SLEEPING Dogs, who performed in the cafe at Hexham’s Queen’s Hall recently, must surely be one of the region’s best-kept secrets.

The seven-piece band played a beautifully-balanced set containing a mix of styles ranging from Blues to Latin American to South African.

The band’s line-up consists of Mike Soanes (vocals/guitar), Helen Forster (cello/vocals), Martin Hoile (piano), Emma Scott (alto sax), David Gold (trumpet), Alan O’Neill (bass) and Steve Forster (percussion).

Written by the talented Mike Soanes, each of the songs told a different story. All were memorable and three in particular were noteworthy.

Red Dust Ghost tells the story of a teacher who flees Zimbabwe and the brutality of the Mugabe regime.

The music, driven by Steve Forster’s rhythmic cajon playing, complemented by the horn section, is reminiscent of Paul Simon’s Gracelands , yet has a sound of its own.

The Watch tells the intimate tale of two lovers.

Mike’s gentle vocals were beautifully underscored by the lyrical piano of Martin Hoyle and the fluid cello of Helen Forster.

At the end of the evening, the audience called for more and Sleeping Dogs obliged by playing the the poignant Don’t Ask Me How I Am as an encore.

We all left feeling we had been lucky to have heard such an unusual, but fascinating, blend of vocal and instrumental sounds.

Gibby Keys