Relish

On record, Relish may wear their soul and funk influences on their sleeves but live, this band can rock out with the best of them, courtesy of a tight-as-hell rhythm section (Darren Campbell on bass and Carl Papenfus on drums) and some sterling guitar work from Ken Papenfus. The main drawback of most three-piece bands is the hole that can be left in the sound by the absence of a second guitarist. Ken’s playing combines just the right amount of crunching riffs and deft touches to neatly sidestep this problem. With an exhausting tour schedule already behind them it’s only fair to expect Relish to be a tightly knit unit but it’s their unwavering enthusiasm and good cheer that surprises and lends the sound an unmistakeable sheen of charisma.

Through the neat grooves and vibrancy of highlights ‘You I’m Thinking Of’ and new single ‘Father, Brother, Lover & Son’, the trio never put a foot out of place and never relent on the feel good factor. But the undoubted highpoint of the evening is the sublime ‘Rainbow Zephyr’, which sees Ken very nearly drowned out by the ever-enthusiastic crowd. If there was anyone in The Village in need of convincing or converting, Relish did so with unshakeable vigour and an ever-present smile on their faces.