GREY BY ROHAN LEACH AS far as entries go to this year s song competition, this entry by local singer/songwriter Rohan Leach is certainly one of the most interesting. Sung somewhat discretely over a heavy drum machine in

GREY BY ROHAN LEACH

AS far as entries go to this year's song competition, this entry by local singer/songwriter Rohan Leach is certainly one of the most interesting.

Sung somewhat discretely over a heavy drum machine influence, the keyboardist/flautist from St Ives band Alighting enters disturbingly dark territory with his solo work, heard here on his track Grey.

That's not to say though that it didn't keep me interested - the five and a half minutes fly by, courtesy of an interesting and unpredictable guitar solo and the steady groove which never compromises. Despite the darkness of subject, the mention of colours suggests a far more optimistic underdone, and whilst this may not be to everyone's taste on a first listen, three listens in and it's easy to be hooked.

RICHARD PAUL

Caption: Rohan Leach

NEWS: The Uncovering seek new singer

ST IVES hardcore punks The Uncovering are on the lookout for a new singer. If you fancy doing a bit of singing and possibly a fair bit of screaming in your spare time, then get in touch with the band as soon as possible. You can check out their current material at www.myspace.com/theuncovering and email bassist Alex at ride_the_bass@hotmail.com regarding the position. The band recently submitted a song to the Almost Famous song competition - listen to their entry on the Hunts Post website.

CHRIS BOLAND

UPCOMING GIGS: STRANGLERS - COSY COSY - THE LOOP

COSY COSY including guitarist Dave Scott from Little Paxton play a free acoustic gig at the Romsey Labour Club, Mill Road, Cambridge on Friday 2 May with AC Mars, Allotment and Chris Free. There will be Turkish food, too.

They are also playing at the Q Bar, Mansfield Rd, Nottingham on May 8 with Sugar Coated Ice Cubes and Brown Bear, No Etiquette, Life After Amy and Apples Go Miles. On July 5, they will be at The Portland Arms, Cambridge with The Scissors.

Caption Cosy Cosy

STRANGLERS lead guitarist and co-lead singer Baz Warne will play at The George pub in Fenstanton on Friday, May 2. Entry is free and music starts at 9pm. He will also be playing with his bandmates at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday, October 8 October. Tickets for this show are £23 from the box office, 01223 357 851.

THE LOOP @ THE LIVE LOUNGE, PETERBOROUGH

ELY mod-rockers The Loop have been strangely quite on the gig front really, which is another reason why I recommend catching them in Peterborough this Saturday night if you get the chance. Definitely a band for the fans of The Jam, Paul Weller and other mod-heroes, the trio are constantly hard rocking without ever compromising the craft of basic songwriting. Doors for the show are at 8pm, and they will be sharing the bill with The Brackets.

NFORMATION: The Loop + The Brackets, live at Peterborough Live Lounge, King Street, Peterborough. Doors 8pm.

See: www.myspace.com/peterboroughpunkclub

REVIEW: ALPHABEAT @ THE JUNCTION, CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 27 I AM just back from seeing Alphabeat at The Junction and am still buzzing from their infectious funky pop. Although only the first band on in a bill that included The Ting Tings and The Fratellis, the poppy Danes won over much of the crowd with their rather retro and rather camp, but very very cool pop tunes.

Sometimes sounding a little like Duran Duran and sometimes more like a 70s funky disco band, there wasn't a dull moment in their half-hour set. Drums and tambourine were smashed in time, the singers swayed and the whole band would sing along to nearly every song. They sound like they were made for the summer - this one could be theirs.

CHRIS BOLAND