A few months ago I saw a right corker of a tribute band. Now while I don't often rant about cover bands, this one did a pukka job.

Pink Fraud are returning to Chinnery's club on Marine Parade, Southend on August 25 for another grand Pink Floyd stage show.

They offer a full two-hour sound and lookalike show with every note, sound effect and nuance in perfect place.

The centrepiece of the mesmerising show is a complete performance of the definitive Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon. Show-stopping live saxophone, remarkably spot-on backing singers who hit all the high notes and the wacky sound effects combine in a thrilling performance of the 35 million seller.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Arnold Layne, Echoes, Another Brick In The Wall, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb - ooh, gets you all nostalgic for those heady student days at your trendy polytechnic doesn't it?

Expect trippy cine-film back projection, stunning lights, original 70s equipment and a remarkable likeness to the real thing. It'll be a trip.

I went last time and spent the whole two hours, when not sipping a beer, with it wide open in amazement.

Having seen Floyd appear at Earls Court back in 1980 before Roger Waters split and got just a little bit too weird, I was heartily impressed at what Pink Fraud were able to achieve.

An accompanying mate, who knows his Floyd going back to the days of Syd Barrett, was equally impressed.

If you love the best prog-rock and trippy chilled out music to ever come from these shores, then a night watching Pink Fraud is a night well spent.

Tickets are available in advance at £5 from Chinnery's, Fives records in Leigh and Honky Tonk Music in Southend or £6 on the door.

MOBO chance...

The MOBO - Music Of Black Origin - awards have showcased some remarkable and innovative bands over the years and now there's a chance for south Essex bands to get in on the act.

This years awards, to be held at the Alexandria Palace on October 4 will once again include the best unsigned act award.

Anyone sending in their demo tapes or CDs have a chance of getting in on Britain's foremost award shows, if you're willing to put in a wee bit of time and effort.

Across the country 24 acts will be chosen to take part in four regional heats. The six acts chosen from the London and surrounding areas will perform at Sound in London's West End on September 20.

The overall winner of the MOBO best unsigned act will get an immediate recording deal with a major label, be presented the award at the MOBO ceremony and inevitably receive major press coverage of the kind I could never offer you.

Channel 4 will be sponsoring MOBO Unsigned 2000 which will cover the eligible genres of rhythm and blues, hip hop, reggae, jazz, gospel and garage.

Previous winners have gone on to sign five-album deals, gone top ten in the singles chart and worked with the best producers in the country.

The criteria for submitting material is:

minimum age for entrants is 14.

applicants may either be a solo project or band/group.

applicants can be of any gender or race.

music genre to be submitted must be one of the following: jazz, R&B, hip hop, reggae, gospel or garage.

applicants must provide at least two tracks on audio cassette or CD.

applicants must enclose a VHS copy of their performance.

applicants must include a brief profile along with photos.

applicants must enclose full names, ages and addresses of all act members.

closing date for MOBO unsigned competition is Friday August 31.

If you want to get in on the act, call Lynn on 0207 419 1800 for more information.

Army and navy's Energetic Phase

Wickford-based band The Phase will be playing the Army and Navy this Saturday and they've already been given good reviews from when they last played there.

The four-piece, made up of an energetic group of 17-year-olds, play indie pop and have already got some record company interest.

Their combination of roaring guitars, great vocals and all-round Essex-boy likeability has apparently been dragging punters in from all over the place.

If you can't make it all the way up to that den of iniquity, then you can catch them at the Pink Toothbrush, in the High Street, Rayleigh on Thursday.

The Army and Navy gig will be £4 and the Toothbrush gig tickets will be just £3.

Receeders revisited

The Receeders, who did a scorching set at last weekend's Thurrock Music Festival, will play the new Crawdaddy Club at the Belvedere in Pipps Hill Road North, Basildon on Thursday night.

They're one of the top rhythm and blues bands in Essex and possibly one of the hardest working in the country.

Harmonica player and lead singer Paul Thomas does a fine rendition of Down at the Doctors by Dr Feelgood, while Nick Bell's growling voice and guitar are pure blues.

They're slicker than oil, they're tighter than Big Daddy's unitard and bluesier than a big blue thing with bluebells on. And for tickets at only £4 you'd be a mug to miss out.

For more information contact the Belvedere on 01268 522828.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.