Fancy a helping of Salad this weekend

In the mid-Nineties, one of the most talked about groups was London-based Salad, made-up of Dutch singer Marijne van der Vlugt, drummer Rob Wakeman and Colchester musicians; bass player Pete Brown and guitarist Paul Kennedy.

Now Paul and Marijne are back performing the old Salad songs in an acoustic setting, and thanks to old chum Geoff Lawrence, of Slugworth and now Vince Petchey fame, they are playing here on Sunday.

Paul says: "Geoff used to go out with my sister and I was in the same class at the Grammar School as Giles Smith, who obviously went on to form The Orphans of Babylon with Geoff. I've always followed what Geoff has been up to and so I went to see Vince Petchey play at the Colchester Arts Centre when they supported The Monochrome Set.

"There are so many connections to Colchester it seems very appropriate to be playing there and really can't wait."

The band, originally known as The Merry Babes, formed when Paul and Marijne met at art school in London in the late Eighties.

Signed to Island Records they released two critically acclaimed albums 1995’s Drink Me, which reached no 16 in the UK, and the 1997 follow up Ice Cream, after which the band split up a year later.

That was until last year when Marijne caught a solo gig Paul was doing in London.

"We probably see each other twice a year," she adds, "but it was when I went along to see one of his shows, I was so impressed, I suggested we might get back together to do something.

"At first it was just a couple of open mic nights in pubs but now it has just grown and grown."

Called Salad Undressed the pair have now done radio sessions and their first summer run of festivals, including Shine On at Minehead with the likes of Ash, Black Grape and Echobelly.

With plans to re-form the entire band later on in the year, they are playing Upstairs at the Three Wise Monkeys with Vince Petchey and Bessie Turner, this Sunday, April 16, from 8pm. Entry is £5 on the door.