The Paperboys, Forest Arts, New Milton

PLAYING an eclectic mix of country-rock, Irish and Spanish music, Canada's Paperboys entertained a packed Forest Arts Centre.

With tight and bouncy arrangements, amusing anecdotes between numbers, and strong vocal harmonies, this very talented band seamlessly blends Celtic melodies with rocking bluegrass, flavoured with Latin rhythms.

Kendel Carson's violin complements Geoffrey Kelly's ferocious fingering on flute and whistles, underpinned by solid bass and drums from Steve Mitchell and Adam Mack.

Tom Landa holds it all together, playing and singing with feeling in both Spanish and English, with I'm Your Easy Chair, Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower and She Said Everything's Gonna Be Alright being particularly outstanding.

Even equipment failure on the encore was dealt with professionally, the band simply stepping down in front of the audience for an acoustic and moving version of Will The Circle Be Unbroken.

The Paperboys will be back in the UK next year. Don't miss them.