Gary Page plays at Funktion Fest

Eastbourne singer/songwriter and sometime David Ford backing musician, Gary Page, recently performed at Funktion Rooms as part of the rather ill-advised and ridiculously expensive Funktion Fest.However, while the afternoon session of the festival was painfully poorly attended, Gary’s gig was certainly a success, as he belted out his familiar brand of accessible guitar pop with confidence and gusto. Considering my previous gripe about the appalling sound in the venue, the PA in the Penthouse Room was actually very good as Gary played a collection of his own compositions, the pick of which being Breathing In, as well as covering Pet Shop Boys’ Rent and The Shins’ New Slang.

Following on from Gary were another local band, Barrier Dutch, who were similarly entertaining. One senses they might have listened to Arcade Fire a couple of times in their lives as well.