THE new live music nights at Cromwells in Huntingdon are already proving to be a big success. Tuesday s performance by St Ives based singer/songwriter Gavin Bates was another winner. The former front man of The Deadlines and Plus Guest went solo for the e

THE new live music nights at Cromwells in Huntingdon are already proving to be a big success. Tuesday's performance by St Ives based singer/songwriter Gavin Bates was another winner.

The former front man of The Deadlines and Plus Guest went solo for the evening. He premiered material from his new full-band project which will be launched in 2008, as well as a generous selection of classic covers. Bates' alternative cover version of The Spice Girls' 2BCum1 as a highlight, as was his renditions of classic songs by the likes of Tracy Chapman, David Bowie and The Bee Gees. But it's the original material where Bates really shines and his passion for his own work is clearly evident.

New song You was performed for an appreciative audience, as was the catchy Faking It. The 90-minute set flew by with a near-perfect choice of tunes, which also included a unique rendition of a song used in a Coke television advert (It's The Real Thing). Bates returns to the venue on January 15. If anybody has any requests they can contact him in advance via his Myspace page: www.myspace.com/gavinbates

* Tuesday nights at Cromwells Bar in Huntingdon are proving to be the perfect way to enjoy local, free mid-week music session without having to head into Cambridge or Peterborough. Long may these evenings continue.

RICHARD PAUL