Brand New Heavies

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V2000 (Chelmsford) 2000

Saturday 19th to Sunday 20th August 2000
Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8WQ, England MAP
weekend around £75 (with camping)

The Brand New Heavies came to V2000 at lunchtime on Sunday, playing to a chilled out crowd, sitting in the sun. Their big band of guitars, brass section, drums, percussion, synthesiser and a truly phat bass played a superb set, despite an apathetic crowd response.

The funky sound of the Heavies included their old classic, 'Midnight at the Oasis' which singer Carleen Anderson sang as if it were her own. She did her best to get the crowd enthused, but failed to do so to full effect. Some feedback on her high notes didn't help to draw in the crowd at the back of this large arena. However, Anderson's performance was excellent, as was her backing vocalist. They worked together to bring the depth of the music to the crowd, but the crowd weren't ready to dance yet: they clapped!

Overall the Brand New Heavies delivered their brand of funk with style. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the mellow tunes, particularly their new single 'Apparently Nothing', a cover of an old Young Disciples song (on which Carleen originally sang). But it was too early in the day to go wild and all was quiet at the back of the main stage arena. Even Anderson's bright pink sequinned top, which threatened to flash her breasts at any moment, failed to draw a crowd. It was a shame, because the music was as good as the weather - sunny and bright with occasional greyer overtones.