ELECTRO-dub outfit Dreadzone are becoming Dorset regulars, and let’s hope it stays that way.

Before this sell-out show at the excellent Electric Palace – which they also visited last year – they followed Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in the summer with a barnstorming set. Unfortunately I had to leave early that day, but the thumping bass which underlines most of their tracks could be heard as I left the village.

This time, though, there’s no chance of me ducking out early. In fact I’ve squeezed my way to the front to see the band, ensuring that bass will stay with me for some hours afterwards!

The high-energy outfit are on fire as they treat us to a bouncy dub-fuelled set which dips into their diverse catalogue including promising new material.

It’s held together by frontman MC Spee, who due to an apparent leg injury, is forced to sit on a stool throughout the set but he is energetic as ever and ensures everyone is on their feet – even though he can’t be.

As ever, it’s the old stuff which receives the loudest cheers including the storming Little Britain and Captain Dread, both from their acclaimed 1995 Second Light album.

This is a band that shows no signs of taking it easy, and let’s hope they’re back in Dorset soon to get us dancing again.

Martin Lea