Raucous show drums up carnival atmosphere

Red Baraat, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
THIS larger-than-life, Brooklyn-based dhol ‘n’ brass band burst on to the stage with an energy and enthusiasm which lasted the entire evening.

Flown in from New York city for their debut UK tour as part of the London 2012 Festival, the eight-piece band certainly blew away the cobwebs.

Talented dhol drummer Sunny Jain led a crew of musicians playing full throttle on the drums, percussion, a sousaphone and a four-piece horn section.

The band fuses infectious North Indian bhangra rhythms with funk, jazz, Latin and go-go, resulting in a fiery, raucous show.

It was a real carnival atmosphere, with Sunny encouraging the rather sparse audience to its feet within minutes of arriving on stage. The 90-minute show brought some fabulous playing from Jain.

Big, brassy and full of energy, Red Baraat is making an impressive first appearance on British soil and enhancing its burgeoning reputation. The group has a raw sound, drawn from a vibrant cultural heritage.

The 12-week London 2012 festival is a nationwide event bringing together artists from all over the world in celebration of the Olympic games.

Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle