acts from past, present & future provide a brilliant opening to the Ether festival

Kicking off the beginning of the Ether Festival 2010, which sees a variety of high quality and often interesting acts, popular '90s group Stereo MC's are joined by exotic DJ Tom Middleton and the unique live dance production talents of The Bays and beat-boxer Beardyman in the Royal Festival Hall in London. Unfortunately, Herbaliser was stuck in Europe as a result of the Icelandic volcano fallout, which was disappointing but couldn't be helped.

The whole event took place in the downstairs lobby area of the hall, with plenty of space for a stage and speaker and catswinging space for people to mill around and enjoy the bands from the sides and back without too much trouble. A quick look around while enjoying a quick beer during the start of the show and I noticed that the audience, not a mass of teenagers or mid-twenty year olds, was instead mostly couples or people from 30 and upwards. No doubt they were in high spirits to see the Stereo MCs, who hadn't seen a London venue for several months.

Tom Middleton, complete with golfing cap under headphones, opened the evening proper, starting with a one hour set of soulful house and similar chilled beats, which certainly got people in the mood. However, this was tempered by the later set he put on between the two other headline acts. Anyone who is familiar with the mix CD series The Trip will be aware of the range of different records used, from rock, pop, tv-themes, literally anything and everything, and this second set was definitely an extension of these CDs. I don't think I've ever been in a club where the whole audience suddenly start sing to the theme from Only Fools and Horses. A shame that this approach didn't translate as well to a live mix. Admittedly, some of the more popular mixes like Dizzee Rascal's Bonkers certainly raised some smiles, but a lot were standing around in bemusement after a series of gnarly dubstep tracks. I actually enjoyed it, but I am sure there were people who won't agree with me.

The main event of the Stereo MC's certainly did not disappoint, with frontman The Head bursting on stage with a neutron-bomb's worth of energy who, alongside equally energetic dancers/backing singers and a tight backing section of samples and drums, provided a great selection of tracks old and new from their repertoire of hip-hop style pop. Up to prove that they could provide a great show as well as great music, The Head bounced all over the stage (with and without guitar in tow) as the two backing singers proved that they could strut their stuff equally well, working the crowd into a frenzy. Highlights included a bass-thundering version of Deep Down & Dirty, the ever-popular Get Connected and an infectious rendition of Step It Up, amongst others. A great set that elicited a fantastic response of smiley faces from the crowd - all from a band that formed in 1985 and are still going – kudos!

Once they had finally set up their elaborate stage gear, the Bays began their set with special guest star Beardyman and after a short while I began to see why friends had given them rave reviews. Unlike a conventional band playing rock music, The Bays use a bass guitarist, huge space-age drum kit setup and a rack of about eight synthesisers to generate catchy, on-the-fly dance music. Beginning with a droney, dubstep-esque opener accompanied by a fantastic trippy light show, things progressed into a selection of house beats, followed by carnival sounds, with Beardyman's vocal and touch pad talents to create dubby echoes, vocal sampling and catchy accompaniment sound effects. Initially, they were looked on as a curiosity, which was short-lived as they continued to play, with the crowd starting really getting in to things. A tight and very impressive group and well worth checking out if you are into live electronic music. A shame that they didn't break out the drum and bass and breakbeat styles for which their drummer is famed for, but this is a minor quibble in the light of their collaboration with the Stereo MCs at the end of the set that finished off a very enjoyable evening.

In conclusion, three great acts covering the past, present and future of electronic music in London and a brilliant opener to the Ether festival 2010.

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