet traditional Maori skirt while one member of the horn section went for the Johnny Vegas meets Goldie Lookin' Chain look with his beer belly, tracksuit and visor combo.

Having seen Fat Freddy's Drop at The Big Chill last summer, it's hard not to feel disappointed by the venue but if anyone can bring the sunshine indoors, it's Joe and the boys.