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The Imagined Village takes us to the very near future, where, to recognise and understand who we are, we have embraced music from many cultures and made them part of the English folk tradition.

New type of music

The person behind this adventure is Simon Emmerson, producer and founder of the Afro-Celt Sound System and a leader in combining music from both the east and the west,Μύ mixing them for the club, the dance tent and the feel-good factor. The Imagined Village is a natural development that turns the Afro-Celt idea around and looks to the indigenous music of contemporary England taking songs and tunes that are hundreds of years old and gives them a 'radical 21st century reworking'.

The music is excellent, fun and exciting. This was an evening of being in touch. In touch with the music, the musicians and the sense that all of us mattered. Bringing an album out on to the stage always has potential problems, but this is more than mere reproduction. The instant rapport between band and audience, a bond bringing a sense of trust, is not broken. The album is good but here is a rare occurrence, the live act is as good, even better - but also different. We see the interaction between the performers; we appreciate the mix of old and new, the high-tech and the acoustic. It is, as I have said, all very exciting.

Billy Bragg fronts it well and drives the political message; Martin Carthy personifies the tradition. His is a life spent keeping it alive and keeping it growing, knowing it must change but also helping it to keep its feet on the ground. Benjamin Zephaniah's face looms out of the screen. In one take, in excess of 9 minutes, he stares at us, his face animated as he tells the updated story of Tam Lyn. Eliza Carthy bounces around the stage hardly controlling her need to dance as her bow strains to remain on her fiddle. She is a perfect foil for the almost static Chris Wood, stooped into his playing, perhaps moving a foot every now and then.

One not to miss

The story of a soldier bedding a maiden and then fleeing, a common theme in many a folk song, was dramatically emphasised by Johnny Kalsi. Here is a man obviously in his element, thoroughly enjoying beating the Dhol, relishing the sound, the volume and the reaction from band members and audience alike.

And then it was all over. Sheila Chandra takes the encore, the rest of the band disappearing for a beer. This is the right way to end. The ensemble playing has reached its climax and Sheila's voice becomes a soft blanket, wrapping you up. It is the right weight, the right fine texture; close your eyes and curl up inside.

This is Simon Emmerson at his best, not just bringing together a troupe from various corners of the musical world, not just bringing out the best in each of them, and not just providing a really interesting programme but melting theses various strands of music into an energising, invigorating and uplifting sound. Go and enjoy the experience.

The Imagined Village will be at The Derngate in Northampton on Thursday, 22nd November. It begins at 8pm and tickets are Β£18.50.

Box Office: 01604 624811.