Review: Little Rumba delivers a captivating evening of musical storytelling

The Edge Arts Centre in Much Wenlock was treated to an evening of musical storytelling, social observation and eclectic influences when Little Rumba made the journey from Presteigne for a captivating performance.

Drawing inspiration from Buenos Aires to Bucharest, and many places in between, the band's distinctive sound blended tango, folk, blues and chanson, underpinned by songs that were by turns humorous, poignant and thought-provoking. Strong echoes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen could be heard throughout the set, particularly in the acerbic lyrics and rich arrangements

Central to the evening was the easy chemistry between droll singer and guitarist Pete Mustill and masterful violin and accordionist John Hymas. Their understated comic interplay provided a running thread of dry humour between songs, delighting the audience without ever overshadowing the music itself.

Highlights from the first half included the whimsical Wings of Desire, telling of an angel's romance with a trapeze artist, the charmingly eccentric Poisson Rouge, which concluded with a French rendition of La Vie En Rose, and Kandahar, a tale of youthful hippy misadventures. Rock-steady bass player Jacqui Savage provided the heartbeat of the band, while keyboard player Bertie Playle added colour, texture and flair.

After the interval, Little Rumba continued to showcase their gift for sharp observation and memorable melodies. Songs such as Wind in The City, Scavengers Blues and Milton Keynes mixed social commentary with humour and humanity, while audience participation arrived with Pick Up Truck, a paean to the ecological horrors of modern motoring, whose expletive-laden singalong chorus was embraced by the crowd.

Throughout the evening, the band demonstrated great musicianship and the ability to create a genuine connection with their audience. Warm, inventive and charismatic, Little Rumba delivered a performance that was both entertaining and richly rewarding.

This is one of many wonderful and varied events taking place at the Edge Arts Centre this year. Keep up to date by subscribing to their newsletter at edgeartscentre.com.